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Apple quietly rolled out M5-powered updates to two flagship devices: the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the Vision Pro headset. Both get notable speed and efficiency gains thanks to the new M5 silicon — and some surprising trade-offs worth knowing about.
What’s new for the 14-inch MacBook Pro?
The 14-inch MacBook Pro now ships with Apple’s M5 chip in the entry-level configuration, bringing a tangible boost for creative pros and everyday users alike. Under the hood, the M5 features a 10-core CPU split into four performance cores and six efficiency cores, paired with a brand-new 10-core GPU where each core includes a Neural Accelerator.
- AI and machine learning: Apple claims up to 3.5x faster AI workflows versus the previous M4 base model and a 6x improvement over the original M1.
- Neural Engine: 16-core Neural Engine to accelerate on-device AI tasks.
- Multithreaded performance: about a 20% uplift for demanding workloads.
- Memory bandwidth: a 30% increase, now rated at 153 GB/s.
Apple also highlights a major battery-life improvement: up to 24 hours on a single charge for the 14-inch model. That jump comes from the M5’s efficiency gains rather than a bigger battery — the machine still uses a 72.4Wh cell and includes a 70W USB-C power adapter in the box.
Aside from the chip swap, the 14-inch MacBook Pro retains last year’s hardware. You’ll find the same 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (1,964 x 3,024 pixels) with ProMotion up to 120Hz and up to 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness, plus a 12MP Center Stage webcam. Ports remain unchanged: MagSafe, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot and a headphone jack. Wireless connectivity is still Wi‑Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Vision Pro: more pixels and faster AI
The Vision Pro headset also gets the M5, and the chip upgrade unlocks modest but meaningful improvements for the mixed-reality experience. Micro‑OLED panels can now render roughly 10% more pixels, producing crisper text and sharper visuals. Refresh rates climb to 120Hz in supported scenarios, up from 100Hz on the first-generation model.
Performance gains extend to AI: Apple says first-party apps will run AI-driven features up to 50% faster, while third-party apps can see up to 2x acceleration in certain workloads. That can translate into snappier spatial computing interactions, quicker scene understanding, and improved on-device processing for immersive apps.
Battery life sees incremental improvements too: Apple lists up to 2.5 hours for general use and up to 3 hours of continuous video playback — useful for longer sessions but still a constraint for power users.
One key downside: the M5 Vision Pro is heavier. Depending on the Light Seal and headband configuration, the new model weighs between 750 and 800 grams — noticeably more than the M2 Vision Pro’s 600–650 grams. That extra weight may affect comfort during extended wear for some users.
New Dual Knit Band
Apple introduced a Dual Knit Band accessory for the Vision Pro, sold separately for $99. It uses 3D knitting with upper and lower straps designed to distribute weight more comfortably. The band is compatible with the original M2 Vision Pro as well.
Price, colors and availability
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 starts at $1,599 (16GB/512GB) and is available in Space Black and Silver. Pre-orders are open in key markets — including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and the UAE — with shipments starting October 22.
The M5 Vision Pro keeps its $3,499 starting price for the 256GB configuration. It will also be available from October 22. The Dual Knit Band is priced at $99.
Whether the upgrades matter depends on your priorities: if you want faster on-device AI, longer MacBook battery life and a sharper Vision Pro display, the M5 refresh delivers. If you’re sensitive to headset weight or already own a recent MacBook, the changes may feel incremental.
Source: gsmarena
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