Apple is launching updated MacBook Pros with new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and double the starting storage, the company announced Tuesday. The new models will be available for preorder starting Wednesday (March 4) and start shipping March 11; stay tuned for links to their listings on the Apple Store and third-party retailers.
The new MacBook Pros will be available in 14- and 16-inch sizes. The M5 Pro variants will start at $2,199 and $2,699, respectively, with discounts of up to $200 for education shoppers who buy direct. They come with 1TB of base storage. Apple recommends them “for users running complex workflows, like coders optimizing algorithms and photographers processing massive image libraries,” according to a company press release.
Apple announces new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, raises MacBook starting prices
The 14-inch M5 Max model starts at $3,599 (or $3,299 for students), while the 16-inch size starts at $3,899 (or $3,599 for students). Both models have 2TB of base storage. They’re aimed at “those pushing the absolute limits, such as engineers running rigorous simulations,” Apple said.
Credit: Apple
While the starting prices of both new MacBook Pro variants are higher than their predecessors’, the latter’s base models had half the storage. When configured identically, with the same amount of storage and RAM, their prices haven’t changed:
Mashable Light Speed
-
14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,199
-
16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,699
-
14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max/M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,599
-
16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max/M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,899
In keeping with this pattern, Apple has also announced that it’s updating the starting configuration of its entry-level MacBook Pro, the 14-inch model with the regular M5 chip (an October 2025 release). It now has 1TB of base storage and a starting price of $1,699. It used to start at $1,599 with 512GB of storage, with a 1TB bump costing $200 extra, so that’s actually a better deal than before.
The updated MacBook Pros won’t be the only new Apple gadgets that go up for preorder on Wednesday (and launch the following week). We’re also getting new M5 MacBook Airs, a new budget iPhone 17e, an M4 iPad Air, and new Studio Displays. A still-unannounced budget MacBook is reportedly joining the party, too. If the rumor mill is correct, it could cost $599 to $799 — giving Chromebooks and cheap Windows laptops some fresh competition.
M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro specs: What else is new
Credit: Apple
Both updated variants of the MacBook Pro feature Apple’s N1 chip, which adds support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, some newer wireless connectivity standards. Other than that, they’re basically identical to their predecessors. Here’s a rundown of the M5 Pro models’ spec sheets:
-
Sizes: 14- and 16-inch models
-
Starting prices: $2,199 and $2,699, respectively
-
Processor: M5 Pro with up to an 18-core CPU and up to a 20-core GPU
-
Display: Liquid Retina XDR display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of SDR brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content); optional nano-texture finish
-
Memory: 24GB to 64GB RAM
-
Storage: 1TB to 4TB
-
Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6
-
Battery life: Up to 24 hours of video streaming
-
Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera
-
Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack
-
Colors: Space black and silver
And here’s a breakdown of the M5 Max variants’ components:
-
Sizes: 14- and 16-inch models
-
Starting prices: $3,599 and $3,899, respectively
-
Processor: M5 Max with an 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU
-
Display: Liquid Retina XDR display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of SDR brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content); optional nano-texture finish
-
Memory: 36GB to 128GB RAM
-
Storage: 2TB to 8TB
-
Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6
-
Battery life: Up to 22 hours of video streaming
-
Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera
-
Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack
-
Colors: Space black and silver
