Apple has announced the release of a new 14 inch M5 MacBook Pro costing $1,499 with a massive focus on “AI readiness”.
The entry level M5 MacBook Pro is the same price as the 14 inch M4 MacBook Pro so there’s no big price increase either.
It’s All About AI & Performance
According to Apple’s announcement, the M5 chip is built on an advanced 3-nanometer process and delivers up to 15% faster CPU performance compared to the M4, alongside 4× faster AI and GPU performance.
The M5 introduces a new architecture with Neural Accelerators embedded into each of its 10 GPU cores, allowing AI and machine learning tasks to run directly on the GPU for improved efficiency.
The chip also features a 16-core Neural Engine and 153 GB/s unified memory bandwidth, up from 120 GB/s on the M4.
Apple says the new design “enables next-generation on-device AI performance,” supporting upcoming macOS features in Tahoe built around real-time generative AI and machine-assisted creative tools.
14-inch MacBook Pro
The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) is the first device to ship with the new processor. It has the same chassis, Liquid Retina XDR display, and port layout as the previous M4 model.
Configuration options include up to 24 GB of unified memory and 4 TB of SSD storage, while battery life remains similar to previous models – up to 18 hours of Apple TV app playback.
Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity are included, though Wi-Fi 7 support is not yet available.
Availability and Pricing
The new M5 MacBook Pro starts at $1,599 / £1,699, with pre-orders open now and shipping beginning the week of October 21, 2025.
It’s likely to be discounted on other retailers however such as Amazon and Best Buy. At the time of writing the almost identical 14 inch M4 MacBook Pro is 13% off at $1,389.
Apple confirmed that M5 versions of the iPad Pro and Vision Pro will follow later this year.
Community Reactions
On Reddit, early reactions to the launch have been mixed. Many users on r/apple welcomed the M5’s AI focus and Neural Accelerator architecture, while others noted the lack of visible design changes or Wi-Fi 7 support.
Some commenters also questioned why Apple launched only the 14-inch model initially, with speculation that M5 Pro and M5 Max variants could appear in the 16-inch MacBook Pro in early 2026.
It seems one of the biggest disappointments however is that there’s still no M5 AppleTV which is long overdue an update.
14 Inch M5 MacBook Pro Specs
| Feature | M5 MacBook Pro (2025) |
|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M5 (3 nm, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) |
| CPU Performance | Up to 15 % faster than M4 |
| AI / GPU Performance | Up to 4× faster for AI workloads |
| Memory Bandwidth | 153 GB/s unified memory |
| Storage | Up to 4 TB SSD |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Starting Price | $1,599 / £1,699 |
| Availability | Ships October 2025 |
The M5 looks like Apple’s most AI-focused chip yet with some major performance improvements as we expect from every new Apple Silicon chip release.
It’s slightly disappointing that the design remains unchanged but it seems that Apple is prioritizing AI over looks this time.
For Mac users running intensive AI or graphically demanding apps, it’s still going to be the most powerful entry level 14-inch MacBook Pro yet.