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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch vs Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch: Comparison

What is the difference between MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 14-inch?

Sku name is the dividing line, MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 / 16GB / 512GB against MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 Max / 36GB / 2TB.

Which should you buy, MacBook Pro 14-inch or MacBook Pro 14-inch?

Buy the MacBook Pro 14-inch for long battery life for all-day creative or office work, though it is not the pick for anyone who wants to add RAM or storage later. The same goes for buyers who want the XDR display and active cooling over the Air. Avoid it for buyers who need the Pro or Max chip's extra CPU/GPU cores. The MacBook Pro 14-inch is the one to take for ML practitioners running memory-hungry local models. It is equally the pick for colorists and 3D artists who want Max-tier GPU in the smaller chassis. It is not the one for anyone who would benefit from the extra thermal headroom of the 16-inch.

Where the two are identical

Everything else lines up. Series id, region sold, laptop class, operating system and cpu brand read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 22 further specifications as well.

Frequently asked questions

Do the MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 14-inch differ on release year?

Yes. Release Year reads 2025 on the MacBook Pro 14-inch versus 2026 on the MacBook Pro 14-inch.

Is the GPU Brand the same on the MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 14-inch?

It is. Both are listed at Apple, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple
  • Series

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    MacBook Pro 14
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    MacBook Pro
  • Series ID

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    macbook-pro-14-m5
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    macbook-pro-14-m5
  • SKU Name

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    M5 / 16GB / 512GB
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    M5 Max (18-core CPU/32-core GPU) / 36GB / 2TB
  • Region Sold

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Global
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Global
  • Laptop Class

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Thin and Light
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Thin and Light
  • Release Year

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    2025
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    2026
  • Operating System

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    macOS
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    macOS
  • Weight

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    1.55 kgBest
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    1.632 kg
  • CPU Brand

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple
  • CPU Model

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple M5
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple M5 Max (18-core CPU)
  • CPU Cores

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    10
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    18Best
  • GPU Brand

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple
  • GPU Model

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple M5 GPU (10-core)
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Apple M5 Max GPU (32-core)
  • VRAM

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0 GB
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0 GB
  • Graphics Switching

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Integrated Only
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Integrated Only
  • RAM Capacity

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    16 GB
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    36 GBBest
  • RAM Type

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Unified Memory
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Unified Memory
  • Memory Form Factor

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    On Package Unified
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    On Package Unified
  • Memory Soldered

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Yes
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Yes
  • Max RAM Supported

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    32 GB
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    128 GB
  • RAM Slots

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0
  • RAM Slots Free

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0
  • Storage Slots

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0
  • Storage Slots Free

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    0
  • Storage Form Factor

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Soldered
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Soldered
  • SATA Bay Present

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    No
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    No
  • Storage Capacity

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    512 GB
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    2000 GBBest
  • Storage Type

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Soldered NVMe
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Soldered NVMe
  • Display Size

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    14.2 inches
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    14.2 inches
  • Resolution Width

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    3024 px
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    3024 px
  • Resolution Height

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    1964 px
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    1964 px
  • Refresh Rate

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    120 Hz
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    120 Hz
  • Panel Type

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Liquid Retina XDR
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Liquid Retina XDR
  • Brightness

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    1000 nits
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    1000 nits
  • Brightness Condition

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    SDR Sustained Full Screen
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    SDR Sustained Full Screen
  • Touchscreen

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    No
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    No
  • Battery Capacity

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    72.4 Wh
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    72.4 Wh
  • Thunderbolt Support

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Thunderbolt 4
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    Thunderbolt 5
  • WiFi Standard

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    WiFi 6E
    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    WiFi 7

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch if you want the higher refresh rate (120 Hz vs 120 Hz).

    Choose Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerApple MacBook Pro 14-inchApple MacBook Pro 14-inch
    AmazonView on Amazon
    Best BuyView on Best Buy

    Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

    Verdict

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch

    8.1 / 10 Expert Rating

    The 14 inch MacBook Pro with M5 offers 16GB of unified memory, 512GB of storage and a Liquid Retina XDR display at 1000 nits and 120Hz.

    Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch

    8.7 / 10 Expert Rating

    The 14 inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max has an 18-core CPU, 36GB of unified memory, 2TB of storage and a Liquid Retina XDR display at 1000 nits and 120Hz.