The current design of the 14-inch MacBook Pro is almost five years old. It’s also no secret that Apple is working on a redesign of its MacBook Pro line.
Despite these facts, however, there’s still a compelling case for you to get one today—even with bigger changes on the horizon.
First, when I say M5 MacBook Pro – I’m specifically referring to the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5. This is not to be confused with the upcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, which are expected to launch in early March. With these models, you should most likely wait for the redesigned models this fall.
But there’s one good reason you should consider buying a base M5, and it’s simple. If the base model MacBook Pro with the M5 is what’s in your budget, then the redesign won’t be available to you just yet—unless you’re willing to spend a little more.
The redesign comes only to the M6 Pro and M6 Max
At least as things stand now, Apple will only bring its MacBook Pro redesign to the high-end models. There are currently no plans to release the base model M6 with the redesign.
So if you’ve been holding off buying a new MacBook Pro because of the redesign – you might want to rethink things.
The redesign, which is exclusive to the M6 Pro and M6 Max, isn’t actually unprecedented. When the current design debuted in 2021, it was only available with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, starting at $1,999. A cheaper model starting at $1599 with the base M3 didn’t debut until 2023.
Unless your budget is over $2000 (potentially even higher with recent supply chain constraints) for a base model configuration – it’s probably best not to wait for a redesign.
what’s next
Well, if history is anything to go by, you could see a redesigned entry-level MacBook Pro sometime in 2028. That’s not the most exciting thing to hear, but that’s how Apple usually does it. Of course, things can always change. Maybe it will happen sooner.
To summarize, the redesigned MacBook Pro will feature an OLED display, a thinner design, a touchscreen, the potential for 5G cellular networks, and more. It’s not necessarily surprising that it will take a while for these features to come down a bit in price—especially in today’s supply-constrained world involving memory and chip manufacturing.
Wrap
If you’re a potential MacBook Pro buyer, but you’re not quite in the $2,000+ price range, then the current M5 MacBook Pro will more than likely be your best bet for the next few years. You can currently get them on sale on Amazon for $150-$200 off:
It’s not exactly super exciting, but I still believe the entry-level MacBook Pro serves as an incredible value option if you need a better screen and better performance than the MacBook Air without spending the money for a MacBook Pro with a Pro chip.
Will you be splurging on a redesigned MacBook Pro later this fall, or will you wait for Apple to release a model with basic Apple Silicon? Let us know in the comments.
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