Apple has launched new 14 inch and 16 inch MacBook Pro models powered by its latest M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, bringing major performance gains, faster storage, and stronger on device AI features to its high end laptop lineup. The company continues to use the same design introduced in 2021, but this update focuses heavily on Apple silicon improvements that target developers, creative professionals, and power users who need faster workflows.
The new models follow the earlier release of the base 14 inch MacBook Pro with M5, and now complete the lineup with higher end configurations that offer more CPU cores, more GPU power, faster SSD speeds, and higher starting storage options. Apple says these machines deliver up to four times faster performance compared to the previous generation, while also maintaining long battery life.
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Apple announced the new MacBook Pro models in an official newsroom post, detailing performance gains, AI improvements, storage upgrades, pricing, and availability.
“MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max redefines what’s possible on a pro laptop, now up to 4x faster than the previous generation,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “With Neural Accelerators in the GPU, the new MacBook Pro enables professionals to run advanced LLMs on device and unlock capabilities that no other laptop can do, all while maintaining exceptional battery life.”
Apple highlights phrases such as “Neural Accelerators in the GPU” and “run advanced LLMs on device” to position the new MacBook Pro as a serious machine for AI heavy workloads.
M5 Pro and M5 Max deliver faster CPU, GPU, and AI performance
The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips use Apple’s new Fusion Architecture and combine two dies into a single system on a chip, which allows the company to push performance further while keeping power efficiency under control. Both chips feature up to an 18 core CPU with 6 super cores that Apple calls the fastest CPU core in the world, alongside 12 performance cores designed for multithreaded professional tasks.
According to Apple, users can expect:
- Up to 30 percent faster overall CPU performance
- Up to 4x faster LLM prompt processing compared to M4 Pro and M4 Max
- Up to 8x faster AI image generation compared to M1 Pro and M1 Max
- Up to 50 percent better graphics performance over M4 Pro and M4 Max
The GPU in both chips includes a Neural Accelerator in each core, which speeds up AI tasks directly on the device. Developers can train custom models locally, while creative professionals can use AI tools in video editing, music production, and design applications without relying on the cloud.
Memory bandwidth also increases significantly. M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with up to 307GB per second of bandwidth, while M5 Max supports up to 128GB with up to 614GB per second of bandwidth, making it suitable for large video projects and intensive AI workloads.
Faster SSD speeds and higher starting storage
Apple also upgraded storage performance in the new MacBook Pro. The company says read and write speeds are now up to 2x faster than the previous generation, reaching up to 14.5GB per second, which improves performance in 4K and 8K video editing, large datasets, and AI model training.
Starting storage has increased as well:
- 1TB standard storage for MacBook Pro with M5 Pro
- 2TB standard storage for MacBook Pro with M5 Max
- 1TB standard storage for the 14 inch MacBook Pro with M5
This move gives professional users more usable space out of the box without needing immediate upgrades.
Battery life, display, and connectivity upgrades
Apple claims the new MacBook Pro delivers up to 24 hours of battery life, and it supports fast charging up to 50 percent in 30 minutes with a 96W or higher USB C power adapter. The company also states that performance remains consistent whether the laptop runs on battery or plugged in.
Other key features include:
- Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak HDR brightness
- Optional nano texture display finish
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
- HDMI with support for up to 8K resolution
- SDXC card slot and MagSafe 3
- Support for up to two external displays with M5 Pro and up to four with M5 Max
- 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View
- Six speaker system with Spatial Audio
The new MacBook Pro also includes Apple’s N1 wireless chip, which enables Wi Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 for faster and more reliable connections.
Pricing and availability
Apple opens pre orders on March 4, with availability beginning March 11 in 33 countries and regions. The 14 inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at $2,199 in the US, while the 16 inch model starts at $2,699. The 14 inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at $3,599, and the 16 inch version starts at $3,899. Education pricing lowers the entry cost for eligible buyers.
The new MacBook Pro comes in Space Black and Silver, and Apple positions it as the most powerful laptop it currently sells, especially for professionals working in AI, video production, software development, and advanced graphics workflows.
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