Apple just announced M5 MacBook Proresulting in Apple's latest silicon chips becoming part of the company's flagship line of laptops. Then the big question is: is it worth buying?
While it may be tempting to dive into the game and get the latest and greatest device as soon as it's released, I think this is a case where it's worth being a little more patient.
First, we don't know how well the M5 chip in this laptop performs, and until we get to try out the latest MacBook Pro, you might want to wait. This certainly doesn't feel like a revolutionary update from Apple. wants you to think that this is.
But there's a bigger issue here, which is that you can get some really fantastic discounts by going back a little and choosing something that was made a generation or two ago.
Do you really need to shell out $1,599/£1,599/$2,499 for an M5 MacBook Pro, or will you be better off if you buy something a little older? M3 MacBook Air, let's say – it costs much less, but at the same time gives you everything you need? If it were me, I know what I would achieve – let me explain.
Take a step back
Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing the M5 MacBook Pro or saying it's a bad laptop. Of course, it has many advantages – perhaps it is even best laptop you can buy if we take price and value out of the equation entirely.
Apple claims the M5 chip, for example, delivers 1.6 times faster graphics performance than its M4 predecessor. Considering the fact that MacBooks are becoming real slot machines With wide selection of popular games This benefit is a welcome development for Mac gamers.
Also of note is the phenomenal battery life, which Apple says is 24 hours. Apple's silicone MacBooks have always been incredibly durable, but the M5 takes it to the next level. With M4 version in our tests the duration is more than 18 hoursthis figure probably won't be too unrealistic.
There is no doubt that this is a great laptop. But is this laptop right for you? In most cases I would be tempted to say that this is not the case. If you're looking for the perfect laptop, there may be better options.
In the air
Take the MacBook Air M3 that I mentioned earlier. It was released in March 2024, just 18 months ago. Of course, this means that it no longer has the latest generation of chips, but the M3 chip it is equipped with offers more than enough processing power for most people.
IN our reviewFor example, we gave it a perfect rating of five out of five stars and praised its portable form factor, long-lasting battery, and stellar performance (assuming you're not doing heavy creative work). For most laptop buyers, this is the best choice.
There are a few areas where the M5 excels: for example, Apple boasts up to 7.7 times faster AI video enhancement in Topaz Video and up to 6.8 times faster 3D rendering in Blender. But ultimately, if you want to render video, work with animation, or perform other creative tasks, the M5 MacBook Pro probably won't be a much better choice over the M3 MacBook Air.
This is mainly because both laptops are equipped with entry-level chips. If you need this kind of work done, you're better off waiting for the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips to arrive next year, or finding a higher-end laptop from Apple's previous generation of processors, like the M3 Pro or M4 Pro.
And then there's the price. Right now, you can get a refurbished MacBook Air M3 for just $649.99 at Best Buy, which is half the price of the base $1,599 MacBook Pro M5.
In our MacBook Air M3 review, we recommend you upgrade to 8GB of memory and 256GB of internal storage. Do that and you can get a refurbished model with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage for $859.99, which is still just over half the price of an equivalent M5 MacBook Pro.
Buy for the work you do
The key component here is Apple silicon. Apple's chips are so good that even previous-generation models are fantastic options. You can buy a MacBook Air M3, save a ton of money, and still get a device that will last you for years to come.
This problem comes down to one simple question: how much power do you really need? Because while it may be tempting to “future-proof” your purchase by choosing a more expensive chip or a higher-end laptop, for many of us this isn't necessary. Buy what you know you need to do, not what you think you may or may not do in the future. In most cases, the M3 chip still has enough power to last you for many years.
Once you've taken into account the type of work you actually do, you may find that a model like the M3 MacBook Air offers enough features for your needs. The reality is that most laptop buyers don't train AI models or do rendering. 8K video. If you're like most people, an older (but still recent) model like the M3 MacBook Air will suit you.
And if that doesn't happen, you're better off waiting until next year when the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are rumored to arrive. For now, unless you're desperate for a new laptop, the M5 MacBook Pro might not be the best choice.
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