M5 Ultra and M6 Chip Benchmark Results Reveal Graphics Performance
The initial M5 Ultra and M6 GPU benchmark results have officially surfaced on Geekbench 7, showing substantial graphics performance improvements across Apple's silicon lineup ahead of new Mac Studio and Mac mini launches. Readers seeking early insights into Apple's latest chip capabilities will find remarkable generation-over-generation gains in Metal and OpenCL scores.
M5 Ultra and M6 GPU Benchmark Results: Overview
The tech world has received its first look at the graphics capabilities of Apple's newest processors. The first GPU benchmark results for Apple's new M5 Ultra and M6 chips have surfaced, giving us concrete data on how these next-generation components perform under graphics-heavy workloads. These numbers come right ahead of the new Mac Studio and Mac mini models launching on Tuesday. If you are interested in CPU results, we shared those earlier this week.
According to the latest Geekbench 7 benchmark entries, the M5 Ultra has delivered up to a 59% higher Metal score compared to the average score of the previous-generation M3 Ultra. In raw figures, the M5 Ultra reached an impressive score of 366,744 on the Metal graphics test, while the M3 Ultra averaged 230,420. Furthermore, tests show that the M5 Ultra chip's OpenCL score is roughly in line with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4080 desktop graphics card.
Simultaneously, benchmark listings for the standard M6 chip show notable gains at the base level. The entry-level M6 chip has achieved up to a 34% higher Metal score compared to the M5 chip's average performance. The M6 hit a Metal score of 93,217, easily outpacing the M5 average of 69,563.
Analyzing the M5 Ultra Graphics Performance Breakdown
The jump in graphics power delivered by the M5 Ultra marks one of the most substantial performance leaps in Apple silicon history. By achieving a Metal score of 366,744, the M5 Ultra establishes a brand-new high-water mark for high-end creative work and graphics processing on macOS.
To understand the scale of this achievement, it helps to compare the M5 Ultra with prior generations of Apple's top-tier chips. The 366,744 Metal score represents a 59% increase over the M3 Ultra score of 230,420. When compared against the M2 Ultra, which scored 201,144, the M5 Ultra is approximately 82% faster. Looking all the way back to the original M1 Ultra, which turned in a score of 150,098, the new M5 Ultra provides more than 144% higher graphics performance—effectively more than doubling the performance of Apple's first Ultra-tier processor.
The M5 Ultra also creates a massive gap between itself and current workstation laptop chips. For instance, the M5 Max scored 225,606 on the same Metal test. That means the M5 Ultra is roughly 62% faster than the M5 Max in pure GPU benchmark metrics. Against older Max configurations, the performance margin grows even wider. The M5 Ultra is nearly double the speed of the M4 Max (189,301) and significantly faster than the M3 Max (146,550), M2 Max (130,091), and M1 Max (107,711).
Another major headline from these initial listings is how the M5 Ultra performs in cross-platform Compute tests using OpenCL. The benchmark data shows the M5 Ultra's OpenCL score matching up closely with desktop-class dedicated graphics hardware like NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4080. Achieving parity with a powerful standalone desktop GPU in synthetic OpenCL workloads shows how far integrated unified memory architecture has advanced.
Examining the M6 Base Chip Performance Jump
While the M5 Ultra caters to high-end professional users, the standard M6 chip performance reveals what everyday consumers can expect from future entry-level devices. The newly revealed M6 benchmark score of 93,217 represents a strong 34% increase over the base M5 chip average of 69,563.
Evaluating the base M6 against older entry-level Apple silicon chips shows steady multi-year progress. The M6 score of 93,217 is nearly 80% higher than the M4 base chip (51,818) and more than double the performance of the M3 base chip (46,033). Compared to the M2 (40,529), the M6 is roughly 130% faster. Against the original M1 chip (27,277), the M6 delivers more than 3.4 times the total graphics capability.
Interestingly, the entry-level M6 chip now comfortably outperforms several higher-tier chips from earlier generations. The M6 score of 93,217 surpasses former upper-midrange options such as:
- M2 Pro: 77,176 Metal score
- M3 Pro: 72,637 Metal score
- M1 Pro: 63,531 Metal score
This means a standard base M6 processor now provides superior GPU benchmark output compared to professional-grade Pro chips released just a few years ago. However, higher-tier modern Pro and Max chips—such as the M4 Pro (107,354), M5 Pro (130,896), and M1 Max (107,711)—still maintain an edge over the basic M6 tier.
Complete Apple Silicon GPU Metal Benchmark Comparison
To provide clear context on where these newly benchmarked processors fit within the broader Apple silicon ecosystem, here is the official breakdown of Geekbench 7 Metal scores for all major Apple silicon generations to date, ranked from highest to lowest score:
- M5 Ultra: 366,744
- M3 Ultra: 230,420
- M5 Max: 225,606
- M2 Ultra: 201,144
- M4 Max: 189,301
- M1 Ultra: 150,098
- M3 Max: 146,550
- M5 Pro: 130,896
- M2 Max: 130,091
- M1 Max: 107,711
- M4 Pro: 107,354
- M6: 93,217
- M2 Pro: 77,176
- M3 Pro: 72,637
- M5: 69,563
- M1 Pro: 63,531
- M4: 51,818
- M3: 46,033
- M2: 40,529
- M1: 27,277
Evolution of Apple Silicon Graphics Across Generations
Analyzing the complete benchmark hierarchy reveals how Apple's GPU architecture has progressed since the transition away from Intel processors. Each tier—Base, Pro, Max, and Ultra—has maintained clear distinctions while systematically pushing performance standards forward with each release cycle.
The Ultra Tier Progression
The Ultra tier represents Apple's flagship desktop graphics performance. Starting with the M1 Ultra at 150,098, Apple moved to the M2 Ultra at 201,144, followed by the M3 Ultra at 230,420, and now reaching 366,744 with the M5 Ultra. The jump from M3 Ultra to M5 Ultra (59%) is noticeably larger than the transition from M2 Ultra to M3 Ultra (roughly 14.5%), reflecting key architectural updates designed for extreme graphics compute tasks.
The Max Tier Progression
The Max family serves as the powerhouse for high-end laptops and compact desktops. Looking at the scores, the original M1 Max delivered 107,711. The M2 Max brought a slight lift to 130,091, followed by a larger leap with the M3 Max at 146,550. The M4 Max pushed graphics further to 189,301, and the M5 Max pushed even higher to 225,606. Notably, the M5 Max score of 225,606 comes very close to matching the desktop-class M3 Ultra (230,420), showing how quickly mobile-oriented Max chips are catching up to older flagship desktop hardware.
The Pro Tier Progression
The Pro tier offers a balance between thermal efficiency and power for mainstream professional software. Beginning at 63,531 with the M1 Pro, scores rose to 77,176 with the M2 Pro. Interestingly, the M3 Pro saw a slight performance re-alignment at 72,637 before rebounding strongly with the M4 Pro at 107,354. The latest M5 Pro elevates graphics throughput further to 130,896—matching the performance level of the original M2 Max.
The Base Tier Progression
The standard entry-level chips show constant growth across six iterations. Starting at 27,277 on the original M1, scores moved up to 40,529 (M2), 46,033 (M3), 51,818 (M4), 69,563 (M5), and now 93,217 on the M6. The M6 chip's score of 93,217 puts entry-level performance within striking distance of the 100,000 Metal score milestone.
Real-World Graphics Performance and Hardware Context
While synthetic GPU benchmarks like Geekbench 7 Metal and OpenCL tests offer valuable standardized measurements, real-world performance will vary depending on software optimization, thermal management, sustained workloads, and specific application workflows. Synthetic benchmarks measure theoretical peak compute performance, but software developers must specifically optimize their apps to take full advantage of Apple's unified memory and specialized graphics pipelines.
These benchmark results land right before official hardware announcements. Apple is expected to launch new Mac Studio and Mac mini configurations on Tuesday, where these processors will likely make their public debut. Users interested in heavy 3D rendering, high-resolution video editing, complex scientific computation, or gaming on macOS will monitor how these synthetic gains translate into actual desktop application speed once retail hardware reaches reviewers and customers.
Final Thoughts on Apple Silicon Benchmarks
The emergence of these new M5 Ultra and M6 GPU benchmark results provides clear evidence that Apple silicon continues to make significant strides in graphics capabilities. With the M5 Ultra pushing Metal scores to 366,744 and matching NVIDIA RTX 4080 desktop performance in OpenCL tests, and the base M6 setting a strong entry-level benchmark at 93,217, Mac users have a lot to look forward to with the upcoming Mac Studio and Mac mini releases.
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