Apple (AAPL) on Wednesday announced its new M5 processor, which it said delivers improved AI performance in both its latest $1,599 MacBook Pro and $999 iPad Pro.
Apple said the chip, the company’s latest in-house processor, includes an upgraded CPU and a 10-core GPU with neural accelerators in each core.
That, Apple said, means the M5 provides four times the GPU computing performance compared to the M4 and six times compared to the M1. Graphics performance is 35% faster than the M4 and 2.5 times faster than the M1. The CPU also offers 15% better multi-threaded performance than the M4.
This, the company said, equates to 3.5 times better AI performance than the M4-equipped MacBook Pro and iPad Pro.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro also has up to 32GB of higher-bandwidth memory and faster storage, which should contribute to a faster overall feel compared to previous generations of the laptop. As for battery life, Apple claims that the M5-powered 14-inch MacBook Pro will last up to 24 hours on a single charge.
The iPad Pro, available in 11-inch and 13-inch versions, also has up to 16GB of faster memory and up to 1TB of storage, although the base model has 12GB and 256GB of memory and storage, respectively.
The new iPads are also the first to come with Apple’s custom C1X cellular model and N1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips. Physically, the iPads are the same as their predecessors, so don’t expect the kind of flashy upgrade that Apple provided with the iPhone Air.
Apple is clearly positioning its latest chips and products as AI powerhouses for developers and users alike. It’s part of a broader industry push in the PC space to telegraph to customers that their devices are more than capable of handling certain AI tasks.
Microsoft and its Windows partners are making a similar effort with their AI-enabled PCs.
And while the company looks to get newer MacBook and iPad users to upgrade to its newer hardware, it’s also trying to entice older MacBook users with Intel-powered systems to make the jump to its latest laptops and tablets.
In 2024, the Mac business generated $29.98 billion in revenue, while the iPad segment generated $26.69 billion. The iPhone, however, earned $201.18 billion and services earned $96.17 billion.
Apple’s MacBook and iPad lines are its two smallest businesses, although they are highly regarded in creative circles, thanks to their video and photo editing capabilities.
Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on X/Twitter at @DanielHowley.
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