Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip looks exactly like the model it replaces, and most reviews published today open by saying so. The more interesting part comes next: the M5 brings a large gain in graphics performance, and the battery numbers from the first lab tests are remarkable.
This is a documented review: I brought together Apple’s official specs and the measured results published by testers such as Engadget, Tom’s Hardware and Tom’s Guide, then added my own verdict.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | USD 1,599 (USD 1,499 for education), base configuration with 16GB memory and 512GB storage |
| Arab market availability | Gulf launch timing and local pricing not confirmed at the time of writing |
| TechKahwa rating | 8.9/10 |
| Best for | Creators, developers and students coming from an Intel or M1 Mac who want long battery life and strong graphics |
| Skip if | You already own the M4 model, or you want an OLED screen or Wi-Fi 7 |
Design, ports and the display
Nothing changed outside. This is the familiar 14-inch aluminium body at 1.55 kg (3.4 lb), with a port selection that most Windows laptops at this size no longer offer: three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 and a headphone jack. There is a 12MP Center Stage camera above the screen, and the laptop ships with macOS Tahoe.
The display is a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR panel at 3024 x 1964 and 254 ppi, with refresh rates up to 120Hz and a rated peak of 1,600 nits in HDR, according to Apple. A nano-texture option is available for people who work under harsh light. Tom’s Hardware and Tom’s Guide measured 558 nits in SDR, and Tom’s Guide recorded 1,109 nits in HDR.
Reviewers also praised what a spec sheet misses: the speakers, keyboard and trackpad. The one design complaint that came up, from Engadget, is that there is still no OLED option.
Performance and battery
The base M5 has a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine and 153GB/s of memory bandwidth. Memory starts at 16GB and can be configured to 32GB, and storage goes up to 4TB.
In Geekbench 6, the outlets landed close to one another, with the small differences you expect between review units. Engadget recorded 4,310 single-core and 18,003 multi-core. Tom’s Hardware measured 4,288 and 17,926, and Tom’s Guide 4,288 and 17,986. Engadget also ran Cinebench 2024 and got 197 single-core, 1,034 multi-core and 6,143 on the GPU test. Reviewers called the GPU gain over the M4 large.
Storage got faster too. In Tom’s Hardware’s file copy test, the M5 model reached “1,917.35 MBps compared to 1,167.29 MBps” for the M4 model.
Battery life is where the results look almost unreal. Apple claims “up to 24 hours video streaming” and “up to 16 hours wireless web” from the 72.4Wh battery. Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar reported “34 hours and 30 minutes while looping an HD video”. In the web browsing test at 150 nits, Tom’s Hardware measured “18 hours and 14 minutes”. Tom’s Guide published the same 18:14, but both outlets belong to the same publishing group and share that figure, so I count it as one result, not two confirmations.
| Test | Result | Tested by |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 single / multi | 4,310 / 18,003 | Engadget |
| Geekbench 6 single / multi | 4,288 / 17,926 | Tom’s Hardware |
| Cinebench 2024 GPU | 6,143 | Engadget |
| HD video loop | 34 h 30 min | Engadget |
| Web browsing at 150 nits | 18 h 14 min | Tom’s Hardware |
| File copy speed | 1,917.35 MBps | Tom’s Hardware |
| SDR brightness | 558 nits | Tom’s Hardware and Tom’s Guide |
What caught my attention is that Engadget’s video result beat Apple’s own claim by more than ten hours.
What reviewers agree on
Strengths:
- A large GPU gain over the M4.
- Excellent battery life.
- A faster SSD.
- Great speakers, keyboard and trackpad.
- A full port selection, including HDMI and an SD card slot.
Weaknesses:
- A small generational upgrade over the M4 in an unchanged design.
- Costly memory and storage upgrades.
- No Wi-Fi 7, as Tom’s Hardware points out.
- No OLED option, according to Engadget.
Who should buy it
If your current laptop is an Intel MacBook or an early Apple silicon model, this is a strong upgrade. The battery results alone change how you work: a laptop that lasts through a long flight or a full day of classes without a charger is a different tool. The GPU gains also matter if you edit video, work in 3D apps or play games on a Mac.
If you bought the M4 version last year, I would not bother: same design, same screen, and a modest jump outside graphics.
For readers in the region, Apple’s announcement did not confirm whether Gulf countries are in the first preorder wave, and I could not confirm a local price. Check Apple’s regional store before planning around a launch day purchase.
Verdict
The M5 MacBook Pro 14 is an easy laptop to recommend and a hard one to get excited about if you already own its predecessor. Apple kept everything people liked, added a much faster GPU and a quicker SSD, and the battery results reported by Engadget and Tom’s Hardware are exceptional. Engadget scored it 92/100.
In my view, the missing OLED and Wi-Fi 7 are fair criticisms but not deal breakers, and the upgrade pricing is the bigger issue. For anyone coming from an older machine, this is the 14-inch laptop to beat. TechKahwa rating: 8.9/10.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom, new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 announcement, October 15, 2025, https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/10/apple-unveils-new-14-inch-macbook-pro-powered-by-the-m5-chip/
- Apple, MacBook Pro technical specifications, October 2025, https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/
- Engadget, Devindra Hardawar, MacBook Pro M5 14-inch review, October 21, 2025, https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-m5-14-inch-review-a-huge-graphics-upgrade-for-creators-and-gamers-170009179.html
- Tom’s Hardware, Brandon Hill, MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 (late 2025) review, October 21, 2025, https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/ultrabooks-ultraportables/apple-macbook-pro-14-inch-m5-late-2025-review
- Tom’s Guide, MacBook Pro M5 review, October 21, 2025, https://tomsguide.com/computing/macbooks/macbook-pro-m5-review
- AppleInsider, price guide for the MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 base configuration (MDE04LL/A, 16GB and 512GB), October 2025, https://prices.appleinsider.com/product/macbook-pro-14-inch-m5/MDE04LL/A