How to pre-order Apple's updated MacBook Pros with the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips
Apple is launching updated MacBook Pros with new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips and double the starting storage, the company announced Tuesday. They'll start shipping on Wednesday, March 11, and preorders are open now. FYI: All configurations include a free $100 gift card at Best Buy as part of its Apple Shopping Event, live through Sunday, March 8.
The new MacBook Pros will be available in 14- and 16-inch sizes. The M5 Pro variants will start at $2,199 and $2,699, respectively, with discounts of up to $200 for education shoppers who buy direct. They come with 1TB of base storage. Apple recommends them "for users running complex workflows, like coders optimizing algorithms and photographers processing massive image libraries," according to a company press release.
The 14-inch M5 Max model starts at $3,599 (or $3,299 for students), while the 16-inch size starts at $3,899 (or $3,599 for students). Both models have 2TB of base storage. They're aimed at "those pushing the absolute limits, such as engineers running rigorous simulations," Apple said.
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While the starting prices of both new MacBook Pro variants are higher than their predecessors', the latter's base models had half the storage. When configured identically, with the same amount of storage and RAM, their prices haven't changed:
14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,199
16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,699
14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max/M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,599
16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max/M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,899
In keeping with this pattern, Apple has also announced that it's updating the starting configuration of its entry-level MacBook Pro, the 14-inch model with the regular M5 chip (an October 2025 release). It now has 1TB of base storage and a starting price of $1,699. It used to start at $1,599 with 512GB of storage, with a 1TB bump costing $200 extra, so that's actually a better deal than before.
The updated MacBook Pros aren't the only new Apple gadgets available for preorder this week. Shoppers can also reserve the new M5 MacBook Airs, a new budget iPhone 17e, an M4 iPad Air, new Studio Displays, and the all-new budget MacBook Neo ahead of their collective March 11 launch.
M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro specs: What else is new
Both updated variants of the MacBook Pro feature Apple's N1 chip, which adds support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, some newer wireless connectivity standards. Other than that, they're basically identical to their predecessors. Here's a rundown of the M5 Pro models' spec sheets:
Sizes: 14- and 16-inch models
Starting prices: $2,199 and $2,699, respectively
Processor: M5 Pro with up to an 18-core CPU and up to a 20-core GPU
Display: Liquid Retina XDR display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of SDR brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content); optional nano-texture finish
Memory: 24GB to 64GB RAM
Storage: 1TB to 4TB
Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6
Battery life: Up to 24 hours of video streaming
Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera
Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack
Colors: Space black and silver
And here's a breakdown of the M5 Max variants' components:
Sizes: 14- and 16-inch models
Starting prices: $3,599 and $3,899, respectively
Processor: M5 Max with an 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU
Display: Liquid Retina XDR display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of SDR brightness (1,600 nits peak for HDR content); optional nano-texture finish
Memory: 36GB to 128GB RAM
Storage: 2TB to 8TB
Connectivity: WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6
Battery life: Up to 22 hours of video streaming
Webcam: 12MP Center Stage camera
Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack
Colors: Space black and silver
Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.
