The desktop computer is an increasingly rare office fixture these days. Hybrid working has us all kitted out with laptops, toting around our work equipment while we hotdesk.
Laptops are so powerful these days that, unless you have specialist requirements, you can ditch the dust-gathering tower PC for a more portable option.
That is especially true when you look at Apple’s MacBook Pro. The latest version of the device is powered by the M5, Apple’s updated chip that made its recent debut.
I’ve been using the new M5 MacBook Pro for more than a week, replacing my regular work laptop for most tasks. The verdict?
At first glance, the new MacBook Pro is exactly what you would expect. Apple hasn’t made any design changes, sticking with the same look as last year. It comes in two colours – space black and silver – the MacBook Pro is all serious business, so there are no bold colours here.
The keyboard and trackpad are both good sizes, with the keyboard comfortable to use for long typing sessions.
Usually I include a separate keyboard and monitor in my work set-up, but there was no need here. Apple has also stuck to the script on the display. The 14-inch version of the notebook is almost all screen, save for a thin bezel and a notch for the camera.
That gives the impression of a much larger screen, and you have plenty of space for spreading out your work before you need to consider additional displays.
The version reviewed here has the nano-texture display, an optional extra for the MacBook Pro that gives the screen a matt finish. That means no reflections, no glare and fewer fingerprint-y smudges on the screen. It also adds €190 to the price, but after using it for a week, I would be hard-pressed to go back to my usual MacBook display.
[ Apple MacBook Air review: Slick, fast laptop is Apple’s best yetOpens in new window ]
As mentioned, the MacBook Pro is powered by the M5, a 10-core CPU, 10 Core GPU with a 16-core Neural Engine. The last looks after AI tasks, which look set to become increasingly important. Overall, the M5 will do everything the M4 did but faster. Go older than that and you will notice a significant difference in performance, especially when you get to the M1. But the good thing is that the M1 is still more than enough for most average users; an upgrade is nice but not essential.
Memory for the new M5 machine starts at 16GB of unified memory, with the option to upgrade to 32GB. Storage is a minimum of 512GB and can be upgraded to as much as 4TB if you feel you need the space. As you might imagine, that means the costs creep up too; opting for the 4TB solid state drive is an extra €1,500.
But even with the standard spec, the MacBook Pro feels speedy, so unless you have significant power needs from your laptop, you won’t have to pay extra.
It is also economical on battery life, with Apple’s official specs putting it at 24 hours. In reality, it will depend on what you are using the machine for – certain tasks will be harder on the battery – but in general, you get a couple of decent days of work done before you need to top up the power. Using it for my day-to-day work tasks barely made a dent.
The MacBook Pro does well on ports and connections too. You get three Thunderbolt ports – two on the left, one on the right, and for non-MacBook users, these work with USB C connections – a HDMI connector, SDXC card slot and a headphone jack. It sticks with MagSafe for power, but you can also use USB C if you are stuck without a charger.
One thing to note: Apple no longer ships the charger in the box – a MagSafe cable, yes, but if you don’t already have a USB-C plug capable of charging your MacBook Pro you will need to invest in one. That adds a minimum of €65 to your final price tag, and €85 if you want the higher-powered 96W charger.
If you want to put a positive spin on it, you could say that you are cutting down on unneeded electronic waste but, for the cost of the MacBook Pro, most people will expect the Apple charger in the box.
Another thing to be aware of is Apple’s usual release schedule. The M5 chip is here now but, inevitably, the M5 Pro and Max – more powerful versions of the chip – will follow. That leaves you wondering exactly who the M5 Pro is aimed at, especially given the very nice makeover the MacBook Air has had in recent years.
Good
The M5-powered MacBook Pro is a solid machine. It is speedy, easy on battery life and comfortable enough to type on for a full-day’s work – at least it was for me.
The screen is excellent, with a large, sharp display and the nano-texture glass cuts way down on reflections.
Bad
It looks the same as last year. If you were hoping for something more distinguishing, you will be disappointed.
No charging plug in the box will be an annoyance for some.
While the M5 is powerful, those who follow Apple will know more powerful versions of these chips are coming – and they may wait.
Everything else
The entry-level MacBook Pro will set you back €1,849 for the 14-inch version, but any changes to the basic spec can quickly add up.
Verdict
The MacBook Pro M5 is a powerful all-rounder.
