Discover how cooling systems impact Apple M5 laptops. Tests show MacBook Air falls up to 40% behind MacBook Pro in games like Cyberpunk 2077 due to thermal constraints.
© A. Krivonosov
Recent tests reveal that cooling system design significantly impacts the performance of Apple's M5-powered laptops. While Apple Silicon chips are known for their energy efficiency, passively cooled models like the MacBook Air fall noticeably behind actively cooled devices during sustained workloads.
In several games, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3, the performance gap can reach up to 40%. This stems from thermal constraints: the fanless MacBook Air operates at around 9W, while the MacBook Pro can sustain approximately 20W. This difference directly affects frame rate stability. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077, the Air delivers about 54 FPS, whereas the Pro achieves 76 FPS.
A similar pattern emerges in other demanding tasks. Initially, both devices show comparable results. Over time, however, the MacBook Air begins to throttle performance due to overheating, while the MacBook Pro maintains stable operation thanks to its active cooling system. Despite this, the M5 version still demonstrates a noticeable performance improvement over the previous generation.
Overall, the MacBook Air remains a versatile solution for everyday tasks and can even handle heavy workloads. For prolonged intensive use and gaming, however, the MacBook Pro is the more suitable choice. The cooling difference continues to play a crucial role in unlocking the chip's full potential.