The 16-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display costs $500 more than the 14-inch when you pick the M5 Pro chip. The 14-inch starts at $2,899 and the 16-inch at $3,399, according to Apple’s announcement. With the M5 Max, the gap narrows to $300, at $4,499 and $4,799. Pre-orders are open now, and both sizes reach customers on Friday, November 6.
Both sizes get the same tandem OLED panel technology, the same touch support and the same ports. The differences come down to screen area, weight, battery, the chip options and price. Here’s how they compare, using Apple’s own numbers.
The 16-inch costs $500 more with M5 Pro and $300 more with M5 Max
- 14-inch with M5 Pro: $2,899 ($2,749 with education pricing)
- 16-inch with M5 Pro: $3,399 ($3,199)
- 14-inch with M5 Max: $4,499 ($4,199)
- 16-inch with M5 Max: $4,799 ($4,499)
The $500 isn’t only for the bigger screen. The cheapest 14-inch uses an M5 Pro with a 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU. Apple’s spec sheet shows the 16-inch only offers the M5 Pro with an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, so every 16-inch gets the faster M5 Pro. It also ships with a 140W adapter in the box, against 70W on the entry 14-inch.
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The 16.3-inch screen gives you more pixels at the same 254 pixels per inch
The 14-inch model has a 14.2-inch display with a native resolution of 3024 by 1986. The 16-inch has a 16.3-inch display at 3472 by 2266. Both run at 254 pixels per inch, so text looks equally sharp. You simply get more room on the bigger panel. Apple measures these sizes diagonally, and the viewable area is a little smaller because of the rounded corners.
Everything else about the display is shared. Both reach up to 2000 nits peak brightness for HDR and SDR, a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio and ProMotion from 10Hz to 120Hz. Both offer the optional nano-texture glass.
The 14-inch weighs 3 lb and the 16-inch weighs 4 lb, both lighter than before
Apple lists the 14-inch at 3.0 lb with M5 Pro and 3.1 lb with M5 Max. The 16-inch weighs 4.0 lb with M5 Pro and 4.1 lb with M5 Max. Apple says the 14-inch is about half a pound lighter than the model it follows and about 0.5mm thinner. The 16-inch drops 0.7 lb and is nearly 1mm thinner.
Dimensions from Apple’s spec sheet:
- 14-inch: 0.59 inch thick, 12.24 inches wide, 8.52 inches deep
- 16-inch: 0.63 inch thick, 14.0 inches wide, 9.62 inches deep
That extra pound and the wider footprint are what you notice in a backpack or on a tray table. The 14-inch is the easier daily carry.
The bigger battery gives the 16-inch up to 24 hours of video playback
The 16-inch has a 100Wh battery, against 72.6Wh in the 14-inch. Apple’s figures:
- 14-inch with M5 Pro: up to 22 hours of video streaming and 14 hours of wireless web
- 14-inch with M5 Max: up to 20 hours of video and 13 hours of web
- 16-inch with M5 Pro: up to 24 hours of video and 17 hours of web
- 16-inch with M5 Max: up to 22 hours of video and 16 hours of web
Apple ran these tests in September 2026, and real results vary by use and configuration. The gap is biggest for web browsing, where the 16-inch M5 Pro lasts three hours longer than the 14-inch. Apple also says both sizes fast charge to 50 percent in about 30 minutes.
Both sizes share the same six-speaker system and the same ports
Apple doesn’t split the audio by size. Both get a six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers. Apple says an all-new woofer design delivers 50 percent deeper bass, alongside updated tweeters and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. There’s also a three-mic array with Voice Isolation.
Ports are identical too. You get three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 and a headphone jack on both, plus Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The external display count depends on the chip, not the size. M5 Pro handles three and M5 Max handles four.
Get the 14-inch if you travel and the 16-inch if the laptop rarely leaves your desk
For most people, the 14-inch with M5 Pro at $2,899 is the one to buy. It’s a full pound lighter, it has the same sharp panel and ports, and its battery life is still long. If you travel a lot, that weight saving adds up quickly.
Choose the 16-inch if you edit video or work in big timelines, spreadsheets or code side by side, and you mostly work at a desk or on a sofa. The extra $500 also buys the faster 18-core M5 Pro and the best battery life in the lineup. If you’re already set on the M5 Max, the size premium falls to $300, which makes the 16-inch an easier call.
Where to buy the touchscreen MacBook Pro, and the cheaper MacBook Pro deals right now
Apple takes orders for the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display on its online store and in the Apple Store app, and it ships November 6. Amazon doesn’t list it yet. If you don’t need touch, Amazon has the M5 Pro and M5 Max models it sits beside for up to $610 off. See our MacBook Pro deals for every price we checked.
Need a faster charger for 50 percent in 30 minutes? Amazon sells Apple’s 96W USB-C Power Adapter for $79 and the 140W adapter for $99.
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