What Changes Are Expected in the M5 MacBook Pro?

TL;DR

The M5 MacBook Pro is expected to prioritize chip performance while retaining the current design, 16 GB minimum RAM, and likely $1,599 starting price. Rumored upgrades include stronger GPU and AI capabilities, a possible 12-core GPU, and potentially 1 TB of base storage, while an OLED redesign is expected with the M6 generation in late 2026 or early 2027.

Transcript

So then guys, with the announcement of new iPhone, Apple watches, and all of those great new bits of tech that have just come out from Apple, a lot of you are wondering, what about the next pieces of tech from Apple? And specifically, what about the MacBook Pro with the M5 chip inside of it? When is that going to be updated? Because currently, we h... Read More

Key Insights

• The M5 MacBook Pro is expected to retain the existing exterior design because the major redesign is reportedly planned for the M6 generation. The current chassis has remained broadly unchanged since Apple introduced the 14-inch and 16-inch M1 Pro and M1 Max models in 2021.
• An OLED MacBook Pro is not expected with the M5 generation. The rumored OLED redesign could instead arrive with M6 models near the end of 2026 or during the beginning of 2027, implying an additional wait of roughly 12 to 18 months.
• The M5 chip is expected to retain a 10-core CPU rather than add more CPU cores. The M4 was already the first chip in this series to increase the CPU count from the eight cores used by the M1 through M3 generations.
• A 12-core GPU is a possible M5 upgrade because the standard M4 currently has a 10-core GPU, a configuration that has remained unchanged since the M2 generation. Any increase in core count is considered more likely on the graphics side than the CPU side.
• Overall M5 performance could improve by an estimated 30–40% when gains across the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine are considered together. The CPU alone may be approximately 15% faster, while larger improvements could come from graphics and AI-related processing.
• The M5 may adopt features associated with the A19 Pro, including additional cache for efficiency cores and GPU cores with neural AI capabilities. Bringing similar technology to the MacBook Pro could strengthen graphics processing and workloads that benefit from specialized AI acceleration.
• Base storage could increase from 512 GB to 1 TB with the standard M5 MacBook Pro. This remains a prediction rather than a confirmed specification, but the change would address the argument that 512 GB is limited for a professional laptop.
• The M5 MacBook Pro could launch in late October or early November 2025, although February or March 2026 is another reported possibility. Apple may also separate the launches, introducing the standard M5 model before MacBook Pro configurations using M5 Pro or M5 Max chips.

Questions & Answers

Q: When will the M5 MacBook Pro be released?

The earliest suggested release window is late October or early November 2025, matching the timing used for MacBook Pro updates during the previous two years. However, reports also point to a possible February or March 2026 launch. Another possibility is that Apple introduces the standard M5 MacBook Pro before the end of 2025, while delaying M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations until 2026.

Q: Will the M5 MacBook Pro have an OLED display?

The M5 MacBook Pro is not expected to include an OLED display. It will likely retain the existing display technology and physical design for one more generation. The OLED panel and redesigned chassis are instead associated with MacBook Pro models using the M6 chip, which could arrive near the end of 2026 or at the beginning of 2027.

Q: How much faster could the M5 MacBook Pro be?

The estimated overall improvement is roughly 30–40% when potential gains across the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine are combined. That figure does not mean every component will become equally faster. The CPU alone may improve by approximately 15%, while graphics and AI-related processing could account for a larger share of the total performance increase.

Q: How many CPU and GPU cores could the M5 chip have?

The standard M5 is expected to keep a 10-core CPU, matching the core count introduced with the M4. A graphics upgrade is considered more likely, with a possible increase from the M4 chip's 10-core GPU to a 12-core GPU. These specifications are presented as expectations and possibilities, not as confirmed details from Apple.

Q: Will the M5 MacBook Pro receive a new design?

The M5 MacBook Pro is expected to use the same general design as the current model. Apple has retained this form since launching the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips in 2021. The M5 generation may be the final release using that design before an OLED-equipped M6 redesign arrives.

Q: Will the M5 MacBook Pro start with 1 TB of storage?

A base storage increase from 512 GB to 1 TB is described as a possibility for the standard M5 MacBook Pro. The current baseline has remained at 512 GB for a long period, and the source argues that 1 TB would be more suitable for a professional computer. Apple has not confirmed this proposed storage change in the provided material.

Q: How much RAM will the M5 MacBook Pro include?

The minimum memory configuration is expected to remain at 16 GB because Apple already increased the baseline with the M4 generation. The anticipated choices include 16 GB as the starting amount, with 24 GB and 32 GB configurations available as options. No further RAM increase is expected for the standard M5 MacBook Pro in the provided forecast.

Q: How much could the M5 MacBook Pro cost?

The M5 MacBook Pro is expected to retain the current starting price of $1,599. That price remained consistent across the M3 and M4 MacBook Pro generations. The prediction is also based on Apple maintaining prices for recently announced iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods despite inflation and concerns about tariffs, although final MacBook pricing remains unconfirmed.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The M5 MacBook Pro is expected to retain the chassis introduced with the 14-inch and 16-inch M1 Pro and M1 Max models in 2021. The main upgrade should be the M5 chip, while the OLED display and redesigned body are reportedly being reserved for a later M6 generation.

• The M5 chip may retain a 10-core CPU while increasing graphics capacity from the M4 chip's 10-core GPU to a possible 12-core GPU. Combined improvements to the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine could produce an estimated overall performance increase of roughly 30–40%, although individual CPU gains may be closer to 15%.

• Apple could release an M5 MacBook Pro around late October or early November 2025, but an early 2026 launch around February or March is also possible. The standard M5 model might arrive before M5 Pro and M5 Max versions. Pricing is expected to remain near the current $1,599 starting point.