MacBook Pro M2 Max keeps getting more powerful in leaked benchmarks

Video game shown on a Macbook Pro 14-inch
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

We're sure the standard MacBook Pro with M2 Pro will have plenty of oomph when we finally get to test it, but once again the MacBook Pro M2 Max looks like it's in a different performance league altogether.

Fresh Geekbench 5 results spotted by 9to5Mac show not just big scores, but also an exciting increase in performance since the last benchmark discovered for Apple's alleged next laptop

The machine, again called "Mac 14.6," has a 12-core CPU with a slightly higher frequency of 3.68GHz, up from 3.54GHz in the first benchmark. It also again uses a huge 96GB RAM, beating the current 64GB limit in the MacBook Pro M1 Max.

Looking at the scores themselves, they beat the previous M2 Max benchmark we've seen, as well as the current 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max. Just like last time, while the M2 Max chip beats the M1 Ultra-powered Mac Studio on the single-core test, it can't match the Studio on the multi-core section.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0 Geekbench 5 single-core scoreGeekbench 5 multi-core score
MacBook Pro with M2 Max/96GB RAM(alleged, 12/7/22)2,02714,888
MacBook Pro with M2 Max/96GB RAM(alleged, 11/30/22)1,85313,855
16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max/64GB RAM1,78112,683
Mac Studio with M1 Ultra/128GB RAM1,79424,215

We already know the standard Apple M2 chip performs well in the MacBook Air M2, 13-inch MacBook Pro and iPad Pro 2022, offering lots of performance potential and great power efficiency. But for users who want or need even more from their laptop, it seems like they'll be better off waiting for the next generation of MacBook Pro. Most users should be fine with these entry-level MacBooks though, or even the current 14-inch MacBook Pro or 16-inch MacBook Pro if they want extra features like a 120Hz mini-LED display or extra ports, but don't need the most power possible.

We should see the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros arrive early in 2023. There had been rumors they'd appear in November, a year after the current premium MacBook Pros launched, but that never came to pass. Instead, we should probably look out for the new laptops at Apple next product launch event, which should come around March.

Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.