Apple announced the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip on October 15, 2025, in a press release rather than a launch event. Preorders opened the same day, and the laptop reached stores on October 22, 2025. The price starts at 1,599 dollars in the United States, with education pricing at 1,499 dollars. The change is inside the laptop. The M5 chip brings faster AI work, faster graphics, faster storage, and longer battery life, while the screen, the ports, and the aluminum body stay the same.
MacBook Pro M5 at a glance: what changed
Apple refreshed only the 14-inch base MacBook Pro in October 2025. The M5 chip, faster SSD, up to 4TB of storage, and up to 24 hours of battery life are the changes. The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, the ports, the 12MP camera, and the design are unchanged from the M4 model. The price starts at 1,599 dollars.
The October 2025 update is a chip refresh, not a redesign. Apple announced the new model, the new iPad Pro with M5, and an updated Vision Pro on the same day, all through press releases. TechCrunch reported the three announcements together and noted the October 22 date for store availability. The MacBook Pro kept its space black and silver finishes and the same starting price, according to Apple.
What is new sits under the keyboard. The M5 chip brings faster AI work, faster graphics, and faster storage, and battery life rises to up to 24 hours of video streaming, according to Apple. Buyers can now order up to 4TB of storage in this base model. The laptop ships with macOS Tahoe. Everything else is familiar. The display, the ports, the camera, the speakers, and the size and weight are the same as the M4 model, so the M5 model is a clear step up for people who own an Intel Mac or an M1 Mac, and a small step for people who already own the M4 model.
The M5 chip and AI performance
The M5 chip has a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says it delivers up to 3.5 times the AI performance of the M4 chip and up to 6 times the AI performance of the M1. Memory bandwidth rises to 153GB/s, up from 120GB/s.
The Neural Accelerator in each GPU core is the main change in the M5 chip. Apple built it to speed up AI work that runs on the graphics processor, such as image generation, video enhancement, and running large language models on the device. The 16-core Neural Engine also works faster, and memory bandwidth of 153GB/s lets the chip move data more quickly. The Apple Newsroom announcement names Draw Things for text to image work and LM Studio for local language models as examples.
Apple gives its own test figures for AI work. The company says the M5 model runs AI video enhancement in Topaz Video up to 1.8 times faster than the M4 model, and up to 7.7 times faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1. Those figures come from Apple testing in September 2025, and they compare specific apps, not every task. Treat those figures as a guide to where the gain is largest, not as a promise for every app. The M5 chip also powers the iPad Pro with M5, announced the same day. Readers who want the tablet version can read our guide to the iPad Pro M5.
CPU, graphics and everyday speed
Apple says the M5 CPU runs multithreaded work up to 20 percent faster than the M4, and the GPU runs graphics up to 1.6 times faster. Independent tests from Tom’s Guide found smaller gains in general use and larger gains in creative apps, with Geekbench 6 multi-core rising from 15,114 on the M4 model to 17,986 on the M5 model.
The M5 CPU has 10 cores, with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, according to Apple Support. Apple says multithreaded work such as code compiling runs up to 20 percent faster than on the M4 model, and building code in Xcode runs up to 1.2 times faster than the M4 model and up to 2.1 times faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1. Those gains are modest next to the AI figures.
Tom’s Guide tested the M5 model in its lab and found Geekbench 6 single-core at 4,288, up from 3,807 on the M4 model, and multi-core at 17,986, up from 15,114. PugetBench for Photoshop scored 13,755 on the M5 model against 10,542 on the M4 model, and a 4K video transcode in Handbrake took 3 minutes 31 seconds against 4 minutes 27 seconds. Graphics show the same pattern. Apple says the GPU runs up to 1.6 times faster, and Tom’s Guide measured Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 57 frames per second at 1200p, against 36 on the M4 model.
Faster storage and more room for files
Apple says the new MacBook Pro has up to two times faster SSD performance than the M4 model, and storage now goes up to 4TB in this base model. The base model still starts with 512GB of storage and 16GB of unified memory, with 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB storage options and 24GB or 32GB of memory.
Faster storage is the change most owners will feel day to day, because it affects loading large projects, importing photo files, and opening big video files. Apple says the faster SSD helps with tasks such as importing RAW image files and exporting large videos, and with loading a local language model faster. The Apple Newsroom announcement puts the gain at up to two times the SSD performance of the prior generation.
The storage options matter as much as the speed. The base model comes with 512GB of storage and 16GB of unified memory for 1,599 dollars. Buyers can order 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB of storage, and 24GB or 32GB of memory, according to Apple Support. The 4TB option is new for this base model. Storage and memory cannot be upgraded later, so a buyer who edits 4K video or runs local AI models should weigh the 24GB memory option and at least 1TB of storage.
Battery life and charging
Apple rates the MacBook Pro M5 at up to 24 hours of video streaming and up to 16 hours of wireless web browsing. Tom’s Guide measured 18 hours and 14 minutes of web surfing, close to the M4 model at 18 hours and 31 minutes and far ahead of the Dell 14 Premium at 8 hours and 16 minutes.
The headline figure of up to 24 hours needs a plain reading. Apple tested video streaming with 1080p content in Safari, with the display set to eight clicks from the bottom and the keyboard backlight off, according to the test notes on the Apple Support specs page. Wireless web browsing is rated lower, at up to 16 hours. Real use sits below those figures, because screen brightness, the apps in use, and video calls all draw power.
Tom’s Guide ran its own test of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi with the display set to 150 nits of brightness. The M5 model lasted 18 hours and 14 minutes, against 18 hours and 31 minutes for the M4 model and 8 hours and 16 minutes for the Dell 14 Premium. Charging is straightforward. The laptop ships with a 70W USB-C power adapter and a USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable, and it supports fast charging to 50 percent in 30 minutes with a 96W or higher adapter, which costs extra. The battery is a 72.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery.
Display, camera and sound
The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is unchanged, with 3024 by 1964 resolution, ProMotion up to 120Hz, up to 1600 nits peak HDR brightness, and a nano-texture option. The 12MP Center Stage camera, the six-speaker sound system, and support for Spatial Audio also carry over from the M4 model.
The display is the same panel as the M4 model, and that is good news for buyers, because it was already one of the best laptop screens available. Apple lists 1,000 nits of sustained full-screen brightness, 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR content, and up to 1,000 nits for SDR content outdoors, with a 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio and P3 wide color. Tom’s Guide measured 558 nits of SDR brightness and 1,109 nits of HDR brightness on its review unit, with a Delta-E color accuracy score of 0.20.
The nano-texture display option is worth a look for people who work near windows or under bright lights, because it cuts glare sharply. The option costs extra, and it comes with a polishing cloth in the box. The camera and sound also carry over. The 12MP Center Stage camera keeps the user in frame during video calls and supports Desk View, and the six-speaker sound system supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.
Design, ports and connectivity
The design is unchanged from the M4 model, with the same aluminum body, the same size at 12.31 by 8.71 by 0.61 inches, and the same weight of 3.4 pounds. The laptop has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, a MagSafe 3 port, and a headphone jack, with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
The design dates back to the 2021 MacBook Pro models. The body is a solid slab of machined aluminum, the lid opens with one hand, and the keyboard has good key travel with a large Force Touch trackpad. Touch ID sits in the power button and unlocks the laptop and signs in to websites.
The ports are a strength of this laptop, and they are unchanged. Three Thunderbolt 4 ports support charging, DisplayPort, and speeds of up to 40 Gbps. The HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port, and 3.5mm headphone jack are all present, so photographers can load cards without a dongle. The laptop can drive up to two external displays at up to 6K at 60Hz, according to Apple Support. Connectivity is the one weak spot. Apple lists Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, not Wi-Fi 7, and the laptop keeps Thunderbolt 4 rather than Thunderbolt 5.
macOS Tahoe and Apple Intelligence
The MacBook Pro M5 ships with macOS Tahoe, which adds a Liquid Glass design, a more powerful Spotlight, a Phone app with Continuity, and Live Activities from iPhone. Apple Intelligence adds Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app, plus Writing Tools and smarter Shortcuts that can use Apple Intelligence models.
macOS Tahoe changes how the Mac looks and works. The design uses Liquid Glass, with a transparent menu bar, an updated Control Center, and new color options for folders, app icons, and widgets. Spotlight is more useful than before, because it finds apps and files and lets the user take action from the search bar, such as sending an email or creating a note. The Phone app brings Recents, Contacts, and Voicemails to the Mac, and Live Activities from iPhone show real-time events. Readers who want more can read our guide to macOS Tahoe.
Apple Intelligence is built into macOS Tahoe, and the M5 chip is made to run its on-device models. Live Translation works in Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app. Writing Tools can rewrite, proofread, or summarize text, and Shortcuts gain intelligent actions that can use Apple Intelligence models. Apple says Apple Intelligence is available in beta, and some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Live Activities and the Phone app work through Continuity with an iPhone, and the iPhone 17 series is the current line that pairs with this laptop. Touch ID handles logins, and our passkeys setup guide explains passkeys.
MacBook Pro M5 compared with MacBook Pro M4
The M5 model beats the M4 model on chip speed, AI work, storage speed, and storage capacity, while the display, design, ports, camera, and speakers are about the same. The price is also the same at 1,599 dollars, so the M5 model is the better buy for anyone who does not already own the M4 model.
The chip is the main difference. The M5 has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core, while the M4 has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU without those accelerators. Apple says AI work runs up to 3.5 times faster on M5, graphics run up to 1.6 times faster, and multithreaded CPU work runs up to 20 percent faster. Tom’s Guide measured a smaller but real gain, with Geekbench 6 multi-core rising from 15,114 to 17,986 and Photoshop work running about 30 percent faster.
Storage is the second clear difference. The M5 model has up to two times faster SSD performance, and it can be ordered with up to 4TB of storage. Battery life is close. Apple rates the M5 model at up to 24 hours of video streaming, and Tom’s Guide measured 18 hours and 14 minutes of web surfing on the M5 model against 18 hours and 31 minutes on the M4 model. Everything else is the same. The M4 model is still a fast laptop, and owners of it should skip this update unless they run AI tools every day.
Who should buy, and who should wait
The MacBook Pro M5 suits students in creative fields, photographers, video editors, developers, and anyone who runs AI tools on the device and wants a portable 14-inch laptop with long battery life. Owners of the M4 model should wait, and buyers who need Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5, or a larger screen should look at other models first.
Buyers who will gain most are people who upgrade from an Intel Mac or an M1 Mac. Apple says the M5 model runs AI work up to 6 times faster than M1, graphics with ray tracing up to 6.8 times faster than M1, and CPU work up to 2 times faster than M1, with up to 4 more hours of battery life than M1. Students in creative fields and people who edit photos and video will also gain from the faster storage and the larger 4TB option. The laptop weighs 3.4 pounds and lasts a full workday on battery.
Buyers who should wait include owners of the M4 model. The screen, the body, the ports, and the camera did not change, and the speed gain in everyday apps is small. Buyers who need a larger screen should also look elsewhere, because Apple refreshed only the 14-inch model in October 2025. Before buying, confirm the memory and storage options, the current price, and the return policy.
Frequently asked questions
When was the MacBook Pro M5 released?
Apple announced the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 on October 15, 2025, and it became available on October 22, 2025. Preorders opened on the day of the announcement, and the laptop reached Apple Store locations and authorized resellers on October 22.
How much does the MacBook Pro M5 cost?
The price starts at 1,599 dollars in the United States, with education pricing at 1,499 dollars. The base model has 16GB of unified memory and 512GB of storage. Higher storage and memory options cost more, so check the current Apple Store price before ordering.
What is new in the MacBook Pro M5 compared with the M4 model?
The M5 chip, faster SSD storage, up to 4TB of storage, and longer rated video battery life are new. The M5 chip adds a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core, raises memory bandwidth to 153GB/s, and runs AI work up to 3.5 times faster than M4, according to Apple. The display, design, ports, camera, and speakers are unchanged.
How long does the MacBook Pro M5 battery last?
Apple rates it at up to 24 hours of video streaming and up to 16 hours of wireless web browsing. Tom’s Guide measured 18 hours and 14 minutes of continuous web surfing in its own test. Real battery life depends on screen brightness, apps, and video calls, so expect less than the headline figure during heavy work.
Does the MacBook Pro M5 have Wi-Fi 7?
No. Apple lists Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5. The iPad Pro with M5, announced on the same day, does support Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 6E is fast enough for most home and office networks, but buyers with a Wi-Fi 7 router should know the limit.
Can the MacBook Pro M5 run two external displays?
Yes. It supports up to two external displays at up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, or one display at up to 8K at 60Hz over HDMI, according to Apple Support. It also has an HDMI port, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SDXC card slot, a MagSafe 3 port, and a headphone jack.
Should I upgrade from the M4 MacBook Pro to the M5 model?
Most M4 owners should wait. The M5 chip is faster for AI work and creative apps, and storage is up to two times faster, but the display, design, ports, camera, and speakers did not change. The upgrade makes sense for M4 owners only if they run AI tools every day or need the faster storage and the 4TB option.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom, Apple unveils new 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M5 chip: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/10/apple-unveils-new-14-inch-macbook-pro-powered-by-the-m5-chip/
- Apple Support, MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) Tech Specs: https://support.apple.com/en-nz/125405
- Tom’s Guide, MacBook Pro M5 review: https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/macbooks/macbook-pro-m5-review
- TechCrunch, Apple upgrades iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro with new M5 chip: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/15/apple-upgrades-ipad-pro-macbook-pro-and-vision-pro-with-new-m5-chip/
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