Apple has officially launched the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with pre-orders opening on March 4 and units shipping from March 11.
Performance figures confirmed by Apple:
- Up to an 18-core CPU, with Apple claiming the world’s fastest CPU core
- Next-generation GPU featuring a Neural Accelerator built into every core
- Up to 4x faster AI performance versus the previous generation; up to 8x versus M1
- Graphics performance up 50% compared to M4 Pro and M4 Max
- M5 Max configuration supports up to 128GB unified memory with 614GB/s memory bandwidth
Storage and SSD speeds also see a notable upgrade:
- M5 Pro models now start with 1TB storage as standard
- M5 Max models ship with 2TB as standard
- SSD read speeds reach up to 14.5GB/s — up to 2x faster than before
Full spec highlights across both screen sizes:
- 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Mini-LED displays, 1,000 nits sustained, 1,600 nits peak HDR
- Nano-texture display option available
- Up to 24 hours of battery life
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI (8K output), SDXC card slot
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 via Apple’s N1 chip
- 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support
- Six-speaker audio system
- M5 Max supports up to four external displays simultaneously
- Runs macOS Tahoe
Pricing at launch:
- 14-inch M5 Pro: $2,199
- 14-inch M5 Max: $3,599
- 16-inch M5 Pro: $2,699
- 16-inch M5 Max: $3,899
The SSD speed jump and standardised higher base storage address are two consistent criticisms of previous MacBook Pro configurations. The AI performance claims — particularly the 8x uplift over M1 — reflect how central on-device machine learning workloads have become to Apple’s chip positioning.
The M5 Max offers a higher core count GPU, up to 128GB unified memory with 614GB/s bandwidth, 2TB standard storage, and support for up to four external displays. The M5 Pro is the entry configuration with a lower memory ceiling and single external display support at the base tier.
Pre-orders opened on March 4. Units begin shipping from March 11, with availability through Apple’s website and authorised retailers.
Yes. Both M5 Pro and M5 Max models include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0, powered by Apple’s dedicated N1 wireless chip — the same chip used to handle wireless connectivity independently from the main M5 processor.
The MacBook Pro M5 ships with three Thunderbolt 5 ports (USB 4), an HDMI port capable of 8K output, an SDXC card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. MagSafe 3 handles charging, with USB-C charging also supported.