Apple has unveiled a new 14‑inch MacBook Pro powered by the M5 chip. The company says it delivers up to 3.5x more performance for AI workflows, faster storage, and up to 24 hours of battery life.
The new M5 includes a faster and more efficient CPU, an enhanced Neural Engine, and higher memory bandwidth. Apple says this accelerates launching apps, running large language models (LLMs) on device and other activities while boosting battery life.
The updated 14-inch MacBook Pro – there’s no word on the 16-inch model getting an upgrade- retains the same Liquid Retina XDR display with a nano-texture option, 12MP Center Stage camera, six-speaker sound system, and array of ports.
While most updates end up adding to the cost, Apple has managed to keep the 14-inch MacBook Pro at the same price of $2499. It comes in space black or silver, with pre-orders open and units expected to chip next Wednesday, 22 October 2025.
What’s in the new M5 chip?
The new M5 chip boasts a 10-core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core. Apple says it delivers up to 3.5x faster AI performance than M4, and up to 6x faster performance than M1. It’s heartening that Apple is actually comparing the new model to the previous release. Typically, it makes comparisons with older models.
The GPU in M5 delivers up to 1.6x faster graphics performance in pro apps and enables up to 1.6x higher frame rates in games than the M4 model. The faster 16-core Neural Engine accelerates on-device AI-driven tasks and enhances performance of the generative models that power Apple Intelligence.
Apple says the MacBook Pro with M5 delivers:
- Up to 7.7x faster AI video-enhancing performance in Topaz Video when compared to the 13‑inch MacBook Pro with M1, and up to 1.8x faster than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4.
- Up to 6.8x faster 3D rendering in Blender when compared to the 13‑inch MacBook Pro with M1, and up to 1.7x faster than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4.
- Up to 3.2x higher frame rates in games when compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1,3 and up to 1.6x faster than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4.
- Up to 2.1x faster build performance when compiling code in Xcode when compared to the 13‑inch MacBook Pro with M1, and up to 1.2x faster than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4.
Apple has also boosted performance with a faster SSD which the company says is twice as fast as the previous model.
What about the 16-inch MacBook Pro?
Surprisingly, Apple has not released a new 16-inch MacBook Pro. Whether an update to that model will come later will be interesting. Could Apple drop the larger model from the market? Perhaps the 15-inch MacBook Air has cannibalised that device’s market. Or perhaps Apple has held the 16-inch MacBook Pro back as it prepares M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.