On the 3rd (local time), Apple unveiled the next-generation Apple Silicon M5 Pro and M5 Max, along with announcing the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. The key feature is the Fusion Architecture, which combines two semiconductor dies into a single system-on-chip. Through this, Apple has integrated the CPU, Graphics Processing Unit, Neural Engine, and Memory Controller into a single unit, aiming to simultaneously support high-performance tasks and on-device artificial intelligence.
The new chip is based on a CPU with up to 18 cores. Apple named the high-performance cores "Super Cores" and explained that both the M5 Pro and M5 Max combine six Super Cores with 12 efficiency-focused cores. It stated that processing speeds for professional workloads have improved by up to 30 percent compared to the previous generation.
There are also significant changes to the graphics processing unit (GPU) architecture. Neural accelerators have been integrated into each graphics core, bringing AI computations closer to the graphics pipeline. Apple emphasized that AI task performance has improved by up to four times compared to the M4 Pro Max. The M5 Pro supports up to 20 GPU cores, a memory bandwidth of 307 GB/s, and up to 64 GB of integrated memory. The M5 Max supports up to 40 GPU cores, a bandwidth of 614 GB/s, and up to 128 GB of integrated memory.
The product configuration is also changing. Base storage capacity has been increased, with the M5 Pro model starting at 1 terabyte and the M5 Max model at 2 terabytes. Apple stated that storage speeds are up to twice as fast as the previous generation. In terms of connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 via its custom-designed N1 wireless chip and also provides a Thunderbolt 5 port. Battery life is projected to be up to 24 hours.
Domestic prices have been announced as starting at 3.49 million won for the 14-inch M5 Pro and 4.29 million won for the 16-inch model. The 14-inch M5 Max starts at 5.79 million won, and the 16-inch model at 6.29 million won. Pre-orders begin on March 4, and the official launch is scheduled for March 11.
