Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5)
ZDNET Highlights
- The M5 MacBook Pro starts at $1,599 and comes in silver and space black colors.
- It has the latest M5 chipset for better performance and efficiency.
- Users who want more power should wait for the M5 Pro and Max variants.
More Buying Choices
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I spent my weekend doing three things: gathering the last bits of leaves from my neighbor’s neglected tree, being disappointed by the New York Giants (again), and benchmarking the latest 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro,
Of course, that last task was the least stressful, as Apple made the reason for upgrading to this year’s most popular, new MacBook Pro, as straightforward as ever. If your current system isn’t functioning properly, you can buy the trusty MacBook Pro, with its polished aluminum design, smoother-than-ever ProMotion display, and an updated M5 chipset, all for the same price as last year’s model — and at the same price as last year’s model.
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In fact, the M5 looks identical to the MacBook Pro M4 variant I reviewed last year; As I was benchmarking both, I had to look closely at the keyboard for any glare left by millions of fingers to differentiate the M4 model. After several rounds of performance testing, here’s how the M5 performed with older Macs, including my $2,500 M1 Max MacBook Pro from just three years ago.
For starters, beyond the M5 chipset, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro features the same internal hardware as the M4 models, from the cooling fan to the memory and battery status.
However, subtle capacity changes make notable differences in performance, from faster integrated memory bandwidth (120 GB/s to 153 GB/s) to faster SSD speeds to doubling the storage cap (2TB to 4TB). Each of the 10 GPU cores also gets neural accelerators for faster AI/ML processing.
While the highest configuration seems excessive for the M5 chip, it may take several months for Apple to release Pro and Max variants of the processor, so it’s worth considering for power users looking to upgrade today. However, for most people’s workflow, the base configuration will serve you perfectly fine. This is for me.
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Now, for the benchmark results.
It should surprise no one that the M5 barely beats the M4 MacBook. The big story is how closely it matches the Mac Studio, which runs on the M1 Ultra processor. That’s a $4,000 computer that was released just three years ago. So the idea of a $1,600 MacBook achieving similar performance numbers is worth applauding. (Let’s also leave out how the M5 MacBook outperforms my $2,500 M1 Max MacBook.)
The M5 MacBook Pro sets a new record among all of Apple’s Mac models when it comes to single-core scores. This is something I immediately felt when Cyberpunk 2077 was boosted on both me and my M1 Max – the latter of which took much longer to get past the start-up screen and maintain a steady frame rate.
The single-core score is also a good indicator of how responsive these systems are, since opening applications, browsing, and loading the general user interface is often single-threaded. My daily workflow consists of dozens of tabs open in three places, one for running local apps like Adobe Premiere Pro and Lightroom, one for ZDNET’s content management system, and another for research and playing music. It’s a complex dance of processes that the M5 has handled brilliantly so far.
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While Apple’s claim of 24-hour battery life has yet to be tested, I’ve already found that I’m charging my M5 MacBook less frequently than using the M4 model.
Earlier, I would find myself topping up my laptop around 1 pm every day because I also run a 34-inch monitor with it. But with the new MacBook I’m hitting the charger around 3 p.m., I’ll be running more intensive stress tests this week, so stay tuned for updates.
ZDNET’s shopping advice (for now)
It’s only been a few days since I switched to M5 MacBook ProBut it is unquestionably one of the best laptops you can buy right now. It’s the M4 MacBook Pro, but better. The starting configuration, which gets you 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $1,599, should be enough for most users.
But if you’re in the mood to spend more, I found the extra $150 charge for the nano-texture display to be worth it. It’s dramatically better than those cheap snap-on screen protectors you can find online, and it doesn’t reduce contrast levels to such an extent that it hinders photo editing and color-grading video. At least not for me.
However, if you can wait things out, or you’ve never found a base M-series chipset capable of powering your workflow, the expected M5 Pro and Max variants may be a better fit. If you prefer a larger screen and typing space, they’ll probably also come in a 16-inch size. Regardless, Apple has added another great option to its lineup of Macs, and you’ll be able to pick it up starting tomorrow.
