Apple M5 MacBook Pro vs M4 MacBook Pro: Key Upgrades and Differences Explained

Key Points

  1. M5 MacBook Pro brings faster AI performance and improved graphics over the M4.

  2. Apple M5 MacBook Pro offers a new Space Black color and a lower starting price.

  3. Core design, display, ports, and battery largely remain unchanged between M4 and M5.


The M5 MacBook Pro is the latest flagship laptop from Apple, featuring the new M5 chipset that promises enhanced performance and efficiency compared to the M4 MacBook Pro. While both laptops share a similar design and display, the M5 model introduces significant improvements in on-device AI and graphics capabilities. Apple claims that the new M5 chip delivers up to 3.5 times faster AI performance and 1.6 times faster graphics than the M4, making it a more powerful option for creative professionals, developers, and tech enthusiasts.

In terms of design, the Apple M5 MacBook Pro retains the same aluminium body as the M4 and weighs 1.54 kg, ensuring portability and premium build quality. The biggest visual change is the introduction of a Space Black color option alongside the existing Silver variant, replacing the Grey shade from the M4. Both models feature a 14.2-inch display with a resolution of 3,024 by 1,964 pixels, offering 254 pixels per inch and supporting ProMotion with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz and True Tone technology. The high-resolution display ensures sharp visuals, accurate colors, and smooth animations, making the M5 MacBook Pro ideal for video editing, design work, and day-to-day productivity.

Performance improvements in the M5 MacBook Pro are primarily driven by the new chipset. The M5 maintains a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, similar to the M4, but introduces a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core. This addition focuses on boosting AI workloads on the device, such as image recognition, video analysis, and machine learning tasks. Professionals who rely on AI-powered applications will notice a significant speed boost, while gamers and content creators will benefit from smoother graphics performance. Early benchmarks suggest that the M5 offers noticeably faster rendering times and improved multitasking compared to its predecessor, which is a key selling point for users upgrading from the M4 or older MacBook Pro models.

Camera, connectivity, and battery life remain consistent between the M5 MacBook Pro and the M4. Both models feature a 12MP Center Stage camera housed in the display notch, delivering Full HD video output for clear video calls and recordings. Connectivity options include three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 charging, and a headphone jack, offering versatile options for external displays, storage, and peripherals. Battery capacity is also unchanged at 72.4 watt-hours, providing up to 24 hours of video playback or 16 hours of web browsing. While the core hardware is largely the same, the M5’s efficiency improvements allow users to get slightly more performance per watt, which can translate to smoother operation during extended workloads.

Price is another area where the Apple M5 MacBook Pro gains an advantage over the M4. The new M5 MacBook Pro starts at Rs 1,69,900 for the base model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, which is lower than the M4’s launch price of Rs 1,99,900. This reduction makes the M5 an attractive option for buyers seeking the latest hardware and better performance without paying a premium. For users looking to upgrade from older MacBook Pro models, the combination of improved AI and graphics, along with the price drop, makes the M5 a compelling choice.

Both the M4 and M5 MacBook Pro offer similar thermal management and build quality. Apple’s innovative cooling system ensures that the laptops can sustain high performance without overheating, even during resource-intensive tasks like video rendering or running virtual machines. The keyboards, trackpads, and speakers are unchanged, which is a positive for users who appreciated the M4’s typing experience and audio quality. While the design and core components remain familiar, the M5 MacBook Pro provides a noticeable edge for users who want the latest chipset and AI capabilities.

The Apple M5 MacBook Pro also caters to creative professionals who leverage AI-based applications such as Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, and Logic Pro. With the Neural Accelerator embedded in the GPU cores, AI-enhanced features like smart image adjustments, video upscaling, and predictive text generation run more efficiently. This makes tasks that relied on cloud processing faster and more seamless on-device. The improved graphics performance also benefits 3D modeling, animation, and gaming, where higher frame rates and smoother rendering are crucial. Users upgrading from the M4 will notice significant improvements in workflow efficiency, especially when handling large projects or multitasking across demanding applications.

In conclusion, the M5 MacBook Pro delivers meaningful upgrades over the M4, particularly in AI performance, graphics capabilities, and pricing, while retaining the same premium design, display, ports, and battery life. The introduction of the Space Black color adds a modern aesthetic, and the improved efficiency ensures a better overall user experience. For anyone considering a MacBook Pro purchase, the M5 offers the latest technology, enhanced performance, and a competitive price point, making it an attractive choice for both professionals and everyday users.