Apple has revamped its range of professional computers with the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros equipped with M5 Pro and M5 Max chipsThere's no major design overhaul, but there is a significant leap forward internally, especially in everything related to artificial intelligence, raw power, and storage.
In this generation, the company maintains the chassis, the screens and much of the external hardwarebut it introduces a completely new processor architecture, more memory, higher capacity SSD as standard, and faster connectivityAll of this is coming to Spain and Europe at prices typical of a team clearly geared towards the professional environment.
Continuity of design, level displays and greater autonomy
At first glance, the new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max could easily be mistaken for previous models. Apple It maintains the same aluminum design in silver and space black finishesAvailable in two sizes: 14 and 16 inches. The company seems to be saving a major redesign for later, so anyone looking for a significant aesthetic change will have to keep waiting.
Screens are still panels Liquid Retina XDR with Mini LED technologywith 14,2-inch and 16,2-inch diagonals. They offer a pixel density of 254 pixels per inch, peak brightness of up to 1.600 nits in HDR and 1.000 nits in SDR, as well as a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. For those working in environments with many direct lights, a [missing information - likely a specific product or feature] can be added. nanotextured glass finish that reduces reflections, although it is an extra charge.
Regarding battery life, Apple announces Up to 24 hours of use on a single chargeMaintaining the same performance whether plugged into mains power or running on battery. The 14-inch model uses a 72,4 Wh battery and a recommended 70W charger at a minimum, while the 16-inch one goes up to 100 Wh and requires a 140 W charger to fully utilize fast charging.
The integrated camera remains at 12 megapixels with Center Stage function and Top ViewIt also features studio-quality microphones and a six-speaker system with spatial audio. In other words, it's a configuration that was already well above average in the laptop segment.
M5 Pro and M5 Max: New Fusion architecture and focus on AI
The big changes are on the inside. The new The M5 Pro and M5 Max debut the Fusion architecture from Applewhich combines two 3-nanometer dies into a single system-on-a-chip (SoC). This structure allows for increased bandwidth and reduced latency, which is key for heavy-duty tasks and parallel workloads.
Both processors share the same CPU design: Up to 18 cores in total, with six high-performance super cores and twelve cores optimized for efficiency and multitaskingApple speaks of up to 30% more multithreaded performance compared to comparable models of the previous generation, which is noticeable in tasks such as code compilation, video editing, or scientific computing.
The company's main focus is on artificial intelligence. Both the M5 Pro and the M5 Max incorporate it. Next-generation GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each graphics coreDesigned to process language models and generate images directly on the laptop. According to official data, the new MacBook Pro can offer up to 4 times more performance in AI tasks than the M4 Pro and M4 Max series and up to 8 times more than models with M1depending on the test and configuration.
In practice, this translates into a significant leap forward in AI-based workflows: Image and video generation using neural networks, audio processing with advanced algorithms, or local execution of large language modelsApple cites clear improvements in applications such as DaVinci Resolve, Topaz Video, and others. 3D rendering engines with ray tracing, plus improved response times when working with large photo libraries or complex video projects.
Looking at the specific figures, the M5 Pro supports Up to 64GB of unified memory with 307GB/s bandwidthwhile the M5 Max doubles down and reaches 128 GB with a bandwidth of up to 614 GB/sThis increase in memory capacity is one of the cornerstones of the performance leap, especially when handling 3D scenes, 8K video, or AI models that require large amounts of data in real time.
Memory and storage: raising the bar for the "basics"
One of the most noticeable changes on paper is in storage. Apple is responding, in part, to criticisms from previous years and raises the minimum capacity of the new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Maxaligning better with the needs of professional profiles that handle large volumes of data.
In this generation, the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro boots from a 1TB SSD as standardwhile the configurations with M5 Max They start directly at 2 TBEven the MacBook Pro with the "plain" M5 processor is being updated and now also has a minimum of 1 TB of storage, leaving behind the base 512 GB that was insufficient for many advanced users.
In addition to increased capacity, Apple claims the new solid-state drives offer Twice the read and write performance of the previous generationreaching peak speeds of around 14,5 GB/s on the highest settings. This is especially useful for those who work with 4K and 8K video, large resource libraries, or scientific projects with extensive datasets.
In terms of memory, the company maintains its commitment to unified memory. Depending on the chip and configuration, it starts with 24 GB and can be expanded up to 128 GB in the top M5 Max. The M5 Pro variant offers 24 GB, with upgrades to 48 or 64 GB depending on screen size and user needs.
This approach is clearly geared towards "heavy" workflows: multi-camera high-resolution video editing, complex 3D scenes, simulations, or local AI model trainingHowever, the cost of opting for the higher configurations skyrockets, and by a considerable amount.
Updated connectivity: Thunderbolt 5, N1 and more external displays
The chassis remains the same, but the ports have evolved. The new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max incorporates three Thunderbolt 5 ports, a standard that increases the bandwidth available for data transfers and allows for more flexible support of external displays and expansion cabinets.
Along with these ports, the laptop retains the HDMI compatible with output up to 8KThe SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 connector for fast charging, and the classic headphone jack are also included. In terms of displays, configurations with the M5 Pro can handle up to two high-resolution external monitorswhile the models with M5 Max They accept up to fourThis is something interesting for editing studios or jobs with many panels.
In the wireless field, the main novelty is the arrival of N1 chip, designed by AppleThis component enables Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity, improving both the speed and stability of connections. This improvement is noticeable in tasks such as large transfers over a local network, intensive use of AirDrop, or connections with wireless peripherals in congested environments.
All of this is combined with macOS Tahoe, the new version of the operating system, which brings A "Liquid Glass"-style visual redesign, Spotlight improvements, new automation features via Shortcuts, and integration with Apple IntelligenceApple's idea is that a large part of the AI ​​tasks can be run directly on the device, taking advantage of the new chips and avoiding constant dependence on the cloud.
AI performance, graphics, and comparisons with previous generations
Beyond theory, Apple reinforces its message with comparative figures. In AI, the new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max promises notable improvements compared to the M1 and the M4 Pro and M4 MaxHowever, many of the official metrics use models that have been on the market for several years as a reference.
In AI-powered image generation, a MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro can be Up to 7,8 times faster than a model with M1 Pro and up to 3,7 times faster than one with M4 ProIn the case of the M5 Max, the improvement reaches up to 8 times faster than the M1 Max and 3,8 times faster than the M4 Max, according to internal tests published by the company.
For language tasks, such as large model processing (LLM), the improvement is also considerable. Apple speaks of Up to 6,9 times faster in the M5 Pro compared to the M1 Pro and up to 3,9 times faster compared to the M4 ProWith the M5 Max, the figures would reach 6,7 times more than the M1 Max and up to 4 times more than the M4 Max in certain tests. These are data that, on paper, point to a strong commitment to intensive local use of AI.
In more traditional graphics applications, such as 3D rendering or video, there's also a significant improvement. In rendering applications like Maxon Redshift, the M5 Pro can be... up to 5,2 times faster than an M1 Prowhile DaVinci Resolve on an M5 Max can work up to 5,4 times faster than an M1 MaxIn games with ray tracing like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, the improvement over the M4 Pro is around 1,6 times, according to internal comparisons.
In any case, despite how striking the figures are, it's worth taking the fine print into account: Apple usually compares with base models or older generations.And always in very specific scenarios. We will have to wait for independent tests to see to what extent these numbers are reflected in the daily lives of professionals in Spain and the rest of Europe.
Versions, prices and availability in Spain
As usual, Apple has structured the new MacBook Pro range into several configurations, both by screen size and by chip, memory and storage. Prices in Spain clearly place these devices in the professional segment., with a range of options that can skyrocket if everything is selected to the maximum.
In the case of 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 ProThe official base configurations in Spain start like this:
- M5 Pro with 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 24 GB of unified memory and 1 TB SSD: from 2.549 euros.
- M5 Pro with 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, 24 GB of unified memory and 1 TB SSD: from 2.749 euros (according to some price lists) or 2.549 euros in the basic official reference.
If we go up to 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 MaxThe options start at:
- M5 Max with 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, 36 GB of unified memory and 2 TB SSD: from 4.249 euros.
- M5 Max with more memory (48 GB or more) and the same 2 TB base, with price increases if you choose 4 TB or 8 TB of storage.
In the 16-inch size, the structure is similar. For the MacBook Pro 16″ with M5 Pro:
- M5 Pro with 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, 24 GB of unified memory and 1 TB SSD: from 3.049 euros.
While on days MacBook Pro 16″ with M5 Max part of these figures:
- M5 Max with 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, 36 GB of memory and 2 TB SSD: from 4.549 euros.
- Version with 40-core GPU, 48 GB of memory and 2 TB SSD: from 5.049 euros, with the possibility of upgrading to 128 GB of memory and up to 8 TB of storage.
Anyone who decides to tick all the boxes (top-of-the-range M5 Max, 128 GB of memory, 8 TB SSD, nano-textured screen) will be looking at a bill that easily exceeds 8.500 euros in Spain, an amount that confirms that we are dealing with machines designed for professional studios, companies or very specific profiles that can really recoup that investment.
Additionally, the higher power charger is not included in all cases. Apple sells the 96W and 140W USB-C adapters separately., with prices around 85 and 119 euros respectively in the Spanish market.
The Reservations open on March 4th through the Apple website and authorized retailers in Spain and other European countries, and the General in-store availability is set for March 11thAs usual, the company offers discounted prices for the education sector and trade-in programs for those who trade in a previous Mac.
Overall, this generation of MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max represents a leap forward, especially internally: More power for AI and graphics, significantly more ambitious memory and SSDs, and connectivity adapted to the new standardsAll of this is wrapped in a familiar design that many already know. For those coming from a laptop with an Intel chip or one of the early M1 models, the change may be quite noticeable; those who already own an M4 Pro or M4 Max may see fewer reasons to upgrade, unless their work depends on maximizing AI capabilities and the highest memory configurations.
