TECHNOLOGY
Apple's Chip Revolution: From M1 to M5 in Five Years
Tue Nov 11 2025
A Game-Changing Shift
Five years ago, Apple made a big change. They switched from Intel chips to their own Apple silicon chips. The first one was the M1. It was a game-changer—fast and efficient.
Since then, Apple has released five generations of these chips. The latest is the M5.
The M5: A Powerhouse
The M5 is a powerhouse. It's six times faster than the M1 in many tasks. It handles:
- AI
- Video processing
- 3D rendering
- Gaming
- Code compiling
Benchmark Tests Show Big Improvements
| Test Type | M1 Score | M5 Score |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Core | 2,320 | 4,263 |
| Multi-Core | 8,175 | 17,862 |
The GPU performance has also improved a lot.
TSMC's Role in Apple's Success
Apple has been using TSMC to make these chips.
- M1: Made with a 5nm process
- M5: Uses a 3nm process
This means the M5 is more powerful and efficient. It has:
- More CPU and GPU cores
- Higher clock speed
- Supports more memory
- Better bandwidth
These improvements make the M5 much faster and more capable.
The End of Intel Macs
Apple sold both Intel and Apple silicon Macs for a while. But now, all Macs use Apple chips.
- Intel Macs won't get software updates after macOS Tahoe.
- This marks the end of an era.
- Apple is fully committed to its own chips.
Looking Ahead
Apple's chips will keep getting better.
- TSMC is working on 2nm chips—could be ready by 2026.
- They promise even more speed and efficiency.
- By 2028, 1.4nm chips might be available.
This shows that Apple's chip technology will continue to evolve.
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questions
Will the M5 chip be so fast that it completes your tasks before you even think of them?
If the M5 chip is 6x faster, does that mean it can make coffee while rendering 3D graphics?
How does the transition to Apple silicon impact the overall ecosystem of Mac users and developers?
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