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Apple Launches New M5 Chips, MacBook Pro, and First New Monitors In Years (apple.com) 47

Posted by BeauHD from the new-and-improved dept.
Today, Apple updated the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with support for its new M5 chips. It also unveiled a pair of all-new Studio Display XDR monitors. Longtime Slashdot reader jizmonkey shares details about the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which look to be fairly major updates from the previous generation: Apple announced its newest CPUs today, which it claims has the fastest single-threaded performance in the world. Both the M5 Pro and M5 Max have eighteen-core designs, versus twelve or fourteen in the M4 Pro and fourteen or sixteen in the M4 Max. However, the number of higher-performing cores has been reduced significantly. In the older M4 designs, the chips had eight, ten, or twelve "performance" cores and four "efficiency" cores. In the M5 design, there are now only six higher-performing cores (now called "super" cores) and twelve lower-performing cores (now called "performance" cores). [Apple positions this "reduction" as a redesigned architecture with new core types.] The maximum amount of RAM remains the same at 128GB for the M5 Max (64GB for the M5 Pro), and GPU performance has increased. [The M5 Pro features up to a 20-core GPU, while the M5 Max scales up to 40 cores, each equipped with a Neural Accelerator. Apple also says the new architecture delivers over 4x peak GPU compute for AI compared to the previous generation, along with up to 35 percent faster performance in ray-traced graphics workloads.] Laptops with the new chips are available to order starting tomorrow and will be delivered starting March 11. As for the new XDR monitors, MacRumors highlights some of the key features in its reporting: Apple today introduced an all-new Studio Display XDR monitor with a 27-inch screen, mini-LED backlighting, 5K resolution, peak brightness of 2,000 nits for HDR content, up to a 120Hz refresh rate, Thunderbolt 5, and more. The new Studio Display XDR replaces Apple's former Pro Display XDR, which has been discontinued. Going forward, there are now two Studio Display models.

Both new Studio Display models have the same overall design as the original model. Both models have a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, but it now supports Desk View on the new models. Both models also feature an upgraded six-speaker system, with Apple advertising "30 percent deeper bass" compared to the previous model. Only the higher-end Studio Display XDR received a 120Hz refresh rate, mini-LED backlighting, increased brightness, and faster 140W pass-through charging. The regular Studio Display still has a 60Hz refresh rate and up to 600 nits of brightness. Both models have 27-inch displays with a 5K resolution.

The new Studio Displays can be pre-ordered starting Wednesday, March 4, ahead of a Wednesday, March 11 launch. In the U.S., the regular Studio Display continues to start at $1,599, while the Studio Display XDR starts at $3,299.
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Apple Launches New M5 Chips, MacBook Pro, and First New Monitors In Years More

Apple Launches New M5 Chips, MacBook Pro, and First New Monitors In Years

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  • Computers uses newer chips, film at 11 (Score:4, Informative)

    by UnknowingFool ( 672806 ) on Tuesday March 03, 2026 @01:39PM (#66020694)
    So nothing exciting other than incremental updates that consumers should expect.

    • Is this like a lose-lose analysis on Apple?

      "No new products? Greedy bastards can't even be bothered to keep up with the latest tech."

      "Latest tech and nothing revolutionary? Greedy bastards just want to keep you on the upgrade train."

      Then again, maybe both are correct, I say typing on a 2017 iMac.

      • Re:Computers uses newer chips, film at 11 (Score:5, Informative)

        by UnknowingFool ( 672806 ) on Tuesday March 03, 2026 @01:50PM (#66020726)

        "No new products? Greedy bastards can't even be bothered to keep up with the latest tech."

        I clearly didn't say that. I said there was "nothing exciting other than incremental updates".

        "Latest tech and nothing revolutionary? Greedy bastards just want to keep you on the upgrade train."

        I also didn't say that. How you got from "nothing exciting" to "Greedy bastards" is quite the leap.

        • Both are pretty common sentiments here on Slashdot (and elsewhere)! (And, "film at 11" does have a certain tone.) You can look up a handful of super posters who seem to derive great pleasure from talking about iFans under every Apple post.

          I agree it's not terribly exciting. I'm debating buying a maxed out Mini M5 when they are announced.

    • Re:Computers uses newer chips, film at 11 (Score:5, Interesting)

      by alvinrod ( 889928 ) on Tuesday March 03, 2026 @01:46PM (#66020716)
      The layout of the chips is certainly a big change and I'm curious to see how the stack up against previous generations in terms of CPU performance. Apple putting GPU and AI benchmark results out while not showing any CPU scores suggests there's either little uplift or possibly even a performance regression in some cases. Hopefully a site like Chips and Cheese can get their hands on one of these laptops and do a thorough analysis of the new chip layout. I'm not really in the market for any of these, but I always do like reading about major architectural changes like these.
      • Ya, I have major concerns about that.

        "Super" and "Performance" cores now, instead of "Performance" and "Efficiency" cores stinks like newspeak.
        I can't see any way a new "P" core is the same as the old "P" core, because if that were so, M5 Max would have like +80% or more multicore performance, and they'd be pasting that all over literally everything. I've got the 12+4 M4 Max, and the 4 E cores already bug the fuck out of me when the wrong things get scheduled on them (it happens).
        A 6+12 configuration is
        • They renamed it because the new P cores sit in the middle. There are now âoesuperâ cores which are what the old performance cores were, efficiency cores, which stayed the same, and new âoeperformanceâ cores that are in between. Naming scheme is wonky but itâ(TM)s not that difficult to understand
          • I sincerely doubt that.

            Let's assume that a new "P" core isn't really just a re-badged old "E" core.
            6(S)+12(P) M5 Max
            12(P)+4(E) M4 Max)
            An E core currently performs at ~70% of a P core in dumb benchmarks.
            So adjusting where a P=1, and an E=0.7, the aggregate performance of my M4 Max is 14.8
            We don't know what an S core really performance, but we're going to assume >= a P core. We'll assign it a value of 1 to be conservative.
            Thus, aggregate performance of new M5 Max = 18.
            Delta = 3.2, or +21% performa
            • Keep in mind, that +21% is if an S core and a P core have the exact same performance. Since they realistically do not, the delta is even larger than that, making it even less likely that S is just rebranded P, and P is just rebranded E.

    • The starting storage at 1TB is a nice change, especially in light of what storage costs are doing recently.

    • Probably just as well, given that they wouldn't be able to ship too many of a real breakthrough new product. Courtesy both memory shortages as well as demands on TSMC from Nvidia horning in on Apple's allocation

  • 27" 5K? (Score:2, Insightful)

    by MeNeXT ( 200840 )

    You would think that we would have moved to larger formats by now. I have an 55" 8K with a 32" 4K as a secondary monitor with multiple desktops. I would say a 27" 5K monitor would feel cluttered. It reminds me of working in a cubicle.

    • 27 would be about the bare minimum for me these days, if I was on a budget. If you sat close enough, you might get 27" to fit your whole FOV, but people's furniture and feng shui occlude that sometimes.

      For comfortable viewing distances, 32" is the minimum I'm considering, although I have an ultrawide now for gaming that's a bit bigger and lovely.

      For "productivity" I'm partial to 16:10, nothing ultrawide. 10 years ago I used to run a 5:4 monitor turned to portrait orientation alongside for a multi-monitor se

      • 27 would be about the bare minimum for me these days, if I was on a budget. If you sat close enough, you might get 27" to fit your whole FOV, but people's furniture and feng shui occlude that sometimes.

        The primary use of 5K monitors is for editing 4K video at a desk. They are not for living room displays. They are not really for gaming.

      • Or go cheap like me and trade up your 27" DisplayPort for a ten year old 27" Thunderbolt Display from Craigslist for $200 at an $1800 savings. Let the pros have the top-end if they want them, but these creaky old 2560 × 1440 27" monitors look about as nice as they did when they came out, and better than any other $200 monitor I've tried.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      The issue at the moment is more to do with the technology being at a transition point.

      OLED pixel layout isn't ideal for text, and for desktop/productivity stuff, burn-in is still a bit of an issue. The colour and contrast are unmatched though, and they have perfect HDR because each pixel is individually lit.

      Mini LED, which Apple is using, is an LCD panel with a matrix of backlight LEDs behind it. Contrast isn't as good, colour isn't as good, HDR suffers from haloing, but there is no burn-in. That's not to s

    • I would say the main reason is the use case of 5K monitors. Generally they are used by video editors for 4K video which is detailed work on one thing at a time.

  • But those monitor prices are crazy. They look pretty, but $3k for a monitor?????

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Tarlus ( 1000874 )

      Par for the course if you've been following Apple for the last few decades.

      Anyone remember the $1000 "pro" monitor stand they used to sell?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by caseih ( 160668 )

      That's nothing. Just wait until you see the price tag for the 128 GB version. Currently the Mac Pro with M4 and 128 GB RAM is about $11k.

      • There are no Mac Pro's with M4. Those dinosaurs are still on the M2 chips.

        A mac studio with 128gb and M4 max will set you back $5K plus whatever you add for SSD (though frankly I've had no probs using an external NVMiE and thunderbolt. Its fast enough)

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      But those monitor prices are crazy. They look pretty, but $3k for a monitor?????

      High end monitors are expensive, period.

      3000 nits is crazy bright and is what common HDR formats have as maximum values for brightness, so it's basically ideal for mastering HDR video.

      Chances are if you're doing video work, you probably already have such a monitor on your desk with expanded color gamut and brightness to do HDR so your color grading works out.

    • I hear you, but itâ(TM)s about the same as a 21â crt 20-25 years ago. Just before flat panels took over. 3k today is about 1800 back then. Shit just costs more today bro
    • There is the Apple tax on items but bear in mind 5K monitors are not for gaming or the average consumer. They are meant for professional video editors. Editors can buy cheaper 5K monitors but they are trade offs. For example, the Dell 40" U4025QW [dell.com] which is larger but has a lower resolution at 5120 x 2160 instead of 5120 x 2880. It also has half the peak brightness for only $2200. For budget 5K, there is the ASUS ProArt 27" 5K [amazon.com] which is a bargain at $729. Unfortunately if you read the reviews, there is a reaso

  • There are now THREE core types:
    Super (previously 'Performance')
    Performance (new)
    Efficiency (same)

    The M5 Pro and up chips have a mix of 'Super' and 'Performance'.
    The base M5 chip has a mix of 'Super' and 'Efficiency', but has no (new) 'Performance' cores.

    It's not straightforward, but it's not the same as Apple making the chips worse and renaming the cores so you don't notice.

  • the line is supposed to go up not down!

    i've dual 4K 65" TVs stacked on wall mounts, other comments indicate similar enthusiasm for large format high resolution displays

    dell sells a 52" 6K display
    https://www.dell.com/en-nz/sho... [dell.com]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

    and asus sells 32" 8K displays https://www.asus.com/nz/displa... [asus.com]

    what the fuck gives apple?

    • i've dual 4K 65" TVs stacked on wall mounts, other comments indicate similar enthusiasm for large format high resolution displays

      That is not the use of 5K monitors. They are for video editing 4K video at a desk.

      dell sells a 52" 6K display

      Sure if you want to pay $1200 more for a much bigger display that does not support HDR. That would not seem to fit the use case of the Apple Studio Display 5K. The Dell U4025QW [dell.com] is more of a competitor to the Apple model and is cheaper at $2200. It is older and does not have the same brightness as the Apple display.

      and asus sells 32" 8K displays https://www.asus.com/nz/displa [asus.com]... [asus.com]

      Yes people can purchase that display for only $8800 and is larger than the Apple Display with 8K resolution.

  • It'll be interesting to see how these are received by the marketplace. Once the diehard fans get their latest bit of kit, I wonder how many existing Mac users will soldier on with older Apple silicon until prices subside.

    • It'll be interesting to see how these are received by the marketplace. Once the diehard fans get their latest bit of kit, I wonder how many existing Mac users will soldier on with older Apple silicon until prices subside.

      Most people who are consumers do not generally care. Enthusiasts care when the latest and greatest chip/tech drops. For most people they only really care if they can still use their current computers and for how long. For example I know people who are still using Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series chips in their computers which is using the older AM4 platform. Of course there were grumblings about moving to Windows 11 which was the only major thing that they have upgraded.

  • Disappointed no 256gb or 512gb Ram but have planned to buy it though actually my m2max is pretty sweet already
    Not sure if/when ram prices will spike it. Will wait for stabilization, Tahoe fixes, tests and also to get the most out of my current machine which I am not yet doing.. really wanted an M5 Ultra MBP is that ever going to happen?

  • And in related news, the Excalbur was destroyed with a loss of all hands, and three other heavy cruisers were seriously damaged.

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