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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple simply introduced its newest M5 14-inch MacBook Professional.
- There are not any main design adjustments, with Apple emphasizing improved efficiency numbers as a substitute.
- Whereas the numbers are spectacular, older Macs are nonetheless viable to be used instances they had been designed for: on a regular basis duties and typical workflows.
Apple simply unveiled the primary glimpses of its new 14-inch MacBook Professional with the M5 chip, promising 3.5 occasions extra AI efficiency, 24 hours of battery life, and sooner, general storage: as much as 4TB.
AI is on the forefront of the M5 MacBook Professional’s characteristic set, with the latest-gen GPU bringing an enhanced neural engine and better reminiscence bandwidth to the desk, translating to general higher efficiency working on-device LLMs. To match, Apple says the M5’s 10-core GPU delivers six occasions sooner AI efficiency than the M1.
Additionally: Apple simply launched an M5 MacBook, iPad, and Imaginative and prescient Professional: Specs, costs, and availability
With no design adjustments and the identical 14.2-inch mini LED Retina XDR show, Apple is specializing in the numbers right here, citing comparisons to earlier generations when it comes to effectivity and efficiency.
The corporate additionally is aware of that many potential customers are nonetheless utilizing older, Intel-based Macs (I nonetheless have my 2017 MacBook Professional as a backup laptop computer) and producing a slew of spectacular comparability metrics in hopes of inspiring an improve. However is it value springing for a brand new MacBook now? Let’s check out the numbers.
How the M5 MacBook Professional compares to older fashions
Thus far, we have solely obtained the bottom mannequin 14-inch MacBook Professional with the brand new M5 chip, beginning at $1,599, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, with no bulletins but for the MacBook Air or higher-tier MacBooks till possible starting of 2026.
By way of comparisons, Apple included an array of numbers to point out off some fairly important leaps ahead: 1.6 occasions sooner graphics efficiency in skilled apps, together with 1.6x larger body charges in video games when in comparison with the M4.
Additionally: 4 Apple units you actually should not purchase this month (and 9 which can be protected for now)
And to not decide on the M1, however the enhancements of the M5 chip’s graphical efficiency when in comparison with the MacBook Professional M1 present some substantial enhancements:
- As much as 3.2 occasions larger body charges whereas gaming in comparison with M1 (1.7 occasions sooner than the M4)
- As much as 6.8 occasions sooner 3D rendering in Blender in comparison with M1 (1.6 occasions sooner than the M4)
- As much as 7.7 occasions sooner AI video-enhancing efficiency in Topaz Video in comparison with M1 (1.2 occasions sooner than M4)
One other characteristic call-out for the M5 is its sooner SSD efficiency when in comparison with earlier generations, and the power so as to add extra — as much as 4TB — onto the MacBook Professional. Apple says the M5 options two occasions sooner SSDs than the M4, which correlates to sooner efficiency with LLMs.
In terms of Intel-based chips, Apple is displaying off “staggering efficiency positive aspects” that counsel a rising chasm of energy between the older chips and the subsequent technology of MacBook merchandise. Whereas the uncooked numbers do not lie, older chips are nonetheless completely competent for restricted use instances and on a regular basis duties.
It says the M5 chip has 86 occasions sooner AI efficiency than the Intel chips, which is important, however these older machines predate large-scale AI deployment; nobody was working LLMs regionally again in 2018, and these machines would not be very best candidates to run them right this moment.
Additionally: The brand new iPad Professional’s greatest improve is not the M5 chip – I might purchase it for this characteristic as a substitute
In any case these numbers, there’s one essential metric:
- The M5 chip has as much as 2 occasions sooner CPU efficiency in comparison with M1
So, the M5 is twice as quick in the case of general computing because the M1, which is notable, however all issues thought-about, just isn’t an earth-shattering quantity, particularly once we’re speaking about 5 generations. I be aware this metric particularly as a result of this displays the precise use case customers ought to care about when evaluating the M1 MacBook (or its earlier Intel variations).
Most folk who nonetheless have these laptops use them for on a regular basis duties and work-related purposes, not gaming, working LLMs regionally, or 5K video modifying. In terms of these duties, this metric stands out compared to the M1, however if in case you have an M2, M3, or M4, it is even much less.
Ought to I improve?
When you’ve got an older MacBook and it really works properly within the use instances it was designed for, I would not suggest springing for a brand new MacBook Professional M5 simply but, as the most important positive aspects in efficiency revolve round AI, graphics modeling, and the bleeding fringe of artistic workflows.
The M1 MacBook Professional is simply as well-suited for these duties because it was when it was launched, particularly working the identical macOS as the latest MacBooks. MacOS Tahoe, with the Telephone app, enhancements to Highlight and Fast Keys, and a personalised desktop, runs simply as properly on Macs from the previous few years.
Additionally: 5 issues I like about MacOS 26 Tahoe after one week with it on my Mac
If, nevertheless, you might be nonetheless working an Intel Mac, you are possible coping with decreased battery capability and slower general efficiency. Going straight to a brand-new MacBook Professional M5 is not your solely choice, although. Lots of the refurbished M1, M2, or M3 fashions are regularly on sale and can possible dip additional as extra M5 fashions are introduced.
That being mentioned, the M5’s {hardware} upgrades may be enticing sufficient to seal the deal. Beginning with final yr’s M4, entry-level configurations of the brand new MacBooks include 16GB of unified RAM (up from 8GB) and a further Thunderbolt port (for a complete of three). With an HDMI port and headphone jack, MacBook Professionals are actually considerably extra port-equipped than some Home windows machines, just like the Dell XPS 13.
The MacBook Professional M5 is at the moment on preorder, with basic availability beginning on October 22, 2025.
