Faster SSD Performance: The Underrated Upgrade of the New M5 MacBook Pro
The new M5 MacBook Pro is relatively light on changes beyond the updated chip. However, one of its few other new features—faster SSD performance—turns out to be a more significant upgrade than Apple publicly emphasizes.
Faster SSD Performance in the M5 MacBook Pro
If you currently own an M4 MacBook Pro, there may be very little about the new M5 model that justifies an immediate purchase. That said, the enhanced SSD performance in the M5 model is worth noting, especially for those who regularly work with large files.
From Apple’s official press release:
“With the latest storage technology, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 brings faster SSD performance than the previous generation for tasks like importing RAW image files or exporting large videos.”
“Additionally, with up to 2x faster SSD performance than the prior generation, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro lets users load a local LLM faster.”
Apple doesn’t spotlight this improvement heavily, and that makes sense since faster SSD speeds primarily benefit workflows involving very large files—such as high-resolution images, video projects, and local large language models (LLMs).
M5 MacBook Pro vs M4 MacBook Pro: SSD Performance Benchmarks
Popular tech YouTuber Max Tech recently put the M5 MacBook Pro head-to-head against last year’s M4 model using the Blackmagic speed test. The results were impressive:
- SSD Read Speeds:
M5 MacBook Pro: 6,323 MB/s
M4 MacBook Pro: 2,031 MB/s - SSD Write Speeds:
M5 MacBook Pro: 6,068 MB/s
M4 MacBook Pro: 3,293 MB/s
In terms of write speeds, the M5 nearly doubles the M4’s performance, aligning well with Apple’s claim of “up to 2x” faster speeds. Even more impressive are the read speeds, where the M5 achieves more than three times the performance of the M4 model.
What Does This Mean for Everyday Use?
How much difference faster SSD speeds will make largely depends on your workflow demands. For most users doing everyday tasks, the upgrade might not be very noticeable. However, if you regularly handle huge files—like large photos, 4K videos, or local AI models—the gains could be substantial and exceed expectations.
Be sure to check out Max Tech’s full side-by-side comparison of the M5 and M4 MacBook Pros, available below or directly on YouTube.
Have You Upgraded to the M5 MacBook Pro?
If you’ve made the jump to the latest M5 MacBook Pro, have you noticed the impact of its faster SSD? Share your experience in the comments below—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Looking for accessories to complement your MacBook Pro? Check out our recommendations for the best Mac accessories to enhance your setup.