Apple’s recent announcement regarding its M5 Pro and M5 Max processors has introduced a significant change in how the company categorizes its CPU cores. The update to macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 now retroactively renames the performance cores of the M5 processor to ‘super’ cores, aligning with the new terminology introduced for the latest chips.
Core Architecture Changes
In Apple’s updated architecture, the previously labeled ‘performance’ cores are now referred to as ‘super’ cores, while ‘efficiency’ cores retain their original designation. Additionally, a new category of cores labeled as ‘performance’ cores has been introduced, which sits between the super and efficiency cores.
macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 Update Details
The macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 update, released recently, officially implements this naming change across the System Information app and Activity Monitor. Users will now see the updated terminology reflecting the new categorization of cores. It is important to note that this is purely a nomenclature update; no changes in performance or functionality are expected from the M5 processor following the installation of this update.
Compatibility and Support
This naming upgrade is applicable only to the M5 MacBook Pro, the first M5-family Mac released prior to the announcement of the new naming conventions. New MacBook Airs and Pros equipped with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips will ship with the updated core names. However, Macs with older M-series processors, such as the M4, will continue to use the original core labels.
Studio Display Support
In addition to the core renaming, the macOS 26.3.1 update is also necessary for compatibility with Apple’s new Studio Displays. These displays utilize A19-series chips and run iOS-derived software, which requires periodic updates from the connected Mac. Not all Macs are compatible with the Studio Displays, and even those that are may not support the full 120 Hz refresh rate of the Studio Display XDR.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
