M6 MacBook Pro's 170GB/s Memory Bandwidth Skips Base 16GB Model - MacRumors
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M6 MacBook Pro's 170GB/s Memory Bandwidth Skips Base 16GB Model

The just-announced 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip features memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s, up from 153GB/s in the M5 model, but notably the performance increase doesn't stretch to the base 16GB configuration.

Apple MacBook Pro 14 in with M6 hero scaled
According to Apple's tech specs page, the option for 16GB of unified memory remains limited to 153GB/s. That's identical to the M5 version, while only the new 24GB and 32GB configurations receive the faster 170GB/s memory bandwidth.

For comparison, the high-end MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip offers 307GB/s memory bandwidth, and the high-end model with the M5 Max features up to 614GB/s memory bandwidth.

Pricing starts at $1,999, with 16GB of unified memory and 1TB of storage as standard. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro is available in Space Black and Silver, with configurations up to 32GB of memory and 4TB of storage. The new MacBook Pro is available to pre-order from Wednesday ahead of a November 6 launch.

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Top Rated Comments

BreuerEditor Avatar
4 days ago at 07:04 am
I'm genuinely curious if anyone, and I mean anyone, in the general public would even know what memory bandwidth means if they would be able to tell the difference from 153GB/s and 170GB/s for everyday computing. Something tells me that people getting the base model 14" MBP aren't measuring memory bandwidth.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4 days ago at 07:18 am

My 6 year old M1 Max is looking at these numbers and wondering where the progress is. 400GB/s in 2021 vs. 170GB/s in 2026. And we're supposed to be impressed? Apple is slowly becoming the new Intel. Can't wait for another groundbreaking 5% improvement next year.
This is the base chip. The M5 Max has up to 614GB/s.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMac The Knife Avatar
4 days ago at 07:02 am
I'm shocked, shocked I tells ya! /s



Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rybak17 Avatar
4 days ago at 07:13 am
My 6 year old M1 Max is looking at these numbers and wondering where the progress is. 400GB/s in 2021 vs. 170GB/s in 2026. And we're supposed to be impressed? Apple is slowly becoming the new Intel. Can't wait for another groundbreaking 5% improvement next year.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
surfzen21 Avatar
4 days ago at 07:47 am

400GB/s in 2021 vs. 614GB/s in 2026. Just 54% faster after five years? Not exactly impressive
You seem really hung up on bandwidth.

What is your usage scenario that you are finding this to be a limiting factor? Or are you just outraged for others?

What Ive learned from using my M3 Pro is that its over spec'd for my usage. I imagine that in the future, when I need to upgrade, I will opt for a base M series chip. Id even get an Air if it had 120hz.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spock Avatar
4 days ago at 07:18 am

I may be late to the party here but since when was the 14 in Pro 2,000 bucks! Wasn't it 1,499 and the 16 was 1,799. I already forgot my last MBP was in 2020, I forgot how much I paid but either way feels too much
The 16 has never been $1,799, it sat at $2,499 for a few years and now it is $2,699
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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