Apple's M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models are reportedly days away from launch, with dwindling retailer stock and software code pointing to an imminent release.
Third-party Apple resellers report current MacBook Pro inventory has dropped significantly, a pattern that typically precedes new product introductions. Apple coordinates supply with retail partners ahead of launches to avoid leaving outdated machines in the channel.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman indicates the new MacBook Pros will launch alongside macOS 26.3, expected this month or in early March. The software's release candidate includes references to unreleased M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.
The upcoming models, codenamed J714 and J716, will retain the current MacBook Pro design while delivering faster M5 Pro and M5 Max processors. Apple released the standard 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro in October 2025 but left higher-end models on M4 chips.
iOS 26.3 beta code contains identifiers T6051/H17C and T6052/H17D, which correspond to M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips based on Apple's naming conventions. The M5 Pro identifier remains absent from current software builds.
Apple's chip packaging reportedly uses TSMC's advanced SoIC-mH technology, separating CPU and GPU components for improved thermal performance. This server-grade packaging could enable more flexible CPU-GPU configurations in high-end systems.
The launch follows Apple's unusual October 2025 release of a standalone 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro while keeping Pro and Max variants on previous-generation silicon. This marks Apple's first split of the MacBook Pro lineup since the 14-inch and 16-inch models were unified under a single design in 2021.
Reseller stock depletion mirrors patterns seen before the first M1 Mac launch in November 2020 and M2 Mac mini introduction in October 2022. Apple typically manages inventory to prevent retailers from being stuck with outdated products.
The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros will arrive ahead of a major redesign expected later in 2026.
The new models will complete Apple's transition to M5 silicon across its professional laptop lineup, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman indicating their launch is tied to macOS 26.
