Laptops · Ranked #5 of 43 · Best for creative work

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)

86
Highly rated
Average of 8 professional reviews
7 of 8 recommend it · broad agreement
Where the 8 reviews landedRange 74–90
Score printed by the outlet Estimated from the verdict

Exact average 85.9 · 2 printed, 6 estimated · printed scores only: 90

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)Image: Apple

8 professional reviewers tested the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5), and 7 recommend it. Most praised: performance and picture quality. Most common complaint: price.

Reviewed by PCMag UK, The Verge, Fstoppers and 5 more

The catch: It lacks Wi-Fi 7, and memory and storage upgrades are costly.

6 of these 8 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text, then adjusted the estimates against the ratings outlets actually print (ours ran slightly low). An estimate is never higher than 92.

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What 8 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 90
    PCMag UKHands-on review · 2026

    Praises the M5 chip as a major leap in graphics and AI power in an unchanged chassis at the same price, and gives it an Editors' Choice award.

    Read PCMag UK review
  2. 90
    The VergeHands-on review · 2025

    A very good laptop that is only slightly better than last year, with faster storage and a modest speed bump.

    Read The Verge review
  3. 89est.
    FstoppersNo printed score · Hands-on review

    Very enthusiastic hands-on review praising speed, display, battery life and AI capability.

    Read Fstoppers review
  4. 89est.
    ComputerworldNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2025

    Enthusiastic review of the 14-inch M5 model, calling it a very fast, well-priced machine for professionals and the best laptop outside Apple.

    Read Computerworld review
  5. 89est.
    MacworldNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2025

    Finds a minor refresh that nonetheless brings large GPU and SSD gains and strong battery life.

    Read Macworld review
  6. 83est.
    Tom's HardwareNo printed score · Hands-on review

    Likes the faster CPU, much quicker SSD, nano-texture screen and speakers, and calls the base model a strong workhorse.

    Read Tom's Hardware review
  7. 83est.
    Six ColorsNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2025

    A capable and affordable Pro that is a good upgrade for M1 and Intel owners.

    Read Six Colors review
  8. 74est.
    Just JoshNo printed score · Video review · 2025

    The M5 MacBook Pro 14 is a premium, well-built laptop with excellent battery life and solid performance, but it offers only incremental improvements over the M4 model.

    Read Just Josh review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

Watch a video review

From YouTube channels we vetted by hand. Videos paid for by the brand are never listed.

How it compares

Direct comparisons by professional outlets, exact models only, in our words. Shown as evidence; they never change the critic score.

vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)87

  • 9to5Mac (2025): it depends. Choose this one if: you need sustained CPU/GPU power, HDR or color-critical display, or extra ports.
  • ZDNET (2026): it depends. Choose this one if: you do sustained heavy work like AI, 3D or video and want a brighter display plus more ports.

What critics praise most

Performance7 of 8
Picture quality4 of 8
Battery life4 of 8

What critics dislike most

Price2 of 8

Other laptops critics rate highly

Apple MacBook Air (M4)Image: Apple
Best overallApple MacBook Air (M4)7 reviews · broad agreement91
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)Image: HP
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)4 reviews · critics agree89
Apple MacBook Air (M5)Image: Apple
Best all-round laptopApple MacBook Air (M5)8 reviews · broad agreement88
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)Image: Apple
Runner-upApple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)7 reviews · critics agree87

Also reviewed, not yet scored

Common questions

Is the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) worth it?

Most critics think so: 7 of 8 recommend it. It lacks Wi-Fi 7, and memory and storage upgrades are costly.

Do critics agree about the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)?

Broad agreement: scores range from 74 (Just Josh) to 90 (PCMag UK), a spread of 16 points across 8 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.

What do critics dislike about the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)?

Price (2 of 8 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)?

The Apple MacBook Air (M4) (critic score 91), best overall.