The M5 MacBook Pro is apparently close to launch. However, this only applies to the base model. While the cheapest version of the new Apple notebook is already in the final stages of testing, the more powerful versions, the M5 Pro and M5 Max, are not expected to appear until early 2026. A recent report sheds some light on the conflicting rumors of recent weeks.
As usual, Apple remains tight-lipped about new products. Accordingly, interest in the next generation of the MacBook Pro with the M5 chip is high. In recent months, it was unclear when exactly the new models would be released. Some sources predicted a launch as early as 2025, others as late as 2026. According to AppleInsider, both predictions are now correct – at least in part. According to the report, the base model with the M5 chip will be released soon, while the variants with the M5 Pro and M5 Max won't follow until next year.
The base M5 MacBook Pro is about to be released
According to AppleInsider, a Mac with the internal identifier J704 is about to be released. Apple is already testing this model with a special hardware-focused version of macOS Tahoe, version 26.0.2. This means the device is apparently in the final testing phase. For comparison: The current MacBook Pro with the standard M4 chip is known as the J604. The jump from J604 to J704 clearly points to the new base model with the M5 processor.
This suggests that Apple is planning to officially launch the base M5 MacBook Pro soon. A reveal could take place as early as 2025, while shipping may not begin until shortly thereafter, depending on the production schedule.
M5 Pro and M5 Max not expected until 2026
While the base model is apparently ready, the high-end versions seem to need a bit more time. The MacBook Pro models with the identifiers J714 and J716 are expected to ship with macOS 26.3. This is a clear indication of a later market launch. For comparison, macOS 15.3 was released in January 2025. Based on this cadence, version 26.3 is not expected until early 2026 at the earliest.
This means the M5 Pro MacBook Pro and the M5 Max MacBook Pro are unlikely to launch until after this date. While Apple could announce the devices earlier, actual availability will likely be delayed until next year.
Possible reasons for the staggered release
In the past, Apple has usually launched its MacBook Pro models simultaneously. This is especially true for the generations with the M3 and M4 chips. The only exception was the first models with M1 and M2 processors. Back then, the more powerful versions were released months after the base model.
The difference from back then: The product line has been standardized since then. While the M1-equipped models still differed in design, Apple has now established a consistent MacBook Pro design. The fact that there is now a staggered release could indicate that Apple wants to use the M5 chip first in other devices like the iPad Pro or the Vision Pro before the Pro and Max versions of the M5 are ready for the MacBook Pro.
A look at the current market situation
It's striking that the base M4 MacBook Pro is currently less available in the Apple Store, while the more expensive Pro and Max versions are readily available. This could indicate that Apple is already clearing inventory of the base model to make room for the new M5 MacBook Pro.
This observation fits with AppleInsider's report and supports speculation that the entry-level model will be unveiled soon. If this turns out to be true, the new M5 MacBook Pro could be the first device with Apple's new chip—even before the other models arrive.
What remains open
The biggest open question is whether Apple will unveil all models at once. It's possible that the company will announce the M5 MacBook Pro and mention the Pro and Max versions at the same time, but their market launches will follow months later. A staggered presentation, with the high-end models not shown until 2026 as part of a separate event, is also conceivable.
How Apple proceeds will likely also depend on how far the development of the M5 processor family has progressed. So far, it's certain: the base M5 is finished, while the M5 Pro and M5 Max are still in development.
M5 MacBook Pro as the starting point for the next generation
The M5 MacBook Pro is likely to be the launching point for Apple's next generation of chips. Everything indicates that the base model will be released in 2025, while the more powerful variants, the M5 Pro and M5 Max, won't follow until early 2026. The staggered timing is unusual, but not unprecedented—Apple has already made similar moves with previous generations.
If current information is confirmed, the M5 MacBook Pro will be the first device to demonstrate the direction Apple's MacBook Pro line is heading: toward greater efficiency, even stronger integration of hardware and software, and a clear separation between base and high-end models. (Image: Shutterstock / Dontree_M)
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