As if the new iPhones weren’t enough for Diwali gifting, Apple has also decided to unveil a new set of its flagship devices – the M5 MacBook Pro, that we’ll be talking about here, and the M5 iPad Pro, that you can read about here.
So, does Apple’s new flagship laptop truly bring something meaningful to the table, or is it just another case of the company repackaging the old product with a little addition here and there? Let’s find out!
Apple has updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro (yes, only the 14 inch model) with the new M5 chip, describing it as a ‘Big Leap’ in AI performance. Its advanced 10-core GPU (featuring a Neural Accelerator in each core) delivers up to 3.5x faster AI performance than the M4 and up to 6x faster than the M1. In simpler words, everyday AI tasks like transcribing notes, generating images, and running local language models will now be much quicker and smoother.
The 10-core CPU offers faster performance, which is ideal for multitasking, coding, and production work. With 150GB/s of memory bandwidth, users can handle large AI models or complex 3D projects with ease.
However, fans hoping for M5 Pro or M5 Max models will have to wait. The current M4 Pro and M4 Max versions remain on sale, with no word yet on when they’ll be updated. The upgraded M5 Pro and M5 Max models might not arrive until spring 2026.
The base 14-inch MacBook Pro now supports up to 4TB of storage through Apple’s online store, doubling the previous 2TB limit. However, the maximum unified memory remains capped at 32GB.
Even design-wise, there are no changes, and its display still features a Liquid Retina XDR display. There have been rumours that the M6 MacBook might see an upgrade to an OLED display. But rumours are rumours!
Apple claims the M5 MacBook Pro still delivers up to 24 hours of battery life and continues to support Wi-Fi 6E instead of the newer Wi-Fi 7.
At the end of the day, the new M5 MacBook Pro is more of an internal upgrade than a complete revamp. Yes, it’s faster, smarter, and better at handling AI-driven tasks — but for most users, the difference might not feel groundbreaking. Unless your workflow demands cutting-edge performance, the M4 MacBook Pro still holds its ground. The M5 is powerful, no doubt, but it doesn’t redefine what a MacBook can be — at least not yet.
The M5-powered MacBook Pro is now available for pre-order, and deliveries begin on Wednesday, October 22. In India, the starting price is ₹1,69,900 for the 512GB / 16GB model. It comes in Silver and Space Black finishes.
