Apple M5 Ultra
- Boost/Base Clock:
- 4.6 GHz / 3.0 GHz
- Core/Thread Count:
- 32 Core / 32 Thread (24 Performance + 8 Efficiency)
- Cache:
- 80MB L2 + 8MB L1
- TDP:
- 100 Watts
- CPU Process Node:
- 3 Nanometers (Enhanced)
- CPU Series:
- Apple Silicon, Fifth Generation
- Form Factor:
- Desktop
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Manufacturer: Apple Last updated: October 5, 2026
Apple M5 Ultra Review
The Apple M5 Ultra is a 36-core System-on-Chip announced on 25 August 2026 and sold in the top configurations of the Mac Studio, which shipped on 22 September 2026.
The M5 Ultra is Apple's first four-die chip and its most powerful to date. It pairs an up-to-36-core CPU (12 super cores and 24 performance cores) with an up-to-80-core GPU that has a Neural Accelerator in every core, a 32-core Neural Engine and up to 512GB of unified memory, which lets the Mac Studio run very large language models entirely on the machine.
UltraFusion at the M5 Max's Scale
Joining two 16-core M5 Max dies produces a 32-core CPU, continuing Apple's die-fusion approach and matching the pattern set by the M1 Ultra and M2 Ultra before it.
A Genuinely Different Memory Class
At up to 512GB of unified memory and 1.2TB/s of bandwidth, the M5 Ultra's memory system rivals genuine multi-GPU professional workstation setups rather than anything typically called integrated graphics.
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 multi-core scores around 34,000 make the M5 Ultra Apple's fastest CPU to date, genuinely competitive with high-end workstation CPUs on the most heavily threaded professional workloads.
Our verdict
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Best for
- Mac Studio buyers running the most demanding local AI, video, or 3D professional workloads that can use 32 CPU cores and up to 512GB of unified memory.
Not for
- Anyone needing a portable chip, this is desktop-only silicon.
- Typical everyday or light creative use, where the cost premium is entirely unjustified.
Specifications
What these specs meanIdentity
| Brand | Apple |
|---|---|
| Product Line | Apple Silicon |
| Model Number | M5 Ultra |
Segment and platform
| Microarchitecture | Apple Silicon, Fifth Generation |
|---|
Core configuration
| Total Cores | 36 |
|---|---|
| Total Threads | 36 |
| Form Factor | Desktop |
|---|---|
| Core/Thread Count | 36 Core / 36 Thread (12 Super + 24 Performance) |
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the Apple M5 Ultra?
The Apple M5 Ultra is a processor from Apple. Key specs: Boost/Base Clock 4.6 GHz / 3.0 GHz, Core/Thread Count 32 Core / 32 Thread (24 Performance + 8 Efficiency), Cache 80MB L2 + 8MB L1, TDP 100 Watts, CPU Process Node 3 Nanometers (Enhanced).
Who is the Apple M5 Ultra best suited to?
Best suited to: Mac Studio buyers running the most demanding local AI, video, or 3D professional workloads that can use 32 CPU cores and up to 512GB of unified memory.
What are the drawbacks of the Apple M5 Ultra?
Not the best fit for: Anyone needing a portable chip, this is desktop-only silicon; Typical everyday or light creative use, where the cost premium is entirely unjustified.