Apple has introduced the MacBook Pro M5 lineup, featuring the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips in 14-inch and 16-inch models. The new machines deliver up to 4x faster artificial intelligence performance compared to the previous generation, and up to 8x faster AI performance compared to M1 models.
Pre-orders open on March 4, 2026, with units shipping to customers starting Wednesday, March 11. The laptops are available in space black and silver across 33 countries and regions.
MacBook Pro M5 Chip Architecture and CPU Performance
M5 Pro and M5 Max are built on Apple’s Fusion Architecture, which combines two dies into a single system on a chip. The chips feature an up-to-18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores, delivering up to 30 percent faster CPU performance compared to M4 Pro and M4 Max.
M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with up to 307GB/s of memory bandwidth. M5 Max supports up to 128GB of unified memory with up to 614GB/s of memory bandwidth. Both chips include a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core, enabling on-device AI workloads.
“MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max redefines what’s possible on a pro laptop, now up to 4x faster than the previous generation. With Neural Accelerators in the GPU, the new MacBook Pro enables professionals to run advanced LLMs on device and unlock capabilities that no other laptop can do — all while maintaining exceptional battery life.”
John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, Apple
AI and GPU Performance Benchmarks
The M5 Pro chip delivers up to 7.8x faster AI image generation compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Pro, and up to 3.7x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. LLM prompt processing reaches up to 6.9x faster than M1 Pro and up to 3.9x faster than M4 Pro.
The M5 Max chip delivers up to 8x faster AI image generation compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Max, and up to 3.8x faster than M4 Max. In Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Studio, video effects rendering runs up to 5.4x faster than M1 Max and up to 3x faster than M4 Max. Both chips bring up to a 50 percent increase in graphics performance compared to M4 Pro and M4 Max.
Storage, Connectivity, and Display
The new MacBook Pro delivers up to 2x faster SSD read/write performance compared to the previous generation, reaching speeds of up to 14.5GB/s. M5 Pro models now start with 1TB of storage, while M5 Max models start with 2TB.
Connectivity options include three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI supporting up to 8K resolution, an SDXC card slot, and MagSafe 3. The Apple N1 chip enables Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The Liquid Retina XDR display offers 1600 nits peak HDR brightness and up to 1000 nits for SDR content, with a nano-texture option available.
The laptop includes a 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support, studio-quality microphones, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio. Battery life reaches up to 24 hours, with fast-charge capability reaching 50 percent in 30 minutes using a 96W or higher USB-C adapter.
macOS Tahoe and Apple Intelligence
The new MacBook Pro ships with macOS Tahoe, which includes updates to Spotlight, an updated Control Center, and a Liquid Glass design. Apple Intelligence features are available in beta, supporting multiple languages including Arabic.
macOS Tahoe also includes Live Translation integrated into Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app. Developers can access the Foundation Models framework for on-device intelligence tasks. Continuity features allow users to relay cellular calls from a nearby iPhone to the Mac.
Environmental Specifications
Apple states the new MacBook Pro is made with 45 percent recycled content, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. The supply chain uses 50 percent renewable electricity. Apple aims to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030.
Pricing and Availability in Saudi Arabia
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at SAR 10,499 (SAR 9,799 for education). The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at SAR 12,499 (SAR 11,599 for education). The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at SAR 17,499 (SAR 15,999 for education), and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at SAR 18,499 (SAR 17,099 for education).
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 starts at SAR 7,999 (SAR 7,499 for education) and now includes 1TB of storage as standard. All models are available through Apple Authorized Resellers and Apple Store locations starting March 11.