Apple updated its 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M5 chip, faster storage options, and claimed 24-hour battery life, while keeping the starting price at $1,599. The refresh focuses exclusively on internal performance improvements the design, ports, display, and other features remain identical to the M4 model released last year.
Preorders are available now, with devices shipping October 22nd. The base configuration includes a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory, and a 512GB SSD.
What’s New: M5 Performance and Storage
The M5 chip brings significant performance improvements over the M4, particularly for AI and graphics workloads:
AI Performance: Apple claims 3.5x faster AI task processing compared to M4, enabled by the next-generation 10-core GPU with Neural Accelerators embedded in each core. This architectural change dramatically accelerates local LLM inference, image generation, and other AI-driven workflows.
Graphics Performance: 1.6x faster graphics and up to 1.6x higher frame rates in games versus the M4 MacBook Pro. The improved GPU includes Apple’s third-generation ray-tracing engine and enhanced shader cores.
CPU Performance: 20% increase in multithreaded performance, powered by what Apple calls “the world’s fastest performance core” in the M5’s up-to-10-core CPU (four performance cores, six efficiency cores).
Memory Bandwidth: Unified memory bandwidth increases from 120GB/s on M4 to 153GB/s on M5 a nearly 30% improvement that benefits all workloads but particularly AI inference and high-resolution content creation.
Storage: The base 14-inch MacBook Pro now features up to 2x faster SSD performance compared to the previous generation. More significantly, users can now configure up to 4TB of storage without upgrading to an M5 Pro chip. However, the 4TB upgrade costs $1,200 nearly as much as the base laptop itself.
What Hasn’t Changed
Everything else about the 14-inch MacBook Pro remains identical to the M4 generation:
- Same three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports (the third port was added with the M4 update)
- Same Liquid Retina XDR display with optional nano-texture anti-glare coating
- Same 1080p webcam with Center Stage
- Same speakers, microphones, and Wi-Fi 6E networking
- Same physical design, weight, and dimensions
- No new color options
Apple provides a side-by-side comparison on its website showing the similarities between M4 and M5 models. The lack of changes isn’t necessarily negative the M4 generation introduced meaningful quality-of-life improvements over M3, including the third USB-C port and anti-glare display option, making it a solid foundation for an internal performance bump.
The Upgrade Calculus: Should you upgrade M4 Macbook to M5
For users considering an upgrade from the M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, the value proposition depends heavily on workload:
Upgrade makes sense if:
- You regularly run local AI models (3.5x faster prompt processing is substantial)
- You use AI-heavy creative applications like image generators or video tools
- You game frequently on macOS and want higher frame rates
- You need more than 2TB of storage and don’t want to upgrade to a Pro chip
Consider keeping M4 if:
- Your workloads are primarily traditional productivity (documents, web browsing, video calls)
- You don’t run demanding AI or graphics applications
- The 20% multithreaded CPU improvement doesn’t justify the upgrade cost
- You’re happy with current performance and battery life
For users on M3 or older MacBooks, the M5 represents a more compelling upgrade. Combined with the third Thunderbolt port, optional anti-glare display, and dramatically improved AI performance, the cumulative improvements over M3 are substantial.
Battery Life Claims: 24 Hours
Apple claims up to 24 hours of battery life on the M5 MacBook Pro. This matches the M4 generation’s claimed battery life, suggesting M5’s improved power efficiency offsets its increased performance rather than extending battery runtime.
The technical angle that matters: Apple’s battery life claims use the “Apple TV app movie playback” test watching locally stored video with display brightness set to specific levels. Real-world battery life for demanding workloads (video editing, local LLM inference, compiling code) will be significantly lower, though likely better than M4 for equivalent tasks due to M5’s efficiency improvements.
Pricing and Configuration Options
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 starts at $1,599 for:
- M5 chip with 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU
- 16GB unified memory
- 512GB SSD
Configuration options include:
- Memory: 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB unified memory
- Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB SSD
- Display: Standard or nano-texture anti-glare coating (+$150)
The ability to configure 4TB storage without upgrading to M5 Pro is new, though the $1,200 premium makes it an expensive option. For comparison, external Thunderbolt 4 SSDs offer 4TB capacity for $400-600, though with slower performance than internal storage.
The Competitive Context
The M5 MacBook Pro arrives as laptop AI performance becomes increasingly important. Intel’s Panther Lake processors, launching in 2026, promise up to 180 Platform TOPS for AI workloads. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips target Windows laptops with dedicated NPUs. AMD’s Ryzen AI processors compete in the same space.
Apple’s advantage remains its unified architecture. The M5 chip integrates CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and Neural Accelerators sharing 153GB/s of memory bandwidth—a level of integration competitors struggle to match. This translates to better real-world performance for mixed workloads that utilize multiple processing units simultaneously.
However, Windows laptops increasingly offer features Apple doesn’t: touchscreens, 2-in-1 designs, OLED displays with higher refresh rates, and broader port selection. The M5 MacBook Pro remains a traditional clamshell laptop with no touch input, fixed 120Hz refresh rate, and three USB-C ports. For users who value those features, Windows alternatives may be more appealing despite Apple’s performance advantages.
Who Should Buy the M5 MacBook Pro
This laptop makes sense for:
- Students and content creators who need portable performance
- Developers running local LLMs or AI-assisted coding tools
- Photographers and video editors working with high-resolution media
- Users prioritizing battery life and build quality
- Anyone invested in the Apple ecosystem (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch integration)
Consider alternatives if:
- You need a touchscreen or 2-in-1 form factor
- You require specialized ports (Ethernet, full-size HDMI, SD card reader without dongles)
- You’re on a tight budget (Windows laptops offer more options under $1,500)
- You need maximum GPU performance for gaming or 3D rendering (discrete GPUs still lead)
Apple’s updated 14-inch MacBook Pro delivers meaningful internal performance improvements while maintaining the same design, features, and starting price as the M4 generation. The M5 chip’s 3.5x AI performance improvement, 1.6x graphics uplift, and faster storage make this a solid refresh for users who prioritize on-device AI capabilities and creative workflows.
The lack of design changes or new features means this is clearly a spec-bump refresh rather than a reimagined product. For M4 owners, the upgrade may not justify the cost unless AI workloads are central to your workflow. For M3 or older MacBook owners or anyone buying their first Mac, the M5 MacBook Pro represents a compelling package at $1,599, combining professional-grade performance with excellent battery life in a proven design.
Preorders are available now, with devices shipping October 22nd.
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