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M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro: What to Expect

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Apple is working on a new MacBook Pro that could launch next week ahead of the "Special Experience" planned for March 4, so we thought we'd highlight all of the rumors about the device so far.

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Design

There are no rumors of design changes, and we are expecting the upcoming M5 MacBook Pro models to look just like the M4 versions. Apple will continue to offer 14-inch and 16-inch size options, both of which should come in M5 Pro and M5 Max varieties.

M5 Max and M5 Pro Chip

We already got the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M5 chip in October, so what we're expecting are upgraded 14-inch and 16-inch models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

The M5 family is built on a more advanced N3P 3-nanometer process from TSMC, and it offers speed and efficiency improvements. The M5 chip is up to 20 percent faster in multi-core CPU performance than the M4 chip, and we could see similar improvements for the M5 Pro and M5 Max chip options. GPU performance is up to 30 percent faster.

With the M5, Apple added a Neural Accelerator to each GPU core, improving the speeds of GPU-based AI workloads. The chip also supports third-generation ray-tracing, second-generation dynamic caching, and enhanced shader cores.

The 16-core Neural Engine is more energy efficient than before, and unified memory bandwidth has improved significantly. These are all features that we're likely to see with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips as well.

Other Possible Updates

We haven't heard rumors about any other features coming to the MacBook Pro line. Apple did update SSD speeds for the M5 MacBook Pro models, so we could see the same upgrade to the M5 Pro and M5 Max machines.

Why You Shouldn't Buy an M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro

If you're not in serious need of a new MacBook Pro right away, early 2026 is a bad time to upgrade. The next-generation MacBook Pro after the early 2026 models is expected to feature an OLED display and touchscreen capabilities, both of which will mark a major upgrade in display quality. It's expected to include a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, and macOS will be optimized for touch interactions.

Most people shelling out extra money for a MacBook Pro with a higher-end M5 Pro or M5 Max chip need the extra performance or display quality, so it is worth waiting for the huge update that's coming.

The transition to OLED will also likely bring a design update along with M6 Pro and M6 Max chip technology, which is another reason to wait.

Of course, the new features could be limited to higher-end MacBook Pro models or could be significantly more expensive. If you're on a budget, need a Mac now, or don't care about OLED, the M5 Pro and Max models could still be worth considering.

Launch Date

The new MacBook Pro models could be announced via press release next week ahead of Apple's Special Experience.

Article Link: M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro: What to Expect
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/25/m5-pro-max-macbook-pro-rumors/
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I'm gonna get the m5 pro I think as a SWE, I dont particularly want a touchscreen, dont care too much about screen quality as I can dock at home/work and just use a monitor, and my aging MBP is crying for a replacement. Let alone risking the first of a new generation; apple havent messed up with the mbp in a while but still. Also i'm assuming as the base m5 is the same price, the m5 pro/max may well be too.
 
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Nothing to see here, just another "don't buy an M5 MacBook Pro" article by Juli Clover, two weeks after the last one.

Yeah, don't buy it. That is... unless you have work to do this year.

Or wait, and be the first to buy a newly redesigned machine with lots of gee-whiz technologies that have never been in a Mac before. What could possibly go wrong? Just think of the bragging rights you'll have in the forums!
 
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MacRumors said:
Why You Shouldn't Buy an M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro

If you're not in serious need of a new MacBook Pro right away, early 2026 is a bad time to upgrade. The next-generation MacBook Pro after the early 2026 models is expected to feature an OLED display and touchscreen capabilities, both of which will mark a major upgrade in display quality. It's expected to include a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, and macOS will be optimized for touch interactions.
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So, the early 2026 M5 MBPs would be the final MacBook Pro models that do not need to come with the Apple Polishing Cloth …
 
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If you're not in serious need of a new ‌MacBook Pro‌ right away, early 2026 is a bad time to upgrade. The next-generation ‌MacBook Pro‌ after the early 2026 models is expected to feature an OLED display and touchscreen capabilities, both of which will mark a major upgrade in display quality. It's expected to include a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, and macOS will be optimized for touch interactions.
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Honestly, 2026 might be a very good time to upgrade, especially if those coming features aren't that significant to you, because it seems like they'll make the price go up!
 
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I’m sure there were these same articles when the 2015 15” MBP came out… same aging Intel Haswell chip, the 2016 will be an all new design, slimmer, lighter, TB3, etc.

Then the 2016 arrived and it had a worse camera due to thin size (kept my 2015 and even today the camera is better than any of the 2016-2020 Intel 15” MBPs), had a TouchBar, and butterfly keyboard, and heated up even worse than the 2012-2015 15” Retina MBPs. All shortcomings not corrected until Apple Silicon 16” MBPs in 2021.

Same as in 2015, this time around I’m going to get a loaded M5 Pro. There’s no telling if the M6 refresh/redesign will be a game changer or be a 2016-2020 all over again.

I will end on a positive note that the M6 will likely be a great machine. But if that turns out to be the case, I’ll get use of the M5 now, then sell and put proceeds toward the purchase of an M6 if it’s compelling enough.
 
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nutmac said:
I hope the new MacBook Pro M5 Pro and Max will also get the N1 for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.
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Macworld had their list of expectations in an article and said it was highly likely that the N1 would be in the new MacBook Pro Pro/Max versions. Don’t know if it’s just an educated guess or Gurman or Chinese supply chain sourced.
 
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People should do what they do depending on whether or not they need to get work done with it. It's never an abstract decision for me - nor does it occur in a vacuum. A few other things I factor in are what resale value I can get for the older machine - and this is a slippery target, but the longer I wait, obviously, the worse it is.

Then there are geopolitical factors - just read another article on how instability in a certain part of the world could lead to bad chip shortages. RAM is also a factor, now that AI has jacked up all memory and storage prices. Not one of these is a dealbreaker alone - aside from whether or not my work could benefit, but they add up.

And I don't want a touchscreen. I love the current form factor and this is a tested design. Do whatever rocks your boat, but I'm looking hard at the 5 Max if I can afford it. And yes, the Studio M5 Ultra looks great, but I'm not cutting feature films anymore and cannot justify it. Maybe in the future.
 
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paulvee said:
People should do what they do depending on whether or not they need to get work done with it. It's never an abstract decision for me - nor does it occur in a vacuum. A few other things I factor in are what resale value I can get for the older machine - and this is a slippery target, but the longer I wait, obviously, the worse it is.

Then there are geopolitical factors - just read another article on how instability in a certain part of the world could lead to bad chip shortages. RAM is also a factor, now that AI has jacked up all memory and storage prices. Not one of these is a dealbreaker alone - aside from whether or not my work could benefit, but they add up.

And I don't want a touchscreen. I love the current form factor and this is a tested design. Do whatever rocks your boat, but I'm looking hard at the 5 Max if I can afford it. And yes, the Studio M5 Ultra looks great, but I'm not cutting feature films anymore and cannot justify it. Maybe in the future.
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Good point. The geopolitical/AI factors could have a significant impact on upcoming products in terms availability, configuration, and pricing. The family has been fully upgraded with iPhone 17 Pros, iPads, Watches, and Airs. I'll buy an M5 Pro (leaning toward Max) now to lock in value at a reasonable (for Apple) price point. We'll be set tech-wise for the next few years. If things go off the rails later this year, a lot of people holding out may regret not jumping on the M5 Pro/Max while prices were still sane.
 
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MacRumors said:
There are no rumors of design changes, and we are expecting the upcoming M5 MacBook Pro models to look just like the M4 versions. Apple will continue to offer 14-inch and 16-inch size options, both of which should come in M5 Pro and M5 Max varieties.
Click to expand...
erm actually u forgot about the fn key and mute key to expect to change 👆🏻🤓
 
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