While the updated M6 is a perfectly capable laptop in its own right, it fits a bit awkwardly into the current lineup of MacBooks. It is identical to the previous-generation M5 model, which debuted in late 2025. Despite featuring the exact same laptop specifications aside from the chip difference, shoppers can currently purchase the M5 for $200 less on Amazon and Walmart.
Performance Differences Between M5 and M6
The M6 comes equipped with two additional CPU and GPU cores, which account for most of its performance gains. However, this represents one of the smaller generational Apple Silicon performance bumps seen over the past six years. The primary difference lies in artificial intelligence performance, driven by a second 16-core Neural Engine and faster memory bandwidth on the M6.
For day-to-day work or content creation workflows, the performance difference between the two models is unlikely to be very noticeable. This is particularly true because the base 14-inch MacBook Pro does not function as a true professional laptop in terms of performance, utilizing the same M5 chip found in the MacBook Air and iPad Pro. The only other actual difference is wireless connectivity, with the M6 model upgrading to Wi-Fi 7.
Comparing the MacBook Pro M5 and MacBook Air
Shoppers considering the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 should also evaluate the 15-inch MacBook Air. The key difference between these two devices is display quality. The MacBook Pro features a mini-LED panel that is much brighter and more colorful, enabling impressive HDR performance.
The Pro model also includes a greater selection of ports, including HDMI and an SD card slot. A convenient feature is the inclusion of USB-C ports on both sides of the laptop, allowing users to charge the device from either direction.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is also on sale, with the configuration featuring 16 gigabytes of memory and one terabyte of storage dropping to $1,549, which marks its lowest price since June and represents a $150 discount off Apple’s retail price.
Whether buyers choose the thinner 15-inch MacBook Air M5 or the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 with its superior screen, both options offer significant savings that are currently unavailable for the M6 MacBook Pro.
