Apple silicon Mac comparison guides
These guides explain generation and ownership jumps using MacDiff CPU/GPU indices (baseline MacBook Air M1 = 100). Use a guide when you want a written bottom line; use Compare for a custom pair; use /cpu / /gpu for the full chip-bin field.
Core guides: M1 vs M4, M4 vs M5, and Upgrade from M1. Adjacent-gen and product-line matchups live on family hubs or Compare.
Chip generation guides
M1 vs M4 Mac Performance (MacDiff index) · MacDiff
This guide compares Apple M1 and Apple M4 chip bins using MacDiff CPU and GPU indices. Everything is relative to the entry-level MacBook Air M1 = 100. It is a generation map for buyers — not a Geekbench article.
M4 vs M5 Mac Performance (MacDiff index) · MacDiff
M5 is the newest base Apple silicon generation in this catalog. On MacDiff, base M4 lands at CPU 149–167 / GPU 151–192, while base M5 sits at CPU 203 / GPU 220–253. Treat Geekbench headlines as a different universe.
Ownership / upgrade
How indices work
Indices are MacDiff’s own relative units, not Geekbench. Full note: methodology. Atlas overview: home.
When to use guides vs the Compare tool
- Guide — editorial “who should buy / upgrade” with representative configs.
- Compare — arbitrary side-by-side of up to five catalog configs: /compare.
- Rankings — /cpu and /gpu for the full chip-bin field.
Product-line matchups
Air vs Pro — use Compare (index ties follow the chip bin; chassis features are out of MacDiff scope).
Mini vs Studio — use Compare + GPU rankings (Ultra/Max bins); that vs URL is not an indexing target.
M3 vs M4 is merged into family hubs — see M4 chip bins vs M3.