The new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are set to launch in the near future, according to information shared with them MacRumors from a premium Apple retailer.
A third-party Apple retailer has said that MacBook Pro inventory is currently very low as the new product launch approaches. Apple usually coordinates deliveries with retail stores before a new model is launched, so that dealers are not left with too many outdated machines.
on the weekend Bloomberg said that the new MacBook Pros will launch alongside macOS Tahoe 26.3 during February/March and we’re getting closer to the software release date. Today’s release of Xcode 26.3 release candidate also suggests that the debut is not far off.
It’s for Apple to introduce an Xcode release candidate without providing the typical iOS and macOS release candidates, and we haven’t seen RC iOS 26.3 or macOS 26.3 yet. Holding back a macOS release candidate is sometimes a sign that the RC contains information that Apple doesn’t want leaked. If the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models come out with macOS Tahoe 26.3, it’s possible that macOS Tahoe 26.3 RC includes new model identifiers that would reveal the upcoming launch.
Apple most often held macOS release candidates for a few days to a week. Before the new M3 Macs were released in October 2023, for example, Apple provided a release candidate for iOS 17.1 and the accompanying Xcode on October 17, but held back a release candidate for macOS 14.1. The new Macs were introduced on October 23rd, and then macOS 14.1 RC was released on October 24th. Apple followed the same pattern before the first M1 Macs in November 2020 and the M2 Mac mini in October 2022. In each case, Apple kept macOS RC at the launch of iOS and Xcode RC.
What’s different about this situation is that we haven’t seen iOS 26.3 RC either, so the shelf life is less clear. Apple could introduce new MacBook Pro models as early as tomorrow and then release both RCs. There’s also the possibility that we’ll have to wait a week or two for the new MacBook Pro models to come out, especially if the RCs aren’t quite ready yet and another beta update is planned.
It’s not entirely clear why Apple released Xcode 26.3 RC now instead of holding it, but it includes agent-based coding tools that Apple worked with Anthropic and OpenAI to implement, so Apple may have committed to a specific schedule for the feature.
All signs point to us getting the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models soon. Apple has already released the standard 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, but the higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch models have yet to be updated.
The salesman he was talking to MacRumors also said that HomePod mini inventory is drying up with many models sold out, but there’s no official word on whether that’s due to supply chain issues or an imminent update. HomePod mini stock has been dwindling since October 2025, so the still low inventory unfortunately doesn’t give us any new information about the HomePod mini 2.