The M5 MacBook Pro: Why You’re Going to Want It (Even If You Don’t Need It)

Nauman Ahmad
6 min readJust now

--

Leaks suggest that the M5 MacBook Pro is going to hit the market in the Year 2025.

Apple’s release cycles are like clockwork, and if rumors and leaks are to be believed, we’re officially in the “M5 is coming” season. The M4 series MacBook Pro landed in fall 2024, and if the past is any indication, the M5 MacBook Pro will probably drop in late 2025. Many of us are not yet done experimenting the latest M4 MacBook Pro and here Apple is planning for the release of next M5 chip.

“For a person like me, its almost a certainty that I am not going to through away my M4 MacBook Pro, yet, for the M5 model when it comes, but I can’t resist the excitement that is rather mature now. Being in the field of IT Support, i will have a chance to get my hands on the M5 anyway, even if i don’t make the purchase myself.”

So, As we wait for Apple to drop its next big chip, let’s talk about what we can expect from the M5 MacBook Pro. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be faster, sleeker, and possibly more expensive than what you’ve got in front of you right now.

When Will the M5 MacBook Pro Actually Land?

Apple has gotten into a rhythm with its MacBook Pro releases. The M3 MacBook Pro launched in 2023, followed by the M4 series in 2024. By that logic, the M5 MacBook Pro is coming in 2025. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Here’s the real question: When exactly will it hit stores?

It’s expected that the M5 iPad Pro will arrive in the second half of 2025. Given Apple’s uncanny ability to sync product releases like clockwork, the M5 MacBook Pro will likely follow suit in late October or early November 2025. So, get your credit card ready, if you are seriously look to upgrade. Will you be among the first to get your hands on it? Well, that’s up to your patience (and your bank balance).

The M5 MacBook Pro Design: Refined, But Not Revolutionary

M4 MacBook Pro

It would be very real to expect that Apple isn’t about to pull a complete design overhaul on us anytime soon. If you loved the 2021 MacBook Pro redesign, that is carried through to the M4 MacBook Pro, get ready to see a very familiar look in the M5 MacBook Pro. Sure, Apple could surprise us with a fresh new color (Space Pink, maybe?, lolz) , but don’t hold your breath for anything absolutely wild.

MacBook Pro M4 Two colors
M4 will have the same two Color as the M4 MacBook Pro

“ I have a feeling Apple doesn’t necessarily give too much importance to the aesthetics of MacBook Pro, they have left that for the MacBook Air. As an example, we have four beautiful MacBook Air colors, while in case of MacBook Pro, we only have two options. Perhaps they want MacBook Pro to be the real performance horse, while MacBook air to be the more visually appealing and lifestyle-oriented choice, while still giving a reasonable performance.”

OLED with M5 MacBook Pro for now
NO OLED with M5 MacBook Pro for now

The M4 series already gave us a nice little design refresh with ports etc, so unless Apple pulls a magic rabbit out of a hat and that is “OLED displays” , expect the same sleek look, sharp edges, thin profile, and a Retina display that’ll make everything on screen look so crisp, you’ll forget how badly your eyes were straining just a year ago. The OLED is left for the year 2026, the leaks suggest.

But, Apple will probably throw in some small tweaks here and there, may be, A new color? Sure. A nano-texture glass option? Maybe. But nothing so drastic that your existing MacBook suddenly looks like an antique. The big redesign? That’s more likely coming somewhere in 2026, probably with the M6 chip.

The M5 MacBook Pro Processor: Speed That’ll Make Your Head Spin

Now let’s talk about the heart of the machine, the M5 chip, It’s the real or may be the only reason why you’ll want to upgrade (even if you didn’t think you needed to). If you’ve used the M1 or M2 MacBook Pro, you’ve already experienced Apple’s transition from Intel processors to their own ARM-based chips, and let me tell you, once you’ve experienced the speed and power of an M1 or M2 chip, it’s hard to go back.

The M5 chip is expected to be up to 25% faster than the M4. I’m talking about performance that’ll make your MacBook feel like it’s powered by rocket fuel. Editing 4K videos, running dozens of virtual machines, or multitasking like a mad genius, the M5 chip will handle it with the grace of a ballerina.

The real magic, though, will be in the efficiency. Apple’s chips aren’t just faster, they’re also optimized very well for performance and battery life. So, you’ll be running circles around your current MacBook Pro while also getting through an entire workday without having to look for an outlet.

And, yes, while you might not see 5G capabilities in this generation, Wi-Fi 7 is likely to make an appearance in the M5 MacBook Pro, meaning your downloads and streaming will be faster than a caffeinated squirrel.

M5 MacBook Pro Price: The Elephant in the Room

Well, the price is always a big part of the Apple conversation for every one of us. Apple hasn’t exactly been shy about charging a premium for its premium machines, and the M5 MacBook Pro will probably follow the same trend, whenever it comes.

Here’s what we’re looking at in terms of prices for the current M4 MacBook Pro configurations:

  • 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro: Starts at $1,599 for the base model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD.
  • 16-inch M4 MacBook Pro: Starts at $2,499 with 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

Now, prices for the M5 MacBook Pro could vary slightly, as you know, Apple doesn’t lower prices, it just adds more features and makes you want to give them your money. If you thought the M4 was pricey, the M5 will likely be just as expensive, maybe even a little more, depending on Apple’s (rather notorious) price and feature mechanism, which seems like a bit of a trap (the upgrade options), if you don’t chose wisely.

To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade?

Now comes the million-dollar question, Should you upgrade to the M5 MacBook Pro when it comes out?

Look, if you’ve got an M1 or M2 machine, let alone the M3 or M4 Pro, it might feel a little too soon to jump into the M5. The M5 chip will be faster, but it’s not a night-and-day difference unless you’re in creative fields where every second counts — think video editors, 3D animators, or heavy-duty developers.

However, if you’re rocking an older Intel-based MacBook Pro, the M5 will probably feel like you’ve been handed a time machine. The speed boost will be nothing short of life-changing, and you’ll likely get more than enough performance to last you for several years.

But, honestly? Even if you don’t need the M5, Apple’s marketing will still manage to make you think you do, it’s just what they do best.

Final Thoughts: The M5 MacBook Pro is Coming, and It’s Going to Be Awesome

So, will the M5 MacBook Pro change the world? Probably not. But is it going to make your life easier, faster, and just a little bit more fun? Absolutely.

Apple isn’t in the business of making radical changes with their upgrades, they make refinements that eventually become standard for the entire industry. The M5 MacBook Pro will be fast, efficient, and feature-packed, and when it lands, you’ll likely find yourself thinking, “Okay, maybe I do need this after all.”, but I would suggest, don’t fall for it, unnecessarily.

Another thing to be noted is that, The M6 MacBook Pro is waiting in 2026 with OLED displays, a thinner profile, and a camera hole instead of the notch. So, if you can wait, you might just get something even better. But if you can’t, well, the M5 MacBook Pro will be more than enough to make you feel like the future is already here.

--

--

Nauman Ahmad
Nauman Ahmad

Written by Nauman Ahmad

I am an IT Expert, who loves to talk and compare latest tech, based on specs, features, benchmarks, real time testing, dimensions and colors etc.

No responses yet