The new Apple MacBook Pro 14 with M5 is the one you get if its your first time going Pro

It’s hard to review a new laptop model when the previous generation and even generations before it are already outstanding. What Apple does well is keep their product range fresh, and ready for new buyers and those upgrading. Hard to argue that the MacBook Pro isn’t the best all rounder pro-level laptop on the market and the new MacBook Pro 14 inch with M5 just helps Apple retain that title.

Having used the MacBook Air now for several months instead of a Pro, it’s hard to argue with frankly any Mac product with Apple Silicon – the performance you get and battery life on laptops is just outstanding.

But – here’s what tips you into Pro territory. It’s three things, and three things I missed about the MacBook Air.

1. HDMI Output
2. SD Card Slot
3. Nanotexture screen coating

HDMI you might be able to give or take, but for me it comes in handy often in my studio environment, and for Pro workers often it’s for a second screen or for presentations.

SD Card slot means not having to carry around an adaptor when I want to dump footage from a camera and that’s a big one for someone who picks up and travels as often as I do. Again, for Pro users who are editing photos or videos, this is a critical one.

But for me the Nanotexture screen is one that Apple really needs to consider making an across the board option. Even on MacBook Air it would be sensational, and it’s not like they are losing money on it, it’s a $230 added cost to your machine when you spec it up – so make it one for all. That said, it does helpfully sit now as a “pro level” feature, and perhaps that’s Apple’s plan.

A MacBook Pro 14 inch is some 300 grams heavier than a MacBook Air, strangely it’s really quite noticeable to be honest – but I’m ok with that for the extra benefits the Pro brings.

Did I notice the performance leap from the M5 chip? No. But I’m used to using both Pro level laptops and also Apple Silicon – I expect pro performance, this new MacBook Pro meets that expectation.

For ANYONE still running an Intel based MacBook now is the time, it’s long overdue. If you’re on an M1 or M2 and are genuinely doing Pro things like Video editing or working in Lightroom you’ll absolutely notice a fantastic leap in performance, render time and general usability.

Disappointingly the MacBook Pro with M5 does not get WiFI 7, still 6E the same wireless chip as the last two generations, but hey – you can now get a 4TB hard drive if you wanna go crazy!

You could spend just over $5,000 on this bad boy with 4TB of storage 32GB of unified memory and that Nanotexture screen.

But at $2,499 the base model is all you really need – and it will be with you and working hard for you for many, many years to come.

Hey, if you’re into gaming, the graphics performance is sensational, Cyberpunk 2077 looked just stunning on this screen – but I’m not sure yet how gamers really feel about Mac overall – still to me seems like a wide open opportunity for disruption.

The new MacBook Pro with M5 goes on sale today.