As analysts had predicted, the latest MacBook Pro generation is primarily a hardware-focused refresh, aimed particularly at artificial intelligence workloads, rather than a sweeping redesign.

When the M5 chip debuted in October 2025, Apple limited it to the standard 14-inch MacBook Pro, the iPad Pro and the Apple Vision Pro. In 2024, the company launched the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max simultaneously, so this year’s staggered rollout marks a return to an earlier strategy.

This time, M5 Pro and M5 Max arrive on the higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Customers can still choose between the familiar Space Black and Silver finishes.

The physical design, dimensions and pricing remain almost unchanged. It is a classic “chip bump” upgrade, delivering greater processing power while retaining the same exterior.

New power from M5 Pro and M5 Max

Choosing M5 Pro or M5 Max brings more powerful chipsets and the addition of Thunderbolt 5, while MagSafe 3 remains in place.

The M5 Pro starts with a 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU. Early estimates suggest single-core scores around 4,300, multi-core performance near 32,400 and Metal graphics scores of approximately 146,000.

The base configuration includes 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, upgradeable to an 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 64GB of RAM and up to 4TB of storage.

Meanwhile, the M5 Max in the 14-inch MacBook Pro begins with an 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD.

At the top end of the 16-inch model, users can opt for a 40-core GPU, up to 128GB of RAM and 8TB of storage.

Notably, Apple has revised its core classification. Instead of dividing cores into performance and efficiency categories, the company introduces “super cores” alongside performance cores, removing the traditional efficiency core terminology.

Estimates indicate the M5 Max could achieve roughly 4,500 in single-core performance, 32,400 in multi-core tests and up to 250,000 in Metal benchmarks, though independent reviews will ultimately determine real-world results.

Amid the accelerating AI wave, Apple emphasizes the enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities of the new chips. The Neural Engine has been significantly upgraded, complemented by integrated Neural Accelerators within each GPU core.

According to Apple, AI performance may be up to four times faster than the M4 generation and eight times faster than the original M1 versions. Memory bandwidth reaches 307GB/s on the Pro variant, while the M5 Max offers 460GB/s or 614GB/s depending on GPU configuration.

The SSD has also seen major improvements, with read and write speeds reportedly doubling compared with the M4 generation, reaching up to approximately 14.5GB/s. Wireless connectivity is upgraded through Apple’s in-house N1 chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

Beyond the familiar shell, most other components remain unchanged. The 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED displays retain resolutions of 3,024 x 1,964 and 3,456 x 2,234 pixels respectively. Peak brightness of 1,600 nits, True Tone, ProMotion 120Hz and the P3 wide color gamut continue to be standard.

The audio system includes six speakers with force-cancelling woofers, a 3.5mm headphone jack supporting high-impedance headphones, three high signal-to-noise ratio microphones and a 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View.

Battery life remains the same: up to 14 hours of web browsing for the 14-inch model and 16 hours for the 16-inch version.

Pricing and availability

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at US$2,199, while the 16-inch version begins at US$2,699. Choosing M5 Max raises the starting price to US$3,599 for the 14-inch model and US$3,899 for the 16-inch.

Pre-orders begin on March 4, with deliveries starting March 11.

In Vietnam, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at VND59.99 million (US$2,450), while the M5 Max version begins at VND97.99 million (US$4,000).

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro is priced from VND72.99 million (US$2,980), and the M5 Max variant from VND104.99 million (US$4,290).

Educational pricing is set at VND55.909 million (US$2,280), VND89.829 million (US$3,670), VND67.589 million (US$2,760) and VND96.919 million (US$3,960), respectively.

Overall, the MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max generation represents a performance-focused upgrade, particularly aligned with the rapid rise of AI workloads.

With design and user experience largely unchanged, it is a choice for those seeking maximum processing power rather than a dramatic reinvention.

Hai Phong