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M4 vs M5: M5 is 22% faster on CPU and 46% on GPU
Cheapest MacBook Air 13″ with each chip: M4 at $999 vs M5 at $1099. The M5 config has 512 GB storage (vs 256 GB).
Scores are relative: 2020 M1 MacBook Air = 100, so 200 is about twice as fast. How we score
Verdict
- Buying a new Mac
- Get M5. The entry Air costs $100 more and is clearly faster on both CPU and GPU. There is no reason to pick M4 unless it is on deep discount.
- Already own an M4
- Keep it. One generation is a modest step; wait for a bigger jump or a Pro chip.
- Coming from M1 or M2
- M5 is about twice as fast as the M1 Air on CPU — a worthwhile upgrade.
- Games, 3D, local AI
- Take the 10-core GPU M5, or step up to M5 Pro: GPU grows faster than CPU this generation.
Gain by chip tier
| Tier | M4 | M5 | CPU | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | M4 10 CPU / 10 GPU | M5 10 CPU / 10 GPU | 167 → 203 +22% | 192 → 253 +32% |
| Pro | M4 Pro 14 CPU / 20 GPU | M5 Pro 18 CPU / 20 GPU | 255 → 311 +22% | 375 → 455 +21% |
| Max | M4 Max 16 CPU / 40 GPU | M5 Max 18 CPU / 40 GPU | 293 → 337 +15% | 623 → 776 +25% |
Top tested chip of each tier on both sides.
Configurations to compare
| Model | Configuration | CPU | GPU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13″ (2025) | M4 (10-CPU/8-GPU), 16GB, 256GB | 167 | 151 | $999 |
| MacBook Air 13″ (2026) | M5 (10-CPU/8-GPU), 16GB, 512GB | 203 | 220 | $1099 |
| MacBook Air 13″ (2025) | M4 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 512GB | 167 | 192 | $1099 |
| MacBook Air 15″ (2026) | M5 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 512GB | 203 | 253 | $1299 |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (2024) | M4 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 512GB | 167 | 192 | $1599 |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (2025) | M5 (10-CPU/10-GPU), 16GB, 512GB | 203 | 253 | $1599 |
FAQ
How much faster is M5 than M4?
Comparing the cheapest configs of each, M5 is about 22% faster on CPU and 46% faster on GPU (CPU 203 vs 167, GPU 220 vs 151).
Should I upgrade from M4 to M5?
For most people, no. One generation is a modest step. Upgrade when you regularly wait on exports, compiles or local AI models — or skip to M5 Pro for a bigger jump.
M5 MacBook Air: 8-core or 10-core GPU?
CPU is identical. The 10-core GPU is about 15% faster in graphics (253 vs 220). Worth it for games, 3D and GPU-heavy AI; skip it for office work and the web.
Is M5 Pro worth it over M5?
Yes if CPU matters: M5 Pro scores 300–311 vs 203 for M5, and its GPU is nearly twice as fast. It is only offered in the 14″/16″ MacBook Pro and Mac mini.
What do the scores mean?
Every Mac is scored against the 2020 M1 MacBook Air = 100. A score of 200 means about twice as fast. These are MacDiff's own relative scores, not Geekbench points.
All chip variants (13)
| Gen | Chip | Cores | CPU | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M4 | M4 | 8 CPU / 8 GPU | 149 | 151 |
| M4 | M4 | 10 CPU / 10 GPU | 167 | 192 |
| M4 | M4 | 10 CPU / 8 GPU | 167 | 151 |
| M4 | M4 Pro | 12 CPU / 16 GPU | 230 | 333 |
| M4 | M4 Max | 14 CPU / 32 GPU | 255 | 513 |
| M4 | M4 Pro | 14 CPU / 20 GPU | 255 | 375 |
| M4 | M4 Max | 16 CPU / 40 GPU | 293 | 623 |
| M5 | M5 | 10 CPU / 10 GPU | 203 | 253 |
| M5 | M5 | 10 CPU / 8 GPU | 203 | 220 |
| M5 | M5 Pro | 15 CPU / 16 GPU | 300 | 411 |
| M5 | M5 Pro | 18 CPU / 20 GPU | 311 | 455 |
| M5 | M5 Max | 18 CPU / 32 GPU | 337 | 629 |
| M5 | M5 Max | 18 CPU / 40 GPU | 337 | 776 |