Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 Alternatives: Compared

Why people look for alternatives

The Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 is a strong pick — 4.5/5 from 54 Amazon UK ratings — but it isn't the only option. Shoppers usually look elsewhere for one of these reasons:

• •No power adapter included in the box
• •Premium price for the base M5 configuration

Alternative: Apple iPhone 17 Pro 512GB

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro in Deep Blue pairs a refined aluminium unibody design with the A19 Pro chip, a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system and up to 33 hours of video playback. Its 6.3-inch ProMotion display, Ceramic Shield front and back, and Apple Intelligence features make it one of the most capable iPhones available.

It rates 4.5/5 across 377 Amazon UK ratings. Pick this over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 if a19 pro chip delivers fast, efficient performance.

• •6.3-inch ProMotion display up to 120Hz
• •A19 Pro chip with vapour-cooled performance
• •48MP Pro Fusion camera system with 8x optical-quality zoom
• •18MP Center Stage front camera with Dual Capture

Alternative: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 512GB

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max in Deep Blue is Apple's biggest and longest-lasting iPhone, pairing a 6.9-inch ProMotion display with the A19 Pro chip, a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system and 512GB of storage. With the best battery life ever in an iPhone, a heat-forged aluminium unibody and Ceramic Shield protection, it is built for power users, creators and anyone who wants the largest screen Apple offers.

It rates 4.6/5 across 214 Amazon UK ratings. Pick this over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 if huge 6.9-inch promotion display is stunning.

• •6.9-inch ProMotion display up to 120Hz
• •A19 Pro chip with vapour-cooled sustained performance
• •48MP Pro Fusion camera system with 8x optical-quality zoom
• •18MP Center Stage front camera with Dual Capture

Which one should you buy?

If the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 fits your budget, it is still the pick we'd make first in electronics. The M5 chip handles heavy workloads with ease, the Liquid Retina XDR display remains class-leading, and the battery reliably lasts through a full workday. With 16GB of unified memory and a 1TB SSD, this configuration suits creatives, developers and power users who need portable performance without stepping up to the Pro or Max variants.