Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5: A Second Opinion

Why this guide

A sceptical look at the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5.

We track the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 on Amazon UK, where it holds 4.5/5 from 54 ratings. Everything below comes from the listing, the spec sheet and buyer feedback.

The honest drawbacks

Worth knowing before you order:

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

Other options we've reviewed

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. Rated 4.5/5 from 377 ratings.

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. Rated 4.6/5 from 214 ratings.

Our take

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M5 is a refined professional laptop that keeps the same excellent chassis while delivering a meaningful speed boost. 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.