Apple has officially unveiled the first Mac with the new M5 chip, debuting in the updated 14-inch MacBook Pro — marking the next step in the company’s Apple Silicon journey.
The First M5 MacBook Pro
Traditionally, Apple’s MacBook Pro line is among the first to feature a new chip generation, and this time is no different. The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) takes the lead, becoming the standard entry model for professionals and creators.
Interestingly, Apple is reversing its rollout pattern compared to the M4 series. When the M4 generation arrived, Apple launched the Pro and Max variants immediately. With M5, however, Apple is taking a more traditional approach — starting with the base M5 chip, and introducing M5 Pro and M5 Max models in the coming months.
M5 Chip: More Power, Smarter AI
The M5 features:
- 10-core CPU – 4 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores
- 10-core GPU with upgraded architecture
- 16-core Neural Engine for on-device AI tasks
Each GPU core now includes Neural Accelerators, allowing the graphics processor to work more closely with the Neural Engine on AI-based graphics and rendering workloads — a design first seen in the A19 Pro chip powering the iPhone 17 Pro.
Apple says this new structure delivers:
- 3.5× faster AI performance compared to M4
- 6× faster AI performance than M1
- 20% faster CPU performance on multi-core tasks
- 1.8× faster AI video enhancements in Topaz Video
- 1.7× faster 3D rendering in Blender
- 1.2× faster Xcode compile times
- 1.6× faster GPU performance overall
The M5 also boosts memory bandwidth to 150GB/s, making it a powerhouse for AI-driven and creative workloads.
Memory and Storage
The base model now starts with 16GB of unified memory, a welcome bump over previous generations. You can configure it with:
- 16GB / 24GB / 32GB RAM options
- SSD storage options up to 4TB, expanded from the previous 2TB limit
Display and Design
Externally, nothing drastic has changed — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The 14-inch MacBook Pro remains a sleek aluminum unibody design with the same dimensions and weight as before:
- 0.61 inches thick, 12.31 x 8.71 inches footprint
- 3.4 pounds weight
The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display still delivers stunning visuals:
- 3,024 × 1,964 resolution (254 PPI)
- 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate
- 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR)
- 1,000 nits sustained brightness
- P3 wide color gamut
- True Tone display
- Optional Nano-texture glass finish to reduce glare
Battery Life and Ports
Despite the upgraded chip, the MacBook Pro maintains excellent efficiency:
- Up to 24 hours of video playback
- 72.4Wh lithium-polymer battery
- 68W MagSafe 3 charger included
Ports:
- 3 × Thunderbolt 5 / USB 4 ports
- HDMI
- SDXC card slot
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- MagSafe 3 charging port
Connectivity and Audio
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
- 12MP FaceTime HD camera with Centre Stage
- Six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers
- Studio-quality three-mic array
Price and Availability
The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) starts at $1,599.
- Preorders open Wednesday
- Available starting October 22
The M5 MacBook Pro may not reinvent the wheel, but it represents a significant leap forward in AI and efficiency. Apple’s focus on integrating Neural Accelerators into the GPU shows its commitment to pushing AI-driven computing even deeper into the Mac lineup — while keeping the same elegant design and battery life users already love.
This launch also sets the stage for the M5 Pro and M5 Max variants expected to power larger and more demanding Mac models later this year.
