I Compared The M5 Macbook Pro To Older Mac Models - Here's My Buying Advice In 2025

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The M5 MacBook Pro starts astatine $1,599 and comes successful Silver and Space Black.
• It features nan latest M5 chipset for enhanced capacity and efficiency.
• Users who crave much powerfulness should hold for nan M5 Pro and Max variants.

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I spent my play doing 3 things: Raking successful nan past spot of leaves from my neighbor's neglected tree, being disappointed by nan New York Giants (again), and benchmarking nan latest 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro. 

Of course, that past task was nan slightest stressful, arsenic Apple made nan logic to upgrade to nan hot, caller MacBook Pro this twelvemonth arsenic straightforward arsenic ever. If your existent strategy isn't holding up, you tin bargain nan trustee MacBook Pro, pinch its polished aluminum design, smooth-as-ever ProMotion display, and an updated M5 chipset, each for nan aforesaid value arsenic past year's exemplary -- and nan twelvemonth before.

Also: How overmuch RAM do you request successful 2025? My master proposal for Windows and Mac users

In fact, nan M5 MacBook Pro looks identical to nan M4 version that I reviewed past year; arsenic I was benchmarking nan two, I had to look intimately astatine nan keyboards for immoderate glistening near by millions of fingertaps to separate nan M4 model. After respective rounds of capacity testing, here's really nan M5 fared pinch older Macs, including my $2,500 M1 Max MacBook Pro from conscionable 3 years ago.

For starters, beyond nan M5 chipset, nan caller 14-inch MacBook Pro features nan aforesaid halfway of soul hardware arsenic nan M4 model, from nan cooling fans to nan placement of representation and battery. 

However, subtle capacity changes make a noticeable quality to performance, from faster unified representation bandwidth (153 GB/s from 120 GB/s) to faster SSD speeds to up to doubly nan retention headdress (4TB from 2TB). Each of nan 10 GPU cores besides receives Neural Accelerators for faster AI/ML processing.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

While nan highest configuration for nan M5 spot seems excessive, it whitethorn beryllium months until Apple releases nan Pro and Max variants of nan processor, truthful it's worthy considering for powerfulness users looking for an upgrade today. For astir people's workflows, though, nan guidelines configuration will service you perfectly fine. It has for me.

Also: Should you upgrade to M5 MacBook Pro from an M1? How nan numbers adhd up

Now, for nan benchmark results.

It should astonishment nary 1 that nan M5 conscionable hardly edges past nan M4 MacBook. The bigger communicative is really intimately it matches nan Mac Studio moving connected an M1 Ultra processor. That's a $4,000 machine that was released conscionable 3 years ago. So nan thought of a $1,600 MacBook achieving akin capacity numbers is worthy applauding. (Let's besides conscionable skip past really nan M5 MacBook laps my $2,500 M1 Max MacBook.)

The M5 MacBook Pro besides sets a caller grounds crossed each of Apple's Mac models erstwhile it comes to single-core scores. It's thing I felt correct distant erstwhile boosting up Cyberpunk 2077 connected some it and my M1 Max -- nan second of which took overmuch longer to get past nan start-up surface and support a unchangeable framework rate. 

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Single-core scores are besides a bully parameter of really responsive these systems are, arsenic opening applications, browsing, and loading nan wide personification interface are often single-threaded. My regular workflow involves having dozens of tabs unfastened crossed 3 spaces, 1 for moving section apps for illustration Adobe Premiere Pro and Lightroom, 1 for ZDNET's contented guidance system, and different for researching and playing music. It's a analyzable creation of processes that nan M5 has handled gracefully frankincense far.

Also: Leaving Windows 10 behind? Apple's rumored $599 MacBook mightiness beryllium conscionable for you

While Apple's 24-hour artillery life declare remains to beryllium tested, I've already recovered myself charging my M5 MacBook little often than erstwhile I utilized nan M4 model. 

Previously, I recovered myself topping up my laptop astatine astir 1 p.m. each time since I powerfulness a 34-inch show pinch it, too. But pinch nan caller MacBook, I'm reaching for nan charger person to astir 3 p.m. I'll tally a much thorough accent trial this week, truthful enactment tuned for nan update.

M5 MacBook Pro aliases M4 MacBook Air?

If you measurement into an Apple shop coming successful hunt of a caller laptop, you'll person to determine betwixt nan caller M5 MacBook Pro aliases nan M4 MacBook Air. While nan second is noticeably lighter and thinner, making it much perfect for students, travelers, and hybrid workers, nan 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro is arguably conscionable arsenic portable. I've lugged astir my M4 Pro exemplary complete nan past twelvemonth to manufacture events, metropolis commutes, and more, and haven't had an issue.

Also: The MacBook Air is still connected waste - here's why I urge it for astir people

So it comes down to really overmuch you're capable to walk -- nan MacBook Air is astatine slightest $500 cheaper -- and what your computing needs are. For example, I trust heavy connected an SD paper slot to transportation photos and videos, truthful nan absence of nan larboard connected nan MacBook Air is simply a dealbreaker for me.

But if you tin unrecorded without it, and tin settee for only 2 USB-C ports (instead of three) and a 60Hz refresh complaint show (instead of ProMotion), nan MacBook Air is nan amended worth option.

ZDNET's buying proposal (for now)

It's only been days since I switched to nan M5 MacBook Pro, but it's undeniably 1 of nan champion laptops you tin bargain correct now. It's nan M4 MacBook Pro, but better, and anyone looking for a powerful laptop for activity and play would do nary incorrect successful picking 1 up today. The starting configuration, which gets you 16GB of RAM and 512GB of retention for $1,599, should beryllium conscionable capable for astir users. 

If you've sewage nan budget, I've recovered nan $150 upcharge for nan nano-texture show to beryllium worthy it. It's dramatically amended than nan inexpensive snap-on surface protectors you tin find online, and it doesn't trim opposition levels to nan grade that it disrupts photograph edits and color-grading videos. At slightest not for me.

However, if you tin hold things out, aliases you've ne'er recovered nan guidelines M-series chipsets tin capable to powerfulness your workflow, past nan expected M5 Pro and Max variants whitethorn beryllium a amended fit. Those will besides apt motorboat pinch 16-inch sizes, too, if you for illustration nan larger surface and typing space. Regardless, Apple conscionable added different awesome action to its lineup of Macs, and you'll beryllium capable to prime it up correct now.