We said in 2025 that the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro refresh would coincide with the release of macOS 26.3, and a notable leaker agrees with that timetable that we set.
Apple is widely anticipated to be preparing an update to the MacBook Pro line for the early stages of 2026. While it didn't happen in January, that launch should occur relatively soon.
In AppleInsider's previous reporting on the topic, product identifiers revealed in July 2025 details about Apple's future launches, including the first M5 MacBook Pro sightings in late 2025.
By October, AppleInsider's sources expressed that there were plans for M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro configurations alongside macOS 26.3. After that, for macOS 26.4, updates could arrive for the Mac mini and Mac Studio.
Writing in Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman continues pressing the idea that Apple's introduction of its M5 Pro and M5 Max models of MacBook Pro will arrive alongside the update for macOS Tahoe 26.3. While the update won't necessarily happen on the same day that the 26.3 generation of software updates ship, the models will theoretically arrive in the same timeframe.
On January 26, Apple issued its third round of developer betas for the 26.3 generation, including macOS Tahoe. For macOS 15.3, the year-ago counterpart to 26.3, it shipped in the first week of February, with three betas and a release candidate.
It's still quite possible for
This is not the first time that Gurman has insisted on a release, and not even the first time he brought it up in 2026. His previous newsletter outlined expectations for launches in the M5 MacBook Pro lineup, and beyond.
Expected timeline, specifics unknown
While both Gurman and our own sourcing does point in general to an early launch for the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro, they aren't the only elements to consider. There's Apple's launch cadence as well.
With minor exceptions, Apple has a tendency to bring out the first releases in an Apple Silicon generation under the baseline chip. For Pro and Max versions, there's typically a wait of a few months, which is precisely the case here.
When it comes to the actual timeline for a launch, that all depends on when Apple actually ships macOS Tahoe 26.3. We're expecting the final beta of it any time, perhaps as soon as Feb 2.
If Apple was planning to introduce a public release of macOS Tahoe 26.3, the usual timeline would lead to Apple actually launching new models on a Tuesday of that week. Based on previous experiences, the pre-orders for the models would start either on the same day or possibly on the Friday of the same week, with shipments starting the following Friday.
Apple doesn't even have to issue a full release of macOS Tahoe 26.3 either. It could bring out its GM or release candidate build, announce new MacBook Pro models, and then follow up with the full Tahoe version before the new MacBooks ship to consumers.
There's not much expected in this update, other than the M5 Pro and M5 Max processors. Apple is rumored to be bringing out an OLED touchscreen version with M6 by the end of 2026, the M5 refresh may not be the upgrade everyone goes for this year.
