After an uncharacteristically long delay following the debut of the standard M5 chip last fall, Apple has finally unveiled its high-performance MacBook Pro lineup. These refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch models feature the new M5 Pro and M5 Max silicon, promising a substantial leap in professional-grade power. While the hardware arrives with impressive internal upgrades, it also carries a higher cost across the entire family.
Read: Sony LinkBuds Clip Review: Getting you hooked
The 14-inch MacBook Pro can be configured with either the M5 Pro or the ultra-powerful M5 Max. The M5 Pro variant offers a choice of 15 or 18 CPU cores and up to 20 GPU cores, while the M5 Max pushes the envelope with 18 CPU cores and a massive 40-core GPU option. For those opting for the larger 16-inch model, the machine starts with the high-tier 18-core M5 Pro, with the same M5 Max configurations available for peak performance.
Beyond raw processing power, Apple has overhauled the memory and storage standards. The base 14-inch model now begins with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, effectively doubling the previous generation’s 512GB entry point. Apple also claims the SSDs in these machines are twice as fast as their predecessors, ensuring that the increase in capacity is matched by a boost in speed.
In addition to the new silicon, these laptops introduce Apple’s in-house N1 chip, which brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity. Despite the power-hungry internals, Apple rates the new MacBook Pro for up to 24 hours of battery life. The exterior remains familiar, utilizing the same acclaimed Liquid Retina XDR display and a 12-megapixel “Center Stage” camera for enhanced video calls.
See also
The “standard” price for a MacBook Pro has officially shifted upward. The 14-inch M5 Pro now starts at $2,199 (up from $1,999), while the 16-inch entry model jumps to $2,699 (up from $2,499). Even the base 14-inch M5 model has seen a $100 increase, now retailing for $1,699. For those requiring the M5 Max, prices start at $3,599 for the 14-inch and $3,899 for the 16-inch models.
Pre-orders open today, March 4, 2026, with shipments and in-store availability expected to begin on March 11.
