Apple Releases M5 Update for Standard MacBook Pro Models

Apple just announced the newest update for its base model MacBook Pro. The 14-inch model now has the new M5 chip. This update greatly improves performance, but don’t expect any significant changes to the laptop’s design or how it feels. This update might not be enough for you if you want a whole new look. But it’s important to note the performance improvements, especially for people who need more speed and power for work.

A new chip and better performance

The M5 MacBook Pro costs the same as the last one, which was $1,599. The laptop you can buy for that price has an M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Like the M4 chip before it, the chip has 10 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. The M5 GPU now has a neural accelerator in each core, though. Apple says this makes AI work up to 3.5 times faster than the M4 and up to 6 times faster than the M1. This is especially clear when it comes to AI-powered tasks like making videos better and making content.

Apple made big improvements in other areas of performance as well as AI performance. The M5 chip makes graphics work up to 1.6 times faster in professional apps and games, and it also makes multithreaded work 20% faster. The M5 is up to 1.8 times faster at improving AI video and 1.7 times faster at rendering 3D images if you use Topaz Video or Blender. When compiling code, Xcode, the development environment for macOS, is 1.2 times faster at building.

Better speed and storage

The M5 chip also improves storage performance, giving you twice the performance of the previous version’s solid-state drive (SSD). The M5 MacBook Pro lets users set up to 4TB of storage, which is twice as much as the previous maximum. This is a big help for people who work with big files or need more space for software development, video editing, or other professional work.

The display and battery life stay the same.

The MacBook Pro’s design and display haven’t changed, but the performance improvements are clear. The 14.2-inch mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display has a resolution of 3,024×1,964 pixels and still shows bright, clear images. This makes it ideal for graphic design, video editing, and other creative work.

The battery life is mostly the same as it was in the last model. The M5 MacBook Pro still has a battery life of up to 24 hours, which is a satisfactory amount of time for most people. This feature is a big plus for people who need to use their laptop for long periods of time without having to charge it often.

The MacBook Pro Line: M5 is only available on the base model.

It’s intriguing that only the base 14-inch MacBook Pro gets the M5 chip in this update. The higher-end models, such as the $1,999 model, continue to utilise the M4 Pro chip, boasting 12 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores. The 16-inch MacBook Pro models still have the M4 Pro or M4 Max chips, so the new M5 processor is only available in the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro.

The current situation puts the MacBook Pro line in a bit of an awkward spot because the base model has newer silicon than the more expensive models. Furthermore, MacBook Air models still run on the M4 platform, so we might not see an M5 MacBook Air until next year, or even the rumoured $599 Air with Apple’s A18 processor.

This update is small and does not include any changes to the design.

In general, today’s M5 MacBook Pro update is a small one. The design and display are the same as the last generation, but it has faster performance, better AI capabilities, and more storage options. Apple didn’t say anything about a price drop or any major changes, so this update might not be enough for people who were hoping for a big change.

It’s important to remember, though, that the M6 chip could bring a bigger update next year. People say that this update will bring a new look, a thinner chassis, and an OLED touchscreen display, which is what a lot of MacBook Pro users want.

Availability and Preorders

You can now pre-order the M5 MacBook Pro, and the first ones will ship on October 22. The base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip is a fantastic choice if you want a laptop that runs faster, has better graphics, and has more storage options.

In the end, the M5 MacBook Pro is a more incremental update than a radical overhaul. It does bring some exciting performance improvements. This update is worth thinking about if you want to improve performance but don’t mind keeping the same design. You might want to wait until next year’s expected updates if you want a big redesign or new features like a touchscreen OLED display.