Apple just gave two of its flagship devices a serious brain upgrade — both the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the Vision Pro now run on the brand-new M5 chip, officially unveiled this week.
The upgrade marks a major leap in Apple’s AI performance story, with the company promising faster processing, improved graphics, and better efficiency — all built on a third-generation 3-nanometer process.
Let’s break down what’s new.
MacBook Pro: Same design, next-level performance
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) keeps its familiar sleek design, but everything under the hood gets an upgrade.
- Up to 3.5× faster AI performance thanks to next-gen Neural Accelerators in each GPU core.
- Graphics up to 1.6× faster than the M4, with stronger compute for creative and pro workflows.
- 20% faster CPU speeds in multithreaded tasks.
- Memory bandwidth up to 153 GB/s, boosting data-heavy performance.
- Battery life up to 24 hours, despite the power bump.
For anyone tracking how storage and efficiency improvements shape modern computing, this jump echoes what we saw in next-gen storage technologies earlier this year.
Starting at $1,599, the machine targets creators, developers, and AI-heavy workflows rather than casual users. The chassis, ports, and display remain unchanged — so think of it as a major “under-the-hood” upgrade, not a redesign.
Vision Pro gets smoother, smarter, and more comfortable
Apple’s Vision Pro headset is also joining the M5 era, with upgrades focused on performance and wearability rather than visuals alone.
- M5 chip delivers sharper visuals and smoother multitasking.
- Display rendering improves by roughly 10%.
- New 120 Hz refresh rate for even smoother motion.
- Slightly longer battery life — about 30 minutes more in typical use.
- New Dual Knit Band strap for a more balanced, comfortable fit.
- Runs visionOS 26, with improved Personas and Apple Intelligence support.
And if you’re wondering how Apple’s headset update stacks up against its biggest Android rival, check out Samsung’s Project Moohan XR headset — it launched just a week before Apple’s announcement.
Pre-orders for Vision Pro (M5) are open now, with shipments starting October 22, 2025.
Why this matters
Apple’s M5 rollout makes one thing clear: it’s all about AI and efficiency.
The company is betting big on on-device intelligence — the same philosophy driving the industry’s new AI-native era. To see how that shift is unfolding elsewhere, read our explainer on AI-native operating systems.
Upgrading both a pro laptop and a spatial headset at once shows Apple wants the M5 to unify its top-tier lineup — a single, high-performance standard across Mac and Vision.
Expert take
For most users, these M5 updates aren’t about looks — they’re about longevity.
If you already have an M4 MacBook Pro, you’ll see gains mostly in AI tasks, rendering, and app load times. For Vision Pro users, it’s the comfort and smoother interface that make this refresh appealing.
It’s another reminder that the future of Apple hardware — like much of tech right now — is increasingly defined by on-device AI, echoing trends we’ve seen in Snapdragon’s latest AI chips.
Final thoughts
No flashy redesigns, no wild experiments — just raw performance and smarter silicon.
For power users, the M5 MacBook Pro and Vision Pro upgrades are meaningful. For everyone else, they signal Apple’s next era: a world built around powerful, efficient, and AI-driven devices.
Last Updated on October 16, 2025 by Lucy
