Hands On With the MacBook Pro M5: Apple Hides a Monster Inside

Source Domain: www.pcmag.com

The MacBook Pro just received its major 2026 upgrade with the switch to newly unveiled M5 Max and M5 Pro processors. At Apple’s New York launch event (with the Pro showcased alongside the MacBook Neo and the 2026, M5-equipped MacBook Air), I got some hands on time with the MacBook Pro, in both 14- and 16-inch sizes. The MacBook Pro received some substantial changes, but you wouldn’t know it just by looking at it, since the exterior design is identical to the previous version…and the one before that.

Check Out the New MacBook Pros…

Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2026, M5)

Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2026, M5 Pro)

Design and Feel: The Old Reliable Pro

Apple’s chassis design hasn’t changed, but its updated Fusion processor packaging and the massive jump in base storage make this the most significant internal overhaul we’ve seen in years. The outside remains the same: a sleek aluminum exterior in low-key, business-friendly shades of anodized aluminum.