Upcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro Launch Expected as M4 Max 128GB RAM Models Face Two-Month Delivery Wait

Apple’s M5 chip has officially launched, and the much-anticipated M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra models are set to be unveiled in the early months of 2026. As we are already well into January, users considering an upgrade to the latest MacBook Pro models might receive encouraging news. Notably, several premium configurations of the current-generation M4 Max are experiencing a significant two-month delivery delay. This trend strongly indicates that Apple is clearing its inventory in anticipation of introducing the new M5 chipsets.

Delivery Times: M4 Max vs. M5 Models

Navigating through Apple’s online store reveals some interesting information regarding delivery timelines for the 14-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with the M4 Max. If opting for the higher-end 128GB unified RAM configuration, buyers can expect delivery between March 10 and March 17. Conversely, those selecting the 64GB unified RAM configuration will find delivery dates around February 13 to February 30, showcasing a clear disparity influenced by current demand levels.

Maxed-out 14-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro with 128GB RAM — Extended waiting period for the 14-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro.

The March delivery dates may suggest limited production runs for the higher memory options, potentially compounded by the ongoing DRAM shortage. It’s important to remember that Apple previously launched its M2 Pro and M2 Max models in January 2023, making it plausible that the M5 Pro and M5 Max could be announced shortly.

Maxed-out 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro with 128GB RAM — Shorter waiting period for the 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro.

Anticipated Performance of M5 Pro & M5 Max

While Apple has yet to release the specific details for the M5 Pro and M5 Max models, preliminary estimates based on previous Apple silicon launches indicate promising performance advancements. The top-tier M5 Max is expected to surpass the laptop version of NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti in select gaming scenarios, offering a noticeable edge over the M4 Max. Moreover, its impressive 40-core GPU is predicted to outperform the M3 Ultra’s 80-core configuration when assessed on benchmarks like Geekbench 6 Metal.

Overall, there is much anticipation surrounding these upcoming releases. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available, so stay tuned for further announcements.

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