Apple MacBook Pro M5 (2025) review - The fastest single-core performance in the world

[Redaktion]

Apple's MacBook Pro 14 is faster than ever with the new M5 SoC—plus, it finally features faster SSDs. Even so, it still lags behind the more expensive Pro models, as it lacks better cooling and Wi-Fi 7.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Pro-M5-2025-review-The-fastest-single-core-performance-in-the-world.1144391.0.html

[Crazy slow display]

The very good thing is that the GPU performance improved by a very good amount (and power efficiency), but the ugly thing are the 47 ms and 49.4 ms pixel response times. 47 ms means 1/0.047s = 21 Hz and 1/0.0494s = 20 Hz, which are extremely bad elephant in the room values. If you are a gamer or play any video games that require more than 20 FPS: Stay away!

I see, so a MacBook Pro is using a non-Pro M chip (128-bit memory bus width, 153.6 GB/s). Always thought a MacBook Pro would the use faster M Pro chip (256-bit), and the MacBook Air and iPad would use the normal, 128-bit, M chip.

According to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro_(Apple_silicon) (strg+f for "Chip name"), this started since the M3. Pretty crazy and unfortunate that you can get the much slower non-Pro M chip in a MacBook Pro, depending on the unified memory size configuration. Kinda scammy.

[Julian M]

I love my Apple products, but the list of cons is pretty staggering considering this model earns a 91% score?

The non-Pro/Max MBP is a bit of a misnomer, it's an Air model with a better screen and active cooling, but it's still not upgradeable in any way, nor does it have staple features like wifi 7 in 2025.

I'd rather either go with a MBA for the lighter weight, or a Pro/Max model for productivity - this one sits in between and has too many compromises for the price.

[billou]

I love my Apple products, but the list of cons is pretty staggering considering this model earns a 91% score?

The non-Pro/Max MBP is a bit of a misnomer, it's an Air model with a better screen and active cooling, but it's still not upgradeable in any way, nor does it have staple features like wifi 7 in 2025.

I'd rather either go with a MBA for the lighter weight, or a Pro/Max model for productivity - this one sits in between and has too many compromises for the price.

the mba will have temperature problem

[Julian M]

I love my Apple products, but the list of cons is pretty staggering considering this model earns a 91% score?

The non-Pro/Max MBP is a bit of a misnomer, it's an Air model with a better screen and active cooling, but it's still not upgradeable in any way, nor does it have staple features like wifi 7 in 2025.

I'd rather either go with a MBA for the lighter weight, or a Pro/Max model for productivity - this one sits in between and has too many compromises for the price.

the mba will have temperature problem

No, the MBA is designed for passive cooling, the chip throttles as needed and such - and it works fine.

[indyp]

I might get this and put a Linux Dist on it when it's half the price.  Zero interest in running any iteration of Mac software, ever.  Good job, Apple Hardware team!

(I mean I browse using Firefox pretty much exclusively.  Not like this is going to render a webpage much faster for me.)