Club Benefits
The MacBook Pro M5 Pro and MacBook Pro M5 Max are here! While these laptops retain the same design we’ve seen for years, they each pack the latest and most powerful iterations of the company’s M5 chip. If the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 isn’t powerful enough for your needs, these are the notebooks to get.
Looking inside, both new MacBook Pros pack up to an 18-core CPU, paired with up to a 20-core GPU and a 40-core GPU for the M5 Pro and M5 Max models, respectively. The new architecture also delivers a massive jump in memory bandwidth, reaching speeds of up to 614 GB/s on the M5 Max. Lastly, we finally get Thunderbolt 5 support across all Pro and Max models, tripling the data transfer speeds for pro-grade peripherals.
Based on what Apple has detailed, these could be the best MacBooks yet. Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s premium laptops.
MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max: Quick overview
- Starts at $2,199 (14-inch) and $2,699 (16-inch). Pre-orders open tomorrow, March 4, with availability starting March 11.
- Powered by the all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, promises a 30% boost in CPU performance.
- Includes three Thunderbolt 5 ports.
- Supports up to 128GB of unified memory with bandwidth speeds reaching 614GB/s on the M5 Max.
- These machines now start with a 1TB SSD for the M5 Pro and a 2TB SSD for the M5 Max (with speeds up to 14.5GB/s).
- A new custom wireless chip that brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the MacBook Pro for the first time.
- Apple is claiming up to 24 hours of battery life.
MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max: Specs (starting)
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5 Pro) | MacBook Pro (16-inch, M5 Max) |
Price (starting) | $2,199 | $3,899 |
Display | 14.2 inches Liquid Retina XDR (3024 x 1964 pixels), 120Hz | 16.2 inches Liquid Retina XDR (3456 x 2234 pixels), 120Hz |
Colors | Silver, Space Black | Silver, Space Black |
Chip | M5 Pro (15-core CPU, 16-core GPU) | M5 Max (18-core CPU, 32-core GPU) |
RAM | 24GB | 36GB |
Storage | 1TB | 2TB |
Cameras | 12MP Center Stage webcam | 12MP Center Stage webcam |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
Size | 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches | 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches |
Weight | 3.5 pounds | 4.7 pounds |
MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max: Design and display
The new MacBook Pros retain the utilitarian design introduced with their M1 Pro- and M1 Max-powered predecessors in 2021. While that might disappoint those seeking something brand-new, it’s hard to argue with such a practical, sleek design.
As before, the laptops feature rounded edges, a sturdy aluminum unibody chassis, and a robust port selection. They’re the same size and weight as previous models and include MagSafe charging. Color options remain black and silver.
The 14- and 16-inch displays are unchanged, as is the nano-texture glass option. While an OLED update would have been welcome, the MacBook Pro's Liquid Retina display should still look as bright and colorful as ever.
MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max: Performance
The M5 Pro and M5 Max are built on a new Fusion Architecture that combines two dies into a single system on a chip. Apple claims a 30% jump in CPU performance and a 50% increase in graphics performance over the M4 Pro/Max.
For the first time, Apple has included a Neural Accelerator in every single GPU core. This allows the M5 Pro to process LLM (Large Language Model) prompts up to 4x faster than the previous generation.
Memory bandwidth has also seen a bump, with the M5 Max supporting up to 128GB of unified memory at a staggering 614GB/s. And in a move that will make everyone dealing with the RAM crisis happy, Apple has doubled the starting SSD speeds to 14.5GB/s and increased the base storage to 1TB for M5 Pro and 2TB for M5 Max.
MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max: Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5
The new MacBook Pro features the Apple N1 chip, a custom wireless networking chip that finally brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the Mac. This should provide the stability and speed needed for high-bandwidth workflows.
The new models feature three Thunderbolt 5 ports, tripling the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4 for data-heavy peripherals. You also get an upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera that supports Desk View, ensuring you look your best during video calls.
MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max: Battery life
Despite the power increase, Apple is claiming up to 24 hours of battery life.
We'll need to get these laptops into our lab to verify that claim, but given how the 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro lasted 20 hours and 46 minutes in our testing, I expect epic endurance from these new machines.
MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max: Outlook
The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros deliver some substantial new features that go beyond new chips. By integrating Neural Accelerators into the GPU and introducing the N1 wireless chip, these are arguably the best MacBook Pros we've seen in years.
While the design remains familiar, the jump to 1TB of starting storage and the inclusion of Thunderbolt 5 make this a no-brainer for pros still rocking M1 or M2 hardware. Though we now have to pay $200 more for the starting models, these will be some of the most power laptops available.
Are you planning to upgrade to the M5 Pro or Max? Or is the current RAM crisis making you wait? Let us know in the comments!
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
- The touchscreen MacBook Pro OLED is coming with a 'new interface' — and it could be the biggest upgrade in years
- Apple smart glasses have a secret weapon against Meta Ray-Bans — and it's Tim Cook's 'next big thing'
- Apple announces F1 partnerships with Netflix, Tubi and IMAX for 2026, along with incredible Multiview features
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
