This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Coastal Picks
Apple 2026 MacBook Pro (M5 Pro) review
A 14.2-inch MacBook Pro built around the M5 Pro chip, with a Liquid Retina XDR display and all-day battery life.
Quick take
This configuration pairs the M5 Pro chip (15-core CPU, 16-core GPU) with 24GB unified memory and a 1TB SSD, built on the 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness. It includes Wi-Fi 7, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, MagSafe 3, an SDXC card slot, HDMI, a 12MP Center Stage camera, and Apple's continued emphasis on all-day battery life whether on battery or plugged in.
From our own use
This MacBook Pro appears to offer excellent value. I have owned several Apple laptops over the past 25 years, and the specifications here are strong for the price. The screen is large enough for many everyday uses, and this is the kind of laptop I would keep in the car so I am never without a computer.
| Brand | Apple |
| Chip | M5 Pro, 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU |
| Display | 14.2" Liquid Retina XDR |
| Memory | 24GB unified |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| Color | Space Black |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Weight | 3.52 lbs |
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 5, MagSafe 3, SDXC, HDMI |
Who it's for
Good fit
- Anyone needing serious performance for demanding apps or AI workloads
- Photographers, editors, or developers who benefit from a high-nit XDR display
- Longtime Mac users upgrading to current-generation Apple silicon
Skip it if
- Basic web browsing and email are your main use case — a MacBook Air likely suffices
- You need a larger 16-inch display
Performance and daily use
The jump to M5 Pro brings faster unified memory and up to 2x faster SSD storage over the prior generation, according to Apple, along with Apple silicon built specifically with AI workloads in mind. For anyone who's used a string of MacBooks over the years, this generation reads as a genuine capability step rather than an incremental refresh — particularly in sustained, plugged-in performance.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong performance-per-dollar at this configuration
- High-brightness Liquid Retina XDR display
- Fast Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity
- All-day battery life on battery or plugged in
Cons
- 1TB may still be tight for heavy video or large local libraries
- 14.2" screen is smaller than the 16-inch option for some workflows
Frequently asked questions
What chip does this MacBook Pro use?
The M5 Pro, with a 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU.
How much storage and memory does this configuration have?
24GB unified memory and 1TB SSD storage.
What size is the display?
14.2 inches, Liquid Retina XDR, with up to 1600 nits peak brightness.
Does it support Wi-Fi 7?
Yes.