Apple quietly released the new M5 MacBook Pro, skipping its usual flashy launch. No event, no teaser just a press release. But beneath the quiet rollout lies a powerful update. The 14-inch MacBook Pro still looks familiar, yet its graphics performance has taken a serious leap forward.
What’s New in the M5 MacBook Pro
The heart of this upgrade is Apple’s M5 chip, built with:
- 10-core CPU
- 10-core GPU
- 16-core Neural Engine
Apple says the M5 is 20% faster than the M4 in multi-threaded tasks, but the real jump is in the GPU, which delivers up to 60% better performance in games and creative workloads. For anyone upgrading from the M1 or older, this is a major step up.
Everything else remains classic MacBook Pro.
- 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with 1,000 nits brightness, 1,600 nits HDR, and 120Hz refresh rate.
- Aluminum body that feels solid and premium.
- 12MP webcam, six-speaker setup, and a quiet but effective cooling system.
- Ports: MagSafe 3, three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, HDMI, SDXC card slot, and a headphone jack.
Performance and Real-World Use
The M5 model feels incredibly smooth. It’s fast, sturdy, and quiet even during heavy workloads. The 3.4-pound weight makes it slightly heavier than the MacBook Air, but it delivers far more sustained power.
In tests, the M5 outperformed the M4 across key benchmarks:
| Device | Geekbench 6 (Single/Multi) | GPU | Cinebench 2024 CPU/GPU |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 14″ (M5, 2025) | 4,310 / 18,003 | 48,840 | 197 / 1,034 |
| MacBook Pro 14″ (M4, 2024) | 3,797 / 14,571 | 37,869 | 172 / 979 |
The M5’s GPU nearly doubles performance in graphics-heavy applications.
Gaming Performance
Apple finally has a MacBook that can game respectably. In Lies of P, the M5 Pro handled:
- 70–75 fps at 3024×1890
- 85–95 fps at 1440p
- Up to 140 fps at 1080p
That’s comparable to a PC with an RTX 5070 GPU, a milestone for Apple’s in-house silicon.
Battery Life and Thermal Control
The M5 retains incredible endurance up to 34.5 hours of video playback and more than two days of moderate work use. Despite the power, it stays cool. Fans are quiet, even under load, a major improvement over Intel-era MacBooks.
Should You Buy It?
If you need a portable workhorse for photo, video, or design tasks, the M5 MacBook Pro is worth considering. But if your workflow demands top-tier power, waiting for the M5 Pro or M5 Max models may be smarter.
For most creators, the M5 offers the best blend of speed, graphics performance, and battery life in a compact 14-inch body. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s the most refined MacBook Apple has ever made.
