MacBook Pro M5 tested: Next-gen AI power meets gaming performance
Apple’s newest laptop defies expectations by running one of gaming's most demanding titles while delivering unprecedented AI processing power. But should you upgrade?
Sitting at my desk, I’m transformed into a scary world of the future, navigating the neon streets of a corrupt, corporation-controlled city full of crime and advanced cybernetic technology.
I’m playing a violent but visually stunning RPG action game called Cyberpunk 2077 on the latest MacBook Pro with an M5 chip which is made for advanced AI processing and graphics.
The game is massive – 158 gigabytes or something to download.
As I wait for that to happen, I check out the Adobe Premiere Pro and do some video editing.
As expected, this laptop is insanely quick, whether you are importing videos or doing edits.
The new 10-core graphics processing unit includes a neural accelerator in each core, resulting in a dramatic boost for on-device artificial intelligence processing.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro is not normally a gamer’s first choice but the fact that it can run a game like Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings with super ray tracing is probably the biggest demonstration of its incredible power.
Described by one reviewer as looking like a ‘ridiculously expensive neon fever dream’, Cyberpunk is one of the best looking games around.
Driving around Night City, the incredible details inside and outside the car, including neon reflections hitting the puddles, the people walking the streets and the incredibly detailed city buildings show why this game needs a lot of firepower to run.
After playing the game for a couple of hours one lounge, I start to feel the laptop begin to warm up a little on my legs, highlighting the sort of processing that must be going on under the hood.
Earlier, I get a warning from the MacBook that the game is consuming a lot of energy and I might consider switching to low power mode. I ignore that and continue on but after a decent session notice it has drained the battery by a fair chunk.
Apart from gaming, on the visual side, the MacBook Pro is stunning.
In my iCloud I find a 4k video I shot using a GoPro of one of my favourite Sunshine Coast places, including underwater around a rocky headland.
I play it in full screen mode and enjoy the colours, the great sound from the six speaker sound system and the fact that I can open other windows and keep tabs on things.
So who is the MacBook Pro really for?
It is clearly pitched at business professionals, creatives, as well as college students, particularly those needing a bit of firepower to run something like an on-device large language model.
At our work, we are using NotebookLM, Google Gemini and our own version of ChatGPT to do deeper research, crunch council agendas and go through livestream recordings to name a few things.
Like the iPad Pro with M5 chip, the beauty of the MacBook Pro is that you can do a lot more on device, which is particularly good for those who value the security of their ideas, data and privacy.
M5 supports up to 32GB of unified memory and provides 153GB/s of bandwidth, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the prior generation, something that promises to benefit 3D creators or software developers handle complex scenes and projects
From the outside, the latest MacBook, which comes in silver and black, looks the same.
It still has a good keyboard and trackpad.
The Liquid Retina XDR display has 120Hz ProMotion, a 12MP centre stage camera with support for desk view as well as three thunderbolt 4 ports, a HDMI and SDXC card slot for professional photographers and videographers.
The MacBook Pro features the beautiful looking and functional macOS Tahoe.
Updates to Spotlight make it easier to find relevant apps and files and immediately take action — like sending an email or creating a note — from the search bar.
With Continuity, business users can use the new Phone app to access their Recents, Contacts, and Voicemails, and make calls directly from their Mac.
And with Live Activities from iPhone, you can stay on top of things happening in real time, like an upcoming flight.
The new design featuring Liquid Glass includes even more ways to personalise their Mac with an updated Control Center and new colour options for folders, app icons, and widgets. Integrated into Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app, Live Translation helps you communicate across languages, translating text and audio.
You can also automate complex tasks like sorting through photos.
Additionally, developers can bring Apple Intelligence capabilities into their applications, or tap into the underlying Foundations Model framework for specialised intelligence tasks on device.
The solid-state drive is up to two times faster than the one in the M4, which is great when you are transferring large files. It can also be configured with up to 4TB of storage.
The battery life is good with up to 24 hours while it can fast charge up to 50 per cent in just 30 minutes.
Our MacBook Pro came with the optional nano-texture display, a premium, matt look with a glass surface etched at the nanometre level to minimise glare by scattering light.
The Space Black colour looks particularly good, though it is fingerprint magnet.
The new entry level model now games with 16GB of unified memory as standard, which is a welcome addition.
Overall, the MacBook Pro remains a clear leader in its field.
While it may not be enough of an upgrade for those on the M3 or M4 chip, it is certainly worth considering for those with earlier models, or those new to Mac.
Reading Reddit threads on MacBook Pros, one thing is super clear, those who are lucky enough to have one certainly appreciate the way they work and their longevity.
Like those entering the world of AI, it’s a device that allows you to do things faster, more creatively, giving you time for play – whether it be gaming or just checking out a great movie on a portable, cinema like display.
The 14 inch version starts from $2499. For those who don’t need the firepower, the MacBook Air, starting at $1699 for the 13 inch version of $2099 for the 15 inch screen, might be a better choice.
Originally published as MacBook Pro M5 tested: Next-gen AI power meets gaming performance
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