New MacBook Pro 2026: M5 Pro and M5 Max — Release Date, Specs, and What to Expect

Apple's next MacBook Pro update is right around the corner. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are launching alongside macOS 26.3, which is expected to ship any day now. Reseller stock is already dwindling — a telltale sign that Apple is about to refresh the lineup. For more, see M5 Pro vs M5 Max: which MacBook Pro to buy.

Here's everything we know about the upcoming MacBook Pro, from the new chips to expected pricing and release timing. For more, see every Apple product coming in 2026.

When Is It Coming?

All signs point to an imminent launch in February or March 2026:

• macOS 26.3 Release Candidate was seeded to developers on February 4, 2026
• MacBook Pro stock at resellers is running low — a classic indicator of an incoming refresh
• Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports the launch is tied to the macOS 26.3 release window
• The public release of macOS 26.3 is expected as soon as the week of February 10

Apple held an invite-only creator event in LA on January 27-29, which many speculated was tied to a MacBook Pro announcement. While that event focused on Creator Studio, the timing suggests Apple is building momentum.

M5 Pro and M5 Max: What's New

M5 Chip Architecture (Base Model)

The base M5 chip — already shipping in the MacBook Pro 14-inch since late 2025 — uses a third-generation 3-nanometer process and features: — learn more: the MacBook Air M5 as a lighter alternative

• 10-core CPU (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores)
• 10-core GPU with dedicated Neural Accelerator in each core
• 16-core Neural Engine
• 153.6 GB/s unified memory bandwidth (~30% increase over M4)
• 15% faster CPU and 45% faster GPU compared to M4
• 4x peak GPU compute for AI compared to M4

M5 Pro (Expected)

• Up to 14-core CPU
• Up to 20-core GPU
• Built with new SoIC-MH process — a modular chip architecture that puts separate CPU and GPU dies on a single substrate
• Expected to deliver 25-30% performance improvement over M4 Pro

M5 Max (Expected)

• Up to 16-core CPU
• Up to 40-core GPU
• Same SoIC-MH modular architecture
• Significant leap in GPU-heavy workloads like 3D rendering, video editing, and AI model training

What Else Is Changing?

Based on current reporting, the M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros will be chip upgrades only — no major design changes. The significant redesign is being held for the M6 generation later this year.

Expected improvements alongside the new chips:

• Thunderbolt 5 support for faster external storage and display connections
• Wi-Fi 7 for improved wireless performance
• Same starting price of $1,599 for the 14-inch M5 Pro model

The M6 OLED MacBook Pro (Later in 2026)

Here's where it gets really interesting. Gurman has also reported that Apple is planning a completely redesigned MacBook Pro with:

• M6 chips built on TSMC's 2nm process
• OLED display replacing the current mini-LED panel
• Expected toward the end of 2026 (possibly into early 2027)
• This would be the first major MacBook Pro redesign since 2021

This means the MacBook Pro lineup could see two upgrades in 2026 — the M5 chip refresh now, and a full redesign with M6 and OLED later.

Apple's Full 2026 Mac Roadmap

Mark Gurman outlined Apple's complete Mac plan for 2026:

• M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro — imminent (Feb/March 2026)
• M5 MacBook Air — spring 2026
• Low-cost MacBook with A18 Pro chip — 2026
• M5 Max/Ultra Mac Studio — 2026
• M5/M5 Pro Mac mini — 2026
• New monitors — 2026
• M6 MacBook Pro — late 2026
• M6 Pro/Max OLED MacBook Pro — late 2026 into 2027

That's potentially 8+ Mac products in a single year. Macworld called 2026 "the biggest year for the Mac since 1984."

Should You Wait or Buy Now?

If you need a MacBook Pro right now: Wait a few weeks. The M5 Pro/Max models are literally days or weeks away. Buying an M4 Pro MacBook Pro today would be poor timing.

If you want the OLED redesign: You'll be waiting until late 2026 at the earliest. If you can wait that long, the M6 OLED MacBook Pro will be worth it. But that's potentially 8-10 months away.

If you're on an M1 or M2: The M5 Pro/Max is a significant upgrade and worth getting now. Don't wait for the M6 unless you're comfortable waiting until 2027.

If you're on an M3 or M4: The improvements are meaningful but not transformative. The M6 OLED redesign might be worth waiting for if your current machine is still performing well.

The Bottom Line

The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro update is the most imminent Apple product launch right now. With macOS 26.3 about to ship and reseller stock depleting, expect an announcement within days. The new chips bring meaningful performance gains — especially for AI workloads — while maintaining the same starting price.

But keep in mind that a much bigger refresh with OLED screens and M6 chips is planned for later this year. If you can wait, that redesign will be the bigger upgrade.