Three Reasons To Wait For Apple’s Next MacBook Pro

Apple may be planning an evolutionary update to the iPhone, introducing the first fashionably thin smartphone running iOS. Those looking for a new Mac will be watching for details on the next release. That will be the MacBook Pro, and it will be worth the wait.

The MacBook Pro’s M5 Advantage

While the M5 chipset is expected to be a relatively steady upgrade of the macOS-focused Apple Silicon, that performance upgrade will be keenly felt as Apple establishes its deskbound operating system in a world focused on artificial intelligence. Apple’s approach to offer as much local processing of personal data as possible requires as much power as possible inside the Mac.

The M5 is expected to be launched in 2025, and only two devices are likely to carry the chipset. The first, echoing the debut of the M4 in 2024, will be the iPad Pro. On the Mac side, again echoing 2024’s approach, will be the MacBook Pro.

The MacBook Pro And External Displays

Apple has leaned into external displays as a key differentiator between the consumer-focused MacBook Air and the professional-focused MacBook Pro. That has meant that display support has typically allowed for more resolution and more screens on the Pro laptops compared to the Air.

With a potential upgrade to Apple’s Studio Display—three years after its initial launch—there is another opportunity to pair this with the MacBook Pro capabilities. It may be that the new display could ask for the M5 chip in a laptop to reach its full potential. With a release date “before 2026”, retail availability on the MacBoko Pro in late 2025 would allow the two to launch in partnership.

MacBook Pro’s Faster Connectivity

Alongside the M5 upgrade offering a 15 to 20 percent uplift in pure performance, another speedy upgrade is lurking inside the spec leaks of the next macOS laptop, namely Wi-Fi 7.

The new iteration of the communications standard offers speeds of up to 46 Gbps, compared to 9.6 Gbps for Wi-Fi 6, thanks to increased bandwidth and higher data density. Those who invest in or have access to new networking equipment can pair faster connectivity with a more powerful processor to unlock greater potential from their laptop.

MacBook Pro Launch Date

Although the M5 chip has not yet been launched, news from the supply chain suggests the chipset is on course for Apple’s late-October launch event, a date which has seen significant upgrades across the Mac platform. The MacBook Pro is set to be the flagship for the 2025 edition.

Now read the latest MacBook Pro, iPhone, and iPad headlines in Forbes’ weekly Apple Loop news digest…