Apple M5 Chip Announced

Apple M5 chip for MacBooks, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro. Should you care? Let me break it down in a way that actually makes sense.

In One Sentence

Apple announced the M5 chip with up to 3.5x more performance for AI workflows, faster storage and up to 24 hours of battery life. The M5 is 15% faster CPU performance and 45% faster graphics compared to M4. If you’re thinking about buying a MacBook right now, this is good news. If you already have an M4, you don’t need to panic.

Quick News Update

What Apple announced today:

• New 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M5 chip
• MacBook Pro models start at $1,599, available to preorder now and on sale October 22
• M5 chip also available in iPad Pro and Vision Pro

Important timing:

• Available to preorder now in most markets, going on sale October 22
• Prices remain the same as previous M4 versions

Why I’m writing this: Everyone’s talking about M5, but most explanations are confusing tech jargon. Let me translate what this actually means for normal people.

Should You Actually Care?

Read this if:

• You’re thinking about buying a MacBook (perfect timing)
• You own an M4 and wondering if you should upgrade (important)
• Someone mentioned “M5 chip” and you nodded along (let’s fix that)
• You have no idea what a computer chip even is (perfect, we’ll explain)

Skip this if:

• You just bought an M4 in the last few months (you’re fine)
• You don’t own a Mac and aren’t planning to
• You’re a developer who already knows about M5 specs

What Actually Is a “Chip” Anyway?

Before we talk about M5, let me clarify something most people don’t understand.

When Apple says “M5 chip,” they’re talking about the brain of your laptop.

Just like your brain tells your body what to do move your arm, think about lunch remember your password, The chip tells your MacBook what to do.

The better the chip equals the faster your MacBook thinks equals the faster everything feels.

Think of it like this:

• Slow chip: Your brain processing information slowly (someone on cold medicine)
• Fast chip: Your brain running at full speed (you after coffee)
• Very fast chip: Your brain on overdrive (you about to miss a flight)

That’s the difference between M3, M4, and now M5.

Okay, So What’s New About M5?

Let me give you the real changes without the boring specs.

15% Faster CPU

But what does that actually mean in your life?

With M4:

• Opens Photoshop: 3 seconds
• Opens heavy spreadsheet: 2 seconds
• Video editing render: Takes 10 minutes for a 1-minute video

With M5:

• Opens Photoshop: 2.55 seconds (noticeable? Slightly)
• Opens heavy spreadsheet: 1.7 seconds (barely noticeable)
• Video editing render: Takes 8.5 minutes for a 1-minute video (now that’s helpful)

Real talk: Unless you edit video or do heavy work, you probably won’t feel the difference much.

45% Faster Graphics Performance

Apple says the M5 offers up to 45% faster graphics with a new 10-core GPU. Architecture featuring a Neural Accelerator in each core, delivering over 4x the peak GPU compute performance compared to M4.

What does that mean? Gaming looks smoother, video editing faster, 3D design work more responsive.

Up to 24 Hours of Battery Life

This is actually the best improvement.

The MacBook Pro now has the longest battery life ever in a Mac—up to 24 hours and supports fast charge. Allowing it to charge up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes.

Why? The M5 is more efficient. It works harder but uses less power. Like a car that goes faster but still gets great gas mileage.

Real world impact: That’s basically one full workday of use before you need to charge. Or two flights without your charger.

2x Faster Storage

You can now configure up to 4TB of storage (double the previous 2TB maximum) and the SSD speeds are 2x faster for data transfers.

What this means: Large video files, photo libraries, and backups transfer much faster.

3.5x More AI Performance

M5 delivers up to 3.5x more performance for AI workflows with Neural Accelerators in each GPU core.

This is Apple’s big focus with M5 making AI tools run faster directly on your Mac.

Real-World Impact: What Will Actually Change for You?

I need to be honest here because tech companies love to oversell their stuff.

What WILL improve with M5:

• Apps feel snappier (opening apps, switching between them).
• Video editing is noticeably smoother (if you do that).
• Battery lasts significantly longer (24 hours is real).
• Coding compilation is faster (if you’re a developer).
• You can have more apps open (M5 handles multitasking better).
• Your Mac stays cooler (more efficient equals less heat).
• AI features run on your Mac (not in the cloud).

What WON’T improve:

• You won’t be more productive (M4 was already fast enough)
• Excel won’t open faster (it’s not Excel’s problem)
• Zoom calls won’t be clearer (it’s your internet)
• Word will help you write better (sorry, that’s on you)
• You’ll become more creative (chip speed doesn’t help creativity)

Bottom line: M5 is better, but M4 was already really good.

It’s like upgrading from a 2024 Honda Civic to a 2025 Honda Civic. Better? Yes. Dramatically different? Not really.

M5 vs M4 vs M3: The Quick Comparison

Feature	M3 (2024)	M4 (2024)	M5 (2025)
CPU Speed	Baseline	10% faster	15% faster than M4
GPU Speed	Baseline	Baseline	45% faster than M4
Battery Life	16-17 hours	18 hours	24 hours
AI Performance	Basic	Good	3.5x faster
Storage Speed	Standard	Standard	2x faster
Price (14″ Pro)	$1,499	$1,599	$1,599 (same)
Real difference	Gets the job done	Noticeably smoother	Slightly faster, much better battery

The honest take:

• M3 to M5: Pretty big jump, you’d feel it
• M4 to M5: Improvement, mostly in battery and AI
• M2 to M5: Huge upgrade, worth it

Should YOU Buy M5 Right Now?

Here’s my honest recommendation:

Buy M5 if:

• You don’t own a MacBook yet and need one today
• Your MacBook is 4+ years old and struggling
• You edit video professionally or do heavy design work
• You want to run AI features locally on your Mac
• You want the latest and money isn’t a concern
• You’re coming from Windows and want the best Mac

Example: Sarah’s been using a 2020 Intel MacBook. It’s slow, battery dies by lunchtime. M5 MacBook with up to 24 hours battery would be a HUGE upgrade for her. Do it.

Wait/Don’t Buy M5 if:

• You have an M4 MacBook that works fine (wait for M6)
• Money is tight and you’re budget-conscious
• You have an M3 that’s working okay
• You don’t do video editing or heavy work
• You primarily use web apps (Chrome, Gmail, etc.)

Example: James got an M4 MacBook Air 3 months ago. It’s fast, battery lasts all day, does everything he needs. Should he upgrade to M5? No. Waste of money. Wait at least 2 years.

Learn about Apple hold assist

Which MacBook M5 Should You Actually Get?

Now if you decide to buy, here’s what I’d recommend:

14-inch MacBook Pro M5 ($1,599+) – Good Starting Point

Base model starts at $1,599 with 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM

Best for: Professionals who want the Pro line, video editors, developers Storage: 512GB included (plenty for most people) RAM: 16GB standard (more than most people need) Real world: This is the laptop for people doing serious work

MacBook Air M5 (Coming Soon) – For 95% of People

The MacBook Air will get M5 later this year (expected mid-2026).

Best for: Writers, students, office workers, light video editing, casual design Price: Likely $1,199-$1,399 range (significantly less than Pro) Real world: This laptop will handle absolutely everything most people throw at it

I’d pick MacBook Air if you’re not sure. It’s the best value and does everything 95% of people need.

16-inch MacBook Pro (Coming Spring 2025)

M5 Pro and M5 Max models are available from 22 October.

Best for: Video editors, 3D designers, heavy professionals Real world: Most people will never need this

M5 vs Windows Laptop: Why I’m Recommending Mac

Okay, I need to be fair here.

Windows laptops with new processors like Intel Core Ultra are also fast.

So why recommend MacBook?

Reasons MacBook wins:

• Built with 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure (lasts longer)
• Resale value better (a 3-year-old Mac sells for 50% of original)
• MacOS is smooth and consistent
• Trackpad is the best on any laptop
• Better if you have iPhone/iPad (ecosystem works together)

Reasons Windows might be better:

• Cheaper upfront ($500-800 less)
• More options and customization
• Gaming support
• Specific software only on Windows

My honest take: M5 brings AI performance improvements, but the real choice is ecosystem. Use iPhone/iPad? Get Mac. Use Android? Windows is fine.

Pricing & When to Buy Apple M5 Chip

“Should I wait for a sale?”

Honestly? Not really.

Here’s why:

Right now: M5 MacBook starts at $1,599 (same as M4 was) In 2-3 months: M4 might drop $200-300, M5 stays $1,599 Black Friday: Maybe $100-200 discount possible Next year: M6 arrives, M5 drops in price

My recommendation: If you need a laptop now, buy M5. Don’t wait. The savings aren’t worth weeks without a computer.

has has a durable design with 100% recycled aluminum and will last years.

The difference between M4 and M5 is smaller than the difference between your current old laptop and an M5. That’s the real upgrade story.

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 is available to preorder now, going on sale October 22.

Questions about M5? Ask in the comments below and I’ll answer honestly.

Want to learn more? Check out our full MacBook buying guide (coming soon) for detailed comparison between Air and Pro models.