Last fall, Apple introduced the entry-level version of the MacBook Pro with an M5 chip. Now Apple has also equipped the MacBook Pro with the new and powerful M5 Pro and M5 Max processors. This new MacBook is the perfect companion for Apple Creator Studio, the brand new creative subscription for Pro users.
The 2026 edition of the MacBook Pro continues the current aluminum design with miniLED screen and notch. The buyer can choose from a 14-inch or 16-inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a maximum of 1000 nits brightness. Compared to the previous model, the chip is the only real innovation.
Unchanged design
The design and dimensions of the MacBook Pro are unchanged from the previous generation. As with previous models, a 14-inch and a 16-inch version are available in aluminum colors silver and space black, a rich, dark shade.
The MacBook Pro features a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display with resolutions of 3024 x 1964 for the 14-inch model and 3456 x 2234 for the 16-inch model. Thanks to ProMotion, the screen refresh rate automatically adjusts up to 120 Hz, depending on the ideal speed for the content displayed.
You certainly have nothing to complain about when it comes to connections. The Pro has 3 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, an HDMI connection, SD card reader and a connection for headphones. Thanks to MagSafe with fast charging, you can charge your Mac via a magnetic connection and you don’t have to worry if the cable is suddenly disconnected.
Clear XDR display
The Liquid Retina XDR display still has 1000 nits of constant brightness and 1600 nits of peak brightness for HDR content. SDR content is displayed with clarity up to 1000 nits (outside only). In addition, the screen benefits from a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, vibrant colors and an excellent viewing angle.
Extra powerful M5 Pro and M5 Max chip
Apple has added the M5 Pro and M5 Max chip to the MacBook Pro. Like the previous generation, this processor is designed using a 3nm manufacturing process. This is an advanced manufacturing technology used to make semiconductor chips. A 3nm process means that the transistor gate is only 3 nanometers wide.
The size of the transistor gate is important because it determines how many transistors can be placed on a single chip. The smaller the transistor gate, the more transistors fit on the chip. This leads to chips that are faster, more efficient and more powerful than chips produced using larger processes. This means they perform better with the same specifications. The previous generations of Apple chips used a 5nm process.
New to the M5 series, each GPU core features Neural Accelerators, meaning each GPU core is specially equipped to perform AI and machine learning tasks highly efficiently and quickly. This allows complex AI operations to be handled directly within the GPU itself, without having to send data back and forth between the GPU and a separate Neural Engine. This significantly increases efficiency and performance in AI tasks. In addition, this GPU accelerator works together with the chip’s discrete Neural Engine, enabling strong AI performance and hardware-accelerated features such as real-time image recognition, ray tracing, and running large language models on the device.
Specifications M5 Pro or M5 Max
M5 Pro
- up to 18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores
- up to 20-core GPU
- Neural Accelerators
- 16-core Neural Engine
- 307 GB/s memory bandwidth
- Media engine: H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW with hardware acceleration
- Ray tracing with hardware acceleration
- 1 (ProRes) encoding and decoding engine
- choice of up to 4 TB of storage
- up to 64 GB RAM
M5 Max
- up to 18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores
- up to 40-core GPU
- Neural Accelerators
- 16-core Neural Engine
- up to 614 GB/s memory bandwidth
- Media engine: H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW with hardware acceleration
- Ray tracing with hardware acceleration
- 1 (ProRes) encoding and decoding engine
- choice of up to 4 TB of storage
- up to 128 GB RAM
N1 network chip
The MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max is now equipped with the latest N1 chip, an advanced networking chip from Apple for wireless connectivity. This chip, which made its debut in the iPhone 17 series, replaces the previous Broadcom chips. It offers support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread network technology. Thanks to the integrated controller, efficiency and energy savings are improved, especially for functions such as AirDrop and smart devices. Bluetooth 6 ensures less interference and lower power consumption, while WiFi 7 delivers faster and more stable connections, even in busy environments.
Apple Creator Studio
In addition to a new MacBook, the company also has Apple Creator Studioa groundbreaking subscription that bundles all of the company’s professional creative apps for $12.99 per month or $129 per year. The package includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor and MainStage, plus new AI features and premium content for Keynote, Pages, Numbers and later Freeform.
With this subscription, Apple wants to give creative users easier access to the most powerful tools for video editing, music production, image editing and visual productivity. New subscribers will receive a one-month free trial, and when purchasing a new Mac or eligible iPad, customers may be able to get three months of free subscription. A special education discount is available for students and teachers.
Other adjustments
- Delivered in the EU without USB-C power adapter
- Standard 1 TB SSD storage with M5 Pro and 2 TB with M5 Max
- SSD performs reads and writes up to 2x faster than the previous generation with speeds of up to 14.5 GB/s
- other than that, nothing…
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Availability MacBook Pro
The new MacBook Pro is available for purchase from today and will be available from March 11 delivered. The MacBooks are available in silver and space black.
- 14-inch MacBook Pro entry-level model: M5 Pro chip, 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24 GB memory, 1 TB SSD storage ▸ €2549 (was €2349 with 512 GB storage)
- 16-inch MacBook Pro entry-level model: M5 Pro chip, 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24 GB memory, 1 TB SSD storage ▸ €3049 (was €2849 with 512 GB storage)
- Entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro: M5 Max chip, 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36 GB memory, @ TB storage ▸ €4249 (was €3849 with 1 TB storage)
- Entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro: M5 Max chip, 18-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 36 GB memory, 2 TB storage ▸ €4,549 (was €4,149 with 1 TB storage)
You can soon buy the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chip, among other things MediaMarkt, Coolblue, Amazon or Bol.com.
Should you buy a MacBook Pro or not?
The MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max promises to be an undeniable powerhouse, with significant performance gains over the current M4 models. Ideal for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering and AI workloads. If you need a powerful MacBook Pro for professional use now, this is an excellent choice that will last for years.
Still, it’s worth waiting if you’re not in a hurry: a brand new MacBook Pro will be available at the end of 2026 or early 2027 with M6 chips, OLED screen for deeper black tones and higher contrasts, a thinner housing, possible touchscreen and Dynamic Island. This redesign celebrates the 20th anniversary of the MacBook Pro and could finally entice upgraders stuck with older models. So consider your needs: immediate power or a completely new MacBook Pro later this year
Please note, this article is still being updated.