Apple Rumored to Launch MacBook Pro With M5 Chip Before M5 Pro and M5 Max Models

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to release a base MacBook Pro with a standard M5 chip before higher-end models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, according to AppleInsider's sources with "knowledge of macOS Tahoe development and hardware testing."

The report said a MacBook Pro with an M5 chip is "nearing release," and Apple has apparently been testing this model with an unreleased macOS 26.0.2 version.

14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected to follow in early 2026, with macOS 26.3 preinstalled, the report added. Following beta testing, macOS 26.3 will likely be released in January.

There is precedent for a decoupled launch. Apple updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 chip in November 2020, but 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips did not debut until October 2021. Then, the 13-inch MacBook Pro was updated with the M2 chip in June 2022, with 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips following in January 2023.

That trend stopped once the 13-inch MacBook Pro was discontinued. The entire 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro lineup was updated with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips all at once in October 2023, and 14-inch and 16-inch models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips debuted simultaneously in October 2024.

Last month, U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) documents surfaced for only a single unreleased MacBook Pro model, which further suggests that Apple might be planning to release a base 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 chip soon, followed by higher-end models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips early next year.

In fact, this split launch could explain why rumors flip flopped between late 2025 and early 2026 timeframes. Ultimately, it sounds like it will be both.

Other devices expected to be updated with the M5 chip this year include the iPad Pro and the Vision Pro. It is still not clear if Apple plans to host an October event, or if it will announce new products with press releases and shorter videos only.

An early unboxing video for the next iPad Pro already revealed that the M5 chip will offer up to 12% faster multi-core CPU performance, and up to 36% faster graphics performance, compared to the M4 chip in the current iPad Pro. The chip still has a 9-core CPU, and it is manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process.

Bigger changes to the MacBook Pro are expected with the two-generations-away models, with rumored upgrades including an OLED display, touchscreen capabilities, a thinner design, built-in cellular connectivity, and M6 chips manufactured with TSMC's advanced 2nm process, for even greater year-over-year performance gains.

New models of the MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio are not expected to launch until next year, but the report did not mention the Mac Pro desktop tower.

Article Link: Apple Rumored to Launch MacBook Pro With M5 Chip Before M5 Pro and M5 Max Models

 

[gpat]

Just another fake leak to bait out leakers.
Just like the iPhone 17 price chart that turned out to be dead wrong.

 

[F23]

Timmy I challenge you to make me feel enough FOMO to upgrade.

 

[JPack]

Apple's strategy is basically, release when it's ready. There's no reason to hold back M5 just because the Pro/Max versions aren't not yet ready.

 

[Nozuka]

This is all just filler anyway.

 

[Zubba]

Didn't they release the MBP with the base M4 before the Pro/Max versions? Why would this be a surprise?

 

[CWallace]

M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are believed to to use TSMC's new SoIC-MH advanced packaging so that may be taking longer for TSMC to scale supply to support a formal launch of those SoCs.

The base M4 MacBook Pro is a pretty decent machine, so updating it to M5 in the holiday season could help secure sales from new Mac customers as well as upgrades from those running MacBook Pros with M1-M3 Pro SoCs who would find performance of the base SoC acceptable without needing to go to the M5 Pro.

 

[minik]

Been using the M1 Pro 14" MacBook Pro since 2021, the base M5 is tempting.

 

[FlyingTexan]

Been using the M1 Pro 14" MacBook Pro since 2021, the base M5 is tempting.

I'm a bit curious myself. Wondering how the M5 compares. My M1 pro 14" has held up well I don't use it for much more than just a daily driver and watch youtube and movies on. I have it on AppleCare One so wondering what happens if it keeps getting older and needs replacement.

 

[noraa]

The reason for the potential delay sounds totally worth it if this Macworld article is to true (https://www.macworld.com/article/29...-pros-will-be-delayed-but-worth-the-wait.html)

Essentially, Apple is working on uncoupling the CPU and GPU so they don’t have to be upgraded together. I could see this becoming extremely useful if the Mac Pro is ever updated.

 

[wnissen]

It's pretty frustrating as one of the relatively few people who is willing to spend $2-3K on a laptop to see the flagship chips go into iPads and lower-end Mac laptops. But I guess they sell more that way.

 

[t0rqx]

Fix the microscratches and dents Apple manufactures with their Apple Macbook Pros. Its outrageous that they keep selling it with these damages while HP making ten times cheaper screens are flawless.

Maybe some media outlet needs to call them out for this.

 

[MRSugarD]

The M5 MBPs are just a minor and the last stopgap before the big design overhaul introducing OLED. Very excited for that.

 

[red elma]

This move might hinder sales.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Didn't they release the MBP with the base M4 before the Pro/Max versions? Why would this be a surprise?

No.

Did you even read the article?

14-inch and 16-inch models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips debuted simultaneously in October 2024.

 

[Corpuscle]

This move might hinder sales.

Please explain

 

[ikramerica]

Timmy I challenge you to make me feel enough FOMO to upgrade.

Everyone is saying the M6 is the next big thing, so why would anyone go for an M5 unless they had to? Since Macs don’t break anymore, the machine will run forever if it lasts a month.

I would like to replace my M1 Pro but it seems only the M6 Pro will be worth it, with 50-75% single core, 2-2.5x multicore and 2x graphics performance with more base RAM (making $200 upgrade less important).

 

[ikramerica]

Everyone is saying the M6 is the next big thing, so why would anyone go for an M5 unless they had to? Since Macs don’t break anymore, the machine will run forever if it lasts a month.

I would like to replace my M1 Pro but it seems only the M6 Pro will be worth it, with 50-75% single core improvement, 2-2.5x multicore and 2x graphics performance with more base RAM (making $200 upgrade less important).

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Apple's strategy is basically, release when it's ready. There's no reason to hold back M5 just because the Pro/Max versions aren't not yet ready.

They must have forgotten their strategy when they released the disaster called iOS 26.

 

[Corefile]

Surely they'll release an M5 Mini this year. If they don't then I might not buy one.

 

[GMShadow]

Fix the microscratches and dents Apple manufactures with their Apple Macbook Pros. Its outrageous that they keep selling it with these damages while HP making ten times cheaper screens are flawless.

Maybe some media outlet needs to call them out for this.

You're the only person I've ever seen complain about this. I really recommend you go with HP at this point if they're so flawless. Choose to be happy.

Everyone is saying the M6 is the next big thing, so why would anyone go for an M5 unless they had to? Since Macs don’t break anymore, the machine will run forever if it lasts a month.

I would like to replace my M1 Pro but it seems only the M6 Pro will be worth it, with 50-75% single core, 2-2.5x multicore and 2x graphics performance with more base RAM (making $200 upgrade less important).

Eh, if M5 is the last on this chassis I can see going for it - the bugs are worked out and you don't have to worry about any potential early-adopter issues on a new chassis with possible OLED for M6.

 

[andrewxgx]

makes sense
if they went all in in neural/tensor cores in GPU, they want all the supply of bigger chips for their own AI servers

 

[sniffies]

Why can't we have 16" with just M5? Not Pro or Max.

 

[kiranmk2]

Interesting. I thought Apple swapped the release of the MBA and MBPs around was to stop the earlier release of the MBA cannibalising sales of the MBP. This is sounding like the M5 MBP will cannibalise some M4 Pro & M5 Pro/Max MBP sales. I'm expecting that the M5 will have CPU & GPU performance in the region of the base M4 Pro and a faster single core performance than even the M4 Max MBP. With this in mind, why would someone buy the (still on sale) M4 Pro MBP when they can get similar performance with a cheaper M5 MBP model?

 

[ikramerica]

You're the only person I've ever seen complain about this. I really recommend you go with HP at this point if they're so flawless. Choose to be happy.




Eh, if M5 is the last on this chassis I can see going for it - the bugs are worked out and you don't have to worry about any potential early-adopter issues on a new chassis with possible OLED for M6.

If I don’t like the
M6 changes I can pick up a M5pro from leftovers or refurbs.