What's new in the Mac lineup: M5 chips, new MacBooks, and upgraded displays

Apple just dropped a massive update for Mac users. We are looking at five brand-new products powered by the next generation of Apple Silicon. If you have been waiting to upgrade your setup, this is the moment. Let's dive into everything you need to know about the new M5 MacBooks and the latest Studio Displays.

The M5 MacBook Air gets a serious base upgrade

The MacBook Air has always been the go-to machine for everyday use. Now, the new M5 version makes it an even easier recommendation. On the outside, it looks exactly like the M4 generation. The real magic is entirely under the hood.

The most exciting change is the new baseline. You now get 16GB of unified memory and 512GB of storage right out of the box. Apple also upgraded the wireless connectivity. You get Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 for faster, more reliable connections.

Pricing starts at $1,099 for the 13-inch model. If you want the larger 15-inch screen, that model starts at $1,299.

Powering the pros: M5 Pro and M5 Max chips

Before we look at the new MacBook Pros, we need to talk about what is powering them. The M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are absolute beasts. Built on a 3-nanometer process, these chips combine two dies into a single system-on-a-chip. This results in significantly better performance, faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and lower latency.

Here is how they stack up:

• M5 Pro: Configurable with up to 20 GPU cores and up to 64GB of unified memory.
• M5 Max: Pushes things to ridiculous heights with up to 40 GPU cores and a massive 128GB of unified memory.

Both chips also feature heavy AI acceleration boosted by upgraded Neural cores, and they fully support Thunderbolt 5.

The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros

Just like the Air, the external design of the new MacBook Pros remains unchanged. Pair that familiar chassis with the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, however, and you get an incredible machine.

Apple bumped up the base storage here as well. The M5 Pro models now start with a 1TB SSD. You also get the same Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 upgrades found in the new MacBook Air.

If you are looking at the M5 Pro models, the 14-inch starts at $2,199, while the 16-inch comes in at $2,699. For the top-tier M5 Max, you will be paying $3,599 for the 14-inch and $3,899 for the 16-inch.

A refreshed Apple Studio Display

Moving to the desktop, Apple gave the standard Studio Display a solid refresh. It is still a 27-inch 60Hz panel, but it brings some much-needed quality-of-life improvements to your workspace.

It now features a 12-megapixel Center Stage front-facing camera and a noticeably improved audio speaker system. On the back, you will find four Thunderbolt 5 ports to handle all your high-speed accessories. This model is priced at $1,599.

The star of the show: Apple Studio Display XDR

This is the update many of you have been waiting for. The new Apple Studio Display XDR takes the standard 27-inch monitor and cranks everything to the absolute max.

It features a mini-LED panel capable of hitting a blinding 2,000 nits of peak brightness. Better yet, Apple finally added ProMotion. You now get a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate on an Apple external display.

Like the standard model, it includes the upgraded webcam, the better speaker system, and four Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back. This premium desktop experience will set you back $3,299.

Over to you

This is a massive wave of hardware. From the generous memory bumps on the MacBook Air to the stunning 120Hz Studio Display XDR, there is a lot to like here. Which of these new releases are you most excited about? Are you planning an upgrade anytime soon? Go explore the new lineup and see what fits your workflow best.