Apple Expected To Launch New MacBook Pro With M5 Pro And M5 Max Chips Soon

Apple is likely to unveil new MacBook Pro models in the near future, powered by its next-generation M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, according to Bloomberg's Apple analyst Mark Gurman. Codenamed as J714 and J716, the upcoming laptops are reportedly already positioned in shipping warehouses across multiple regions, indicating that a launch announcement may be imminent.

Gurman noted that Apple plans to ship the new MacBook Pros with macOS 26.3 pre-installed. The software is currently in its third beta stage and appears close to final release. While Apple occasionally extends testing to a fourth or fifth beta, such delays are uncommon for minor operating system updates and are typically reserved for major releases.

The third beta of macOS 26.3 was rolled out last week, and Apple generally follows a weekly beta release cycle. Once the company transitions from a beta build to a "Release Candidate," it usually signals that the public version is just around the corner. If another beta or a release candidate is issued this week, it could provide clearer indications of the MacBook Pro launch timeline. Historically, Apple releases iOS updates on Mondays and begins shipping new Mac hardware on Fridays following a short preorder window, raising the possibility that the new laptops could arrive as early as this week.

The upcoming MacBook Pros are expected to introduce a redesigned M5 chip architecture that offers greater flexibility in CPU and GPU configurations. Unlike previous Pro and Max chip generations, where higher GPU options were tied to CPU upgrades, users may now be able to pair a base M5 Pro CPU with a higher-end GPU configuration. In apparent preparation for this shift, Apple has recently updated its online Mac ordering system to provide more customisation options for buyers.

In addition to the MacBook Pro refresh, Gurman reported that Apple's Studio Display is currently facing supply constraints at several retail outlets, suggesting that an updated model could also be in the pipeline. The Studio Display was last refreshed in 2022, and an upgrade is expected in the first half of this year, potentially alongside updated Mac Studio and Mac mini models.

Looking further ahead, several analysts believe Apple is developing an OLED-based MacBook Pro. Gurman previously reported that this model could debut toward the end of 2026 as part of a broader design overhaul. Separately, rumours of a touchscreen MacBook Pro continue to circulate, although such a device is not expected to enter production until later this year.

The speculations of new launches come after Apple reported 16 per cent growth in revenue to $143.76 billion in the first quarter, driven by unprecedented demand in iPhones "with all-time records across every geographic segment, and Services also achieved an all-time revenue record, up 14 percent from a year ago," the company's CEO Tim Cook commented.

"We are also excited to announce that our installed base now has more than 2.5 billion active devices, which is a testament to incredible customer satisfaction for the very best products and services in the world," Cook added.