PCMag UK90
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.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)
7 expert reviews#1 of 6 laptopsChecked 1 Nov 2026
Quick answer
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) has a critic score of 88 out of 100 from 7 professional reviews, including PCMag UK, The Verge and Macworld. 7 of 7 recommend it, and scores range from 83 (Tom's Hardware) to 90 (PCMag UK). 2 of the scores are printed by the outlets and 5 are our estimates from the review text. Most praised: performance (6 of 7); picture quality (4 of 7). It ranks #1 of the 6 laptops we score.
Reviews checked 1 Nov 2026
Photo coming
Best for: Best for creative work
Our verdict
7 professional reviewers tested the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5), and 7 recommend it. Most praised: performance and picture quality.
The catch: It lacks Wi-Fi 7, and memory and storage upgrades are costly.
Critic agreement: High
Scores run from 83 to 902 printed scores, 5 estimated · printed scores only: 90
5 of these 7 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
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What do critics say about the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)?
The Verge90
A very good laptop that is only slightly better than last year, with faster storage and a modest speed bump.
Macworld89est.
Finds a minor refresh that nonetheless brings large GPU and SSD gains and strong battery life.
Computerworld89est.
Enthusiastic review of the 14-inch M5 model, calling it a very fast, well-priced machine for professionals and the best laptop outside Apple.
Fstoppers89est.
Very enthusiastic hands-on review praising speed, display, battery life and AI capability.
Tom's Hardware83est.
Likes the faster CPU, much quicker SSD, nano-texture screen and speakers, and calls the base model a strong workhorse.
Six Colors83est.
A capable and affordable Pro that is a good upgrade for M1 and Intel owners.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict. How we score
What critics praise most
Performance6 of 7
Picture quality4 of 7
Battery life3 of 7
What critics dislike most
No clear pattern.
Alternatives
Not sure about the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)?
Photo coming
Best overall
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)87
6 reviews · agreement highPhoto coming
Best budget pick
Apple MacBook Neo86
20 reviews · agreement highPhoto coming
Best for Windows on Arm
Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition)85
5 reviews · agreement lowPhoto coming
Best Intel Windows pick
Dell XPS 14 (2026)82
7 reviews · agreement highCommon questions
Is the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) worth it?
Most critics think so: 7 of 7 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)?
Agreement is high: scores range from 83 (Tom's Hardware) to 90 (PCMag UK), a spread of 7 points across 7 reviews. Reviewers broadly agree.
What is the best alternative to the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)?
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) (critic score 87), best overall.