Apple launches new MacBook Pro with M5 chips built for AI tasks

In short: Apple announced new MacBook Pro laptops with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips that are designed to run AI tasks much faster than before.

What happened

Apple revealed the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models on March 3. The big upgrade is the new M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, which Apple says can handle AI-related work (like running language models or generating images) up to 4 times faster than last year's M4 versions. Compared to the M1 chips from a few years ago, the improvement is up to 8 times.

In practical terms, this means the laptop can run AI tools directly on the device without needing an internet connection. Researchers can train small AI models locally, and creative professionals can use AI-powered editing tools for video, music, and design without slowdowns.

The laptops also come with faster storage (up to twice as fast as before), starting at 1TB for the M5 Pro model and 2TB for the M5 Max. Battery life goes up to 24 hours. Other upgrades include Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5 ports, and a 12-megapixel camera. Pre-orders open March 4, with availability starting March 11. The 14-inch M5 Pro model starts at $2,199.

Why it matters

Running AI on your own laptop instead of relying on cloud services means faster results and more privacy, since your data stays on your machine. As AI tools become part of everyday work (think smart writing assistants, image editors, and code helpers), having a laptop that can keep up without lag becomes a real advantage.

Source: Apple Newsroom