Apple MacBook Pro with M5 chip: Here's when it may launch

Apple MacBook

Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pro powered by the M5 chip is unlikely to launch this year, according to new analyst projections.

In a research note primarily focused on the iPhone 18’s A20 processor, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that “high-end M5 processors” will be used in the 2026 MacBook range. The high-end designation typically applies to the MacBook Pro, which is offered in Pro and Max chip configurations, unlike the MacBook Air, which uses only the base M-series processors.

This timeline aligns with earlier reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who indicated that a new MacBook Pro release was not expected in 2025. The M5 MacBook Air is still anticipated in early 2026, while the base M5 chip is expected to debut in the new iPad Pro later this year.

The delay may be related to the development of the higher-end M5 variants, though no specific production issues have been confirmed. Another possibility is that Apple may be timing the MacBook Pro refresh to coincide with the launch of a new external display, which has also been rumoured.

Apple’s recent MacBook Pro releases have typically arrived in the autumn, making a gap year unusual for the product line. If the current forecasts hold, customers waiting to upgrade to an M5-powered MacBook Pro may need to wait until 2026.