M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro: What to Expect

Source: MacRumors

Apple is working on a new MacBook Pro that could launch next week ahead of the “Special Experience” planned for March 4, so we thought we’d highlight all of the rumors about the device so far.

Design

There are no rumors of design changes, and the upcoming M5 MacBook Pro models are expected to look just like the M4 versions. Apple will continue to offer 14‑inch and 16‑inch size options, both of which should come in M5 Pro and M5 Max varieties.

M5 Max and M5 Pro Chip

We already got the base‑model 14‑inch MacBook Pro with the new M5 chip in October, so the next step is upgraded 14‑inch and 16‑inch models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

• The M5 family is built on a more advanced N3P 3‑nanometer process from TSMC, offering speed and efficiency improvements.
• The M5 chip is up to 20 % faster in multi‑core CPU performance than the M4 chip, and similar gains are expected for the M5 Pro and M5 Max options.
• GPU performance is up to 30 % faster.

With the M5, Apple added a Neural Accelerator to each GPU core, improving the speeds of GPU‑based AI workloads. The chip also supports third‑generation ray‑tracing, second‑generation dynamic caching, and enhanced shader cores.

The 16‑core Neural Engine is more energy‑efficient, and unified memory bandwidth has improved significantly—features likely to appear in the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips as well.

Other Possible Updates

We haven’t heard rumors about any other new features for the MacBook Pro line. Apple did update SSD speeds for the M5 MacBook Pro models, so we could see the same upgrade applied to the M5 Pro and M5 Max machines.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy an M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro

If you’re not in serious need of a new MacBook Pro right now, early 2026 may be a poor time to upgrade. The next‑generation MacBook Pro after the early 2026 models is expected to feature:

• An OLED display with touchscreen capabilities, marking a major upgrade in display quality.
• A Dynamic Island instead of a notch.
• macOS optimized for touch interactions.

Most people paying extra for a higher‑end M5 Pro or M5 Max chip need the additional performance or display quality, so it may be worth waiting for the upcoming OLED‑based models.

The transition to OLED will likely bring a design refresh along with M6 Pro and M6 Max chip technology—another reason to hold off.

That said, the new features could be limited to higher‑end MacBook Pro models or come with a significantly higher price. If you’re on a budget, need a Mac now, or don’t care about OLED, the M5 Pro and Max models could still be worth considering.

Launch Date

The new MacBook Pro models could be announced via press release next week ahead of Apple’s Special Experience.