CUPERTINO: Apple on Tuesday introduced updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by its new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, positioning the laptops for professional workflows and expanded on-device artificial intelligence. Apple said the systems add faster storage, updated wireless capabilities and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity while keeping the same form factors. Preorders opened Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and Apple said the new MacBook Pro lineup will be available starting Tuesday, March 11.
Apple said M5 Pro and M5 Max are built on a new “Fusion Architecture” that combines two third-generation 3-nanometer dies into one system on a chip, integrating the CPU, GPU, Media Engine, unified memory controller, Neural Engine and Thunderbolt 5. Apple said the chips include a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core and said the design is intended to boost AI workloads executed on device. The company said M5 Pro can be configured with up to an 18-core CPU and a 20-core GPU.
Apple said M5 Max pairs an 18-core CPU with up to a 40-core GPU and expands memory bandwidth and capacity. Apple said M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with up to 307GB per second of memory bandwidth, while M5 Max supports up to 128GB of unified memory with up to 614GB per second of bandwidth. Apple said base storage now starts at 1TB on M5 Pro models and 2TB on M5 Max models, and said SSD performance is up to 2 times faster than the prior generation, with speeds up to 14.5GB per second in its testing.
Performance and on-device AI
Apple said the MacBook Pro update is designed to extend on-device AI features supported by Apple Intelligence in macOS Tahoe. The company said the systems can run AI tasks locally, including workflows that rely on the Neural Engine and GPU acceleration, and said the approach keeps more processing on the computer rather than requiring cloud execution. Apple said the chips deliver up to 4 times AI performance compared with the prior generation and up to 8 times compared with M1-based models, citing internal measurements.
Apple said the laptops support up to two external high-resolution displays on configurations with M5 Pro and up to four on configurations with M5 Max. The company highlighted a Media Engine intended to speed video and graphics workflows and said the notebooks retain features that have become standard across recent MacBook Pro generations, including a Liquid Retina XDR display with an optional nano-texture finish. Apple said battery life is rated up to 24 hours, and the systems include a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera with Desk View support.
Pricing and availability
In the United States, Apple said the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at $2,199 and the 16-inch model starts at $2,699. Apple said the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at $3,599 and the 16-inch model starts at $3,899. The company said the new lineup will be offered in space black and silver and will be sold through Apple channels and authorized resellers, with availability covering 33 countries and regions at launch.
Apple said the systems include three Thunderbolt 5 ports, an HDMI port with support for up to 8K output, an SDXC card slot and MagSafe 3 charging. Apple also said the notebooks add an Apple-designed N1 wireless chip enabling Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Configuration options vary by model, with Apple emphasizing increased base storage and higher memory ceilings on M5 Max systems for users running demanding applications and large datasets. The first shipments are scheduled to arrive beginning March 11. – By Content Syndication Services.