Apple's inexorable MacBook Pro update cycle continues with the addition of AI-centric M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, Apple's N1 chip, and a bit more.
When the M5 launched in October 2025, it was only added to the base 14-inch MacBook Pro, the iPad Pro, and Apple Vision Pro. In 2024, Apple released M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max at once, so it was a move back to the previous longer cycle.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max arrive with more powerful specs and higher configuration options than the base M5. They've been included in the higher-end 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Customers can choose between the same space black and silver color options, and the physical dimensions and prices haven't budged. This is a classic chip bump update with no real surprises.
M5 Pro and M5 Max specs
Moving up to the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models gets you the faster chipsets and Thunderbolt 5 ports. MagSafe 3 is still here, as usual.
The M5 Pro model starts with a 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU. Estimates place the M5 Pro at around 4,300 single-core and multi-core around 32,400. Metal is estimated at around 146,000.
The base configuration has 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It can be configured up to an 18-core CPU, a 20-core GPU, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of storage.
Logos for the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips - Image Credit: Apple
The M5 Max starts with an 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD in the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Move up to the 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128GB of RAM, and 8 TB of storage in the 16-inch MacBook Pro at its highest specification.
Apple's core makeup this time around is a bit unusual. While previously it referred to performance and efficiency cores, there are now "super cores" and performance cores, no efficiency cores.
Estimated benchmarks place the M5 Max at about 4,500 single-core, 32,400 multi-core, and 250,000 metal score. Of course, real benchmarks for both of these chips will not arrive until reviewers start running them.
Better performance
As to be expected for Apple in the middle of the AI push, it has boasted of the benefits of the new chips. The faster and more power-efficient Neural Engine is boosted by Neural Accelerators running in each GPU core.
This allegedly adds up to four times the AI performance compared to the M4 generation, and up to eight times faster than M1 variants.
Side-on with the new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro - Image Credit: Apple
To further help with speed, Apple has set the memory bandwidth at 307GB/s for the Pro models, rising to 460GB/s or 614GB/s in the M5 Max, depending on the GPU core count.
SSD storage is also better, with twice the read and write performance versus the M4 versions. Speeds apparently go up to 14.5GB/s here.
Wireless connectivity is also improved, with Apple's N1 chip providing Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.
More of the same
While performance is better, most of the other elements are fairly static in their design.
That includes the 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch mini-LED backlit Liquid Retina XDR displays. Their relative resolutions of 3,024 by 1,964 and 3,456 by 2,234 are the same as before, as are the brightnesses peaking at 1,600 nits, True Tone support, ProMotion to 120Hz, and Wide Color (P3).
Audio is handled by a six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack with high-impedance headphone support. A three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and beamforming returns, as too does the 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support.
Battery life remains the same at 14 hours of web access for the 14-inch, 16 hours for the 16-inch model.
M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro pricing and release
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at $2,199, and the 16-inch model starts at $2,699. The M5 Max pushes the 14-inch model starting price up to $3,599, while it pushes the 16-inch model price up to $3,899.
Customers can pre-order the new M5 Pro and M5 Mac MacBook Pros starting March 4, and they begin shipping March 11.
