Apple's new 14-inch MacBook Pro features the M5 chip.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro remains the top professional laptop globally and is now enhanced with the M5 chip. According to John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of Hardware Engineering, the M5 represents a significant advancement in Mac AI capabilities and greatly improves graphics processing, thus accelerating workflows for a wide range of users. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro reaches a new level because of its outstanding performance, impressive battery life, and exceptional display.

– John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, October 2025

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 features:

* 16 GB or 24 GB memory (configurable to: 24 GB or 32 GB)

* 512 GB or 1 TB storage capacity

* 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display

* ProMotion tech for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

* 72.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery

* 70W USB-C power adapter

* Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports

* HDMI port

* 3.5 mm headphone jack

* SDXC card slot

* MagSafe 3 port

* Wi-Fi 6E

* Bluetooth 5.3

The M5 chip improves the MacBook Pro's speed, temperature, and intelligence.

The M5 chip contains a next-generation GPU that includes a Neural Accelerator in each core, enabling up to 3.5x faster AI performance and up to 1.6x better graphics compared to the M4.

Apple reports that its new 10-core architecture provides performance up to 6x faster than M1 while also improving overall efficiency. The chip contains a faster CPU, an enhanced Neural Engine, and increased memory bandwidth, which accelerates a range of tasks, from launching apps to running large language models (LLMs) on-device.

The battery can last up to 24 hours on a single charge, allowing professional users to work on the go. SSD speeds are also faster, which accelerates file imports and exports.

The M5’s 16-core Neural Engine enhances on-device AI tasks, generative features that power Apple Intelligence, and improves deep learning, data modeling, and AI-enhanced video processing.

Apple states that users will see faster text-to-image generation when using diffusion models in apps like Draw Things, and LLMs will run more smoothly in LM Studio.

The upgraded M5 GPU offers frame rates that are up to 1.6x higher in games and graphics performance that is up to 1.6x faster in pro apps when compared to the M4. Apple calls the M5 CPU “the world’s fastest CPU core” and claims it delivers 20% faster multithreaded performance.

Here’s how this translates to real-world use:

* AI video-enhancing in Topaz Video is up to 7.7x faster vs M1 and 1.8x faster than M4

* 3D rendering in Blender is up to 6.8x faster vs M1 and 1.7x faster than M4

* Frame rates in games are up to 3.2x higher vs M1 and 1.6x faster than M4

* Code compiling in Xcode is up to 2.1x faster vs M1 and 1.2x faster than M4

The new MacBook Pro runs macOS Tahoe, which offers design improvements and smarter tools.

Spotlight can find apps and files faster and take direct actions like sending emails or creating notes directly from the search bar. Continuity adds a Phone app that lets users access recent calls, contacts, and voicemails from the Mac, while Live Activities from iPhone offers real-time updates on flights or deliveries.

The OS also features Liquid Glass design, providing additional personalization options with custom folder colors, new app icons, and widgets. The menu bar is now transparent.

Apple Intelligence is expanded with Live Translation across Messages, FaceTime, and Phone apps. Shortcuts are smarter and integrate directly with Apple Intelligence to automate tasks like sorting photos or managing documents. Developers can use these AI models through the Foundations Model framework to enable specialized on-device intelligence for their apps.

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 is a step forward in AI performance, graphics, and efficiency. With the price remaining at $1,599, it is appealing for those upgrading from older models.

It is not a major jump over the M4 version; however, the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips will likely appeal to more advanced users.

Those with a MacBook Pro with M4 or M3 can wait to upgrade, as those machines are still capable. The M5 model improves performance, but not enough to justify upgrading for most.

However, those with an M1 MacBook Pro will see a noticeable improvement in speed, AI performance, and efficiency with the new MacBook.

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