95
Tom's GuideTier 2 outlet, weighted 75%Mar 9, 2026
“The MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Pro is a beast of a laptop for anyone new to Apple or upgrading from older models like the M3 Pro.”
By Tony Polanco · Rated 4.5/5Full review
Laptop
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M5 Pro / M5 Max)
Apple · From $2,699
Release date Mar 11, 2026
90
Critical Gold
Based on 7 Critic Reviews
5 with a published score, 2 scored from text · How it works
Latest review Jun 6, 2026
Early score: only 7 reviews so far
6 Rave1 Positive
Critics' Take
Reviewers call the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max the fastest and most capable pro laptop Apple has made, with a large CPU and GPU jump and battery life that lasts a full day or more. The design is unchanged from the M4 generation, and starting prices rose by $200. Notebookcheck and Engadget add that the M5 Max is limited by cooling and the 140W adapter, and that the notch and glossy chassis feel dated.
What critics loved
- Large CPU and GPU gains over the M4 generation
- Battery life that outlasts a workday
- Bright Liquid Retina XDR display
- Fast SSD, Thunderbolt 5, HDMI and SD slot
Common gripes
- Starting price rose to $2,699
- Design unchanged, including the notch
- Heavy at about 4.7 lb
- M5 Max throttles and drains the battery under sustained load
- Top configurations get very expensive
Critic Scorecard
7 reviewsSort:
Weighted by outlet tier:Tier 1 outlet, weighted 100%100%Tier 2 outlet, weighted 75%75%Tier 3 outlet, weighted 40%40%Tier 4 outlet, weighted 20%20%
94
NotebookcheckTier 3 outlet, weighted 40%Mar 21, 2026
“The MacBook Pro 16 with the M5 Pro gets a big bump both in terms of CPU as well as GPU performance.”
M5 Pro unit; byline shown as a translation credit, so critic left null.
Staff review · Rated 92.3%Full review
94
FstoppersTier 4 outlet, weighted 20%Mar 9, 2026
“For anyone coming from an M4 or earlier MacBook Pro, the M5 MacBook Pro is a substantial upgrade.”
Unrated; score estimated from the verdict. Tested the 16-inch M5 Pro.
By Alex Cooke · Unrated, scored from textFull review
93
EngadgetTier 1 outlet, weighted 100%Mar 16, 2026
“But if you need the best performance now, it's hard to go wrong with any MacBook Pro.”
M5 Max unit. The page shows an Expert Score of 90 out of 100.
By Devindra Hardawar · Rated 90/100Full review
90
Pokde.NetTier 4 outlet, weighted 20%Jun 6, 2026
“The MacBook Pro M5 Max 16-inch is probably the best laptop of 2026.”
M5 Max unit; rating taken from the page's review structured data.
By Super Daddy · Rated 8.4/10Full review
89
Expert ReviewsTier 3 outlet, weighted 40%Apr 16, 2026
“it's an absolute beast and very hard to beat.”
Rating from the outlet's review structured data (5, assumed out of 5); page also shows a Recommended badge.
By Jonathan Bray · Unrated, scored from textFull review
Show 1 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
78
MacworldTier 2 outlet, weighted 75%Mar 9, 2026
“If you want Apple's best laptop and money is no object, it's the M5 Max MacBook Pro.”
By Roman Loyola · Rated 4/5Full review
90
Pokde.NetTier 4 outlet, weighted 20%Jun 6, 2026
“The MacBook Pro M5 Max 16-inch is probably the best laptop of 2026.”
M5 Max unit; rating taken from the page's review structured data.
By Super Daddy · Rated 8.4/10Full review
89
Expert ReviewsTier 3 outlet, weighted 40%Apr 16, 2026
“it's an absolute beast and very hard to beat.”
Rating from the outlet's review structured data (5, assumed out of 5); page also shows a Recommended badge.
By Jonathan Bray · Unrated, scored from textFull review
94
NotebookcheckTier 3 outlet, weighted 40%Mar 21, 2026
“The MacBook Pro 16 with the M5 Pro gets a big bump both in terms of CPU as well as GPU performance.”
M5 Pro unit; byline shown as a translation credit, so critic left null.
Staff review · Rated 92.3%Full review
93
EngadgetTier 1 outlet, weighted 100%Mar 16, 2026
“But if you need the best performance now, it's hard to go wrong with any MacBook Pro.”
M5 Max unit. The page shows an Expert Score of 90 out of 100.
By Devindra Hardawar · Rated 90/100Full review
95
Tom's GuideTier 2 outlet, weighted 75%Mar 9, 2026
“The MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Pro is a beast of a laptop for anyone new to Apple or upgrading from older models like the M3 Pro.”
By Tony Polanco · Rated 4.5/5Full review
94
FstoppersTier 4 outlet, weighted 20%Mar 9, 2026
“For anyone coming from an M4 or earlier MacBook Pro, the M5 MacBook Pro is a substantial upgrade.”
Unrated; score estimated from the verdict. Tested the 16-inch M5 Pro.
By Alex Cooke · Unrated, scored from textFull review
Show 1 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
78
MacworldTier 2 outlet, weighted 75%Mar 9, 2026
“If you want Apple's best laptop and money is no object, it's the M5 Max MacBook Pro.”
By Roman Loyola · Rated 4/5Full review
Quick Facts
- Display
- 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, 1,600 nits peak HDR, optional nano-texture
- Chip
- M5 Pro (18-core CPU, up to 20-core GPU) or M5 Max (18-core CPU, up to 40-core GPU)
- Memory
- 24GB base, up to 64GB (M5 Pro) or 128GB (M5 Max)
- Storage
- 1TB base, up to 8TB
- Battery life
- Up to 24 hours video streaming (M5 Pro), 100Wh battery
- Weight
- 4.7 lb (2.14 kg)
- Ports
- 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, headphone jack
- Wireless
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6
- Price
- From $2,699 (M5 Pro); M5 Max from $3,899