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ZDNET Highlights
- Apple launches new MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max.
- Prices start at more than $200.
- The models support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Apple has Unveiled this is the latest Macbook Pro With M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The new models are $200 more than the previous generation, with higher starting memory and storage, faster SSD read and write speeds, better battery life, and several connectivity upgrades.
For high-end, pro work
The new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro comes standard with 1TB of local storage (2TB standard for M5 Max), with read and write speeds of up to 14.5GB/s, exemplifying its use case for pro workflows and high-end video editing.
Also: Everything Apple might introduce at its March event: MacBook M5, iPad 12, and more
The M5 chips use Apple’s new Fusion architecture, integrating the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine into a single SoC (system on chip) with an 18-core CPU, six efficiency cores and 12 performance cores.
Apple increased the integrated memory and storage limits in the M5 Pro to 64GB of memory (up from 48GB in the M4 Pro) and a baseline of 1TB SSD storage. The M5 Max sticks to 128GB of integrated memory, and it boasts fast bandwidth speeds of up to 614GB/s.
Also: The new MacBook Air M5 costs $100 more – here’s what you get
Apple’s new N1 wireless networking chip (also found in the new MacBook Air M5) enables support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, along with a Thunderbolt 5 port.
better performance
Apple has improved AI and GPU performance, with the M5 chips providing an overall 50% increase in graphics performance. The official press release includes a flurry of numbers and statistics referencing the improvements of the new hardware compared to previous generations, specifically in regards to the M5 Pro and M5 Max 18-core CPUs and the new 12 performance cores. Notably:
- 4x faster LLM prompt processing than M4 Max
- 3.8x faster AI image generation than M4 Max
- 3x faster video effects rendering performance in DaVinci Resolve compared to M4 Max
- 3.5x faster AI-powered video enhancement in Topaz compared to M4 Max
Also: The iPhone 17e is here: 6 ways Apple upgraded its cheapest phone
Apple also cites improvements in battery life, including up to 24 hours unplugged and fast charging up to 50% in 30 minutes (with a 96W USB-C power adapter).
Pricing and Availability
As mentioned earlier, prices M5 MacBook Pro Models are seeing a slight uptick in line with better hardware.
- 16-inch MacBook Pro M5 Pro: $2,699
- 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 Pro: $2,199
- 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 Max: $3,599
- 16-inch MacBook Pro M5 Max: $3,899
Also: Apple’s new M4 iPad Air is here — and it’s twice as fast as your old M1 model
The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max processors will go up for preorder on March 4, with general availability following on March 11.
