Apple's OLED update to the MacBook Pro makes the display brighter and touch-enabled for the first time. There's more than just that, when you compare the specs of the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max to the PROLED XDR Display version.
The "Pro and Tell" launch week was an unexpected addition to the fall presentation lineup. After an initial Mac launch followed by the iPhone event and one for smart home devices, a second Mac launch is a very unusual move for Apple.
It wasn't the only unusual thing to happen, as it also led to Apple introducing a long-awaited update to its MacBook Pro lineup. The lineup now has an OLED display.
It also has a long name: The MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display.
The choice of display technology is not the only thing being changed here. That OLED screen is also touch-enabled.
This makes the generation of MacBook Pro the first to do so without requiring third-party accessories or any other external hardware changes.
What follows is how the new PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro compares against the previous mini-LED version. 14-inch versions are also available.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro - Specifications
| Specifications | MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Display (M5 Pro, M5 Max) | 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Starting Price | $3,399 (M5 Pro), $4,799 (M5 Max) | $2,699 (M5 Pro at launch, now $2,999), $3,899 (M5 Max at launch, now $4,399) |
| Dimensions (inches) | 0.63 x 14.0 x 9.62 | 0.66 x 14.01 x 9.77 |
| Weight (pounds) | 4.0 (M5 Pro), 4.1 (M5 Max) | 4.7 (M5 Pro), 4.7 (M5 Max) |
| Display | 16.3-inch PROLED XDR, OLED, ProMotion, Dynamic Island, MultiTouch | 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED, ProMotion, Notch, Non-touch |
| Resolution | 3,472 x 2,266 | 3,456 x 2,234 |
| Brightness | 1,000 nits sustained, 2,000 nits peak HDR/outdoor | 1,000 nits sustained, 1,600 nits peak HDR |
| Processor | M5 Pro, M5 Max, 18-core CPU | M5 Pro, M5 Max, 18-core CPU |
| Graphics | 20-core GPU (Pro), 32-core GPU (Max), 40-core GPU (Max) | 20-core GPU (Pro), 32-core GPU (Max), 40-core GPU (Max) |
| Memory | 24GB to 128GB | 24GB to 128GB |
| Storage | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB (Max only), 16TB (Max only) | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB (Max only) |
| Battery | Up to 24 hours (M5 Pro), Up to 22 hours (M5 Max) | Up to 24 hours (M5 Pro), Up to 22 hours (M5 Max) |
| Networking | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
| Touch display | Yes | No |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage, Desk View | 12MP Center Stage, Desk View |
| Audio | Six-speaker system, Force-cancelling woofers | Six-speaker system, Force-cancelling woofers |
| Ports | Three Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm headphone | Three Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm headphone |
| Colors | Space Black, Silver | Space Black, Silver |
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro - Design, weight, size
The existing 16-inch MacBook Pro uses a familiar aluminum slab that has been around for quite a while. It's stylish and practical, and Apple doesn't really have much need to change it at all.
For the new PROLED version, there's an expectation of changes to go with the new display. But, for a design that's already quite successful and doesn't feel dated quite yet, there's no real need to do so.
As such, the new OLED-equipped MacBook Pro looks a lot like the old one. That said, there are differences.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: No massive redesign this year... - Image Credit: Apple
The non-OLED one measures 0.66 inches thick, with a footprint of 14.01 inches by 9.77 inches. The PROLED model is a tiny bit thinner at 0.63 inches, with a slimmer footprint too at 14.0 inches by 9.62 inches
For weight, the non-OLED versions weigh 4.7 pounds apiece in both M5 Pro and M5 Max guises, with a few grams more for the Max. The PROLED model is a tiny bit lighter at 4.0 pounds for the M5 Pro model, 4.1 pounds for the M5 Max
This probably isn't just down to the display tech change, but also other refinements to the internal structure of the body itself. There's a redesigned thermal architecture, as well as a new hinge to handle the all-important touch input.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro - Display
The display is the whole reason for this upgrade, and for a few good reasons.
The current 16.2-inch uses a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR panel.That screen runs at 3,456 by 2,234 with ProMotion, with a peak brightness at 1,600 nits for HDR content.
The PROLED MacBook Pro switches out the mini-LED backlighting and LCD panel for a Tandem OLED display, just like the iPad Pro.
OLED provides quite a few benefits over mini-LED, including deeper blacks and higher contrast levels. Using self-illuminating pixels, there's no need for the mini-LED backlight, reducing weight.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: The notch is gone. Now there's Dynamic Island. - Image Credit: Apple
The changes are extensive, including the use of a slightly larger 16.3-inch display and a slightly thinner border than before. The resolution is also up at 3,472 by 2,266, though the pixel density is identical at 254 pixels per inch.
The OLED means it has a contrast ratio of 10 million to one, versus 1 million to one in the standard model.
Base fullscreen brightness is the same across the board at 1,000 nits. While the old model gets up to a peak of 1,600 nits for HDR content, the PROLED can hit 2,000 nits.
Both do have P3 wide color support, with the PROLED also flexing with Adobe RGB support. TrueTone is also available in both models, as is 120Hz ProMotion support.
There's also the option to add a Nano-texture glass treatment across all models.
Touch is the other very important side of the display story. The PROLED model is the first MacBook to accept touch input.
This does bring the MacBook Pro into territory that the iPad lineup occupies, and to the same level as many existing notebooks on the market.
It's been a long-awaited arrival in Apple's stable, and it's going to take some time to see whether it works out for the company.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro - Performance
Performance is where these two models should line up exactly. Both use the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with no alterations.
The current 16-inch pairs an 18-core CPU with a 20-core GPU in the Pro, 32-core or 40-core GPU in the Max. Each also has a 16-core Neural Engine assisted by GPU neural accelerators, and a Media Engine for video encoding and decoding duties. .
Aside from the GPU core counts, the Pro and Max variants also vary by memory bandwidth. The Pro has 307GB/s memory bandwidth, rising to 460GB/s on the lower-tier M5 Max, 614GB/s on the upper-tier version.
For unified memory, there's options in the configurator for 24GB, 48GB, and 64GB for the Pro model. The M5 Max with the 32-core GPU is only available with 36GB, but the 40-core version has 48GB, 64GB, and 128GB options.
The PROLED model does not change that silicon at all. It is a display redesign rather than a chip jump.
That means there is no advantage in performance when going for the OLED model over the existing version. It's the same chips, the same specifications, and the same level of performance.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro - Camera and audio
The current 16-inch carries a 12MP Center Stage camera in the top, embedded within the notch. That camera can reframe the shot in FaceTime calls, while also providing Desk View with its 1080p video feed.
The PROLED MacBook Pro keeps that same camera, despite a change of display technology. This time, there's also advanced video stabilization.
Mercifully, Apple has also moved on from the notch in favor of a Dynamic Island.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: The six-speaker system was good before, but Apple's given it a tweak. - Image Credit: Apple
Audio is a strength on the current model. A six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers handles playback, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
That setup carries over mostly unchanged to the OLED model, as Apple has tweaked the speakers with a new woofer design for a richer bass. It's also updated the tweeters, too.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro - Storage, connectivity, power
The current 16-inch starts at 1TB of storage for the Pro models, with upgrade options to 2TB or 4TB of capacity. On the M5 Max, that's a 2TB SSD with 4TB and 8TB options.
Physical connectivity runs through three Thunderbolt 5 ports. HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, and a headphone jack. Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread are all present in the model too.
The PROLED model, unsurprisingly, retains all of those capacities and connectivity specifications. Except you can also get a 16TB storage option for the M5 Max configurations.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Touch support is a big change in the new version. - Image Credit: Apple
For battery life, Apple rates the non-OLED M5 Pro model's 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer cell to last for up to 24 hours of video streaming and up to 17 hours of wireless web access. The M5 Max is a little less, at 22 hours for video streaming and 16 hours for wireless web surfing.
The PROLED MacBook Pro has the same battery and battery life claims. This is a bit disappointing, as OLED tends to be a power-saving technology, so we would've expected some change here.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro - Pricing
The current 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,999 with M5 Pro. The M5 Max version begins at $4,399, however, while the configurator lists the upper-tier version as being $300 more, it's really $600 due to other configuration changes.
In both cases, you can upgrade the standard display to Nano-texture for $150.
The memory upgrades cost either $600 or $1,000 on the M5 Pro, with the upper-tier M5 Max memory costing $400 or $2,000 if you want 64GB or 128GB.
Storage upgrades cost $500 to go from 1TB to 2TB, and another $1,000 to get to 4TB. If you want to go from 4TB to 8TB, that's another $2,000 again.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: The 14-inch and 16-inch PROLED models, in the two colorways. - Image Credit: Apple
The PROLED models start from $3,399 for the M5 Pro with the 20-core GPU. The M5 Max version is $4,799 with the 32-core GPU, though again, the $300 upgrade fee becomes $600 for the 40-core GPU for the same reasons.
Memory upgrades are unchanged, and so is storage for the most part. If you go for an M5 Max model, it costs an extra $4,000 to go from the 8TB capacity to 16 terabytes.
Nano-texture is, again, a $150 upgrade.
One more thing that hasn't changed is the color selection. You can choose from Space Black or Silver.
PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro - Which to buy?
Normally when we discuss upgrades between models, there's the discussion about performance changes and whether there's enough to warrant previous model users to buy the new model.
This is not an option this time, since the PROLED model's internals are largely the same as the non-OLED version. The performance is practically identical.
The difference here is chiefly that display change from mini-LED backlighting to OLED. That alone is a considerable change for those who care about the visual aspect, such as videographers and content creators.
However, the inclusion of touch will be an interesting element to monitor over time.
As it stands, anyone with a current-gen M5 Pro or M5 Max MacBook Pro won't have much of an incentive to upgrade this time around. For those on older Mac models, the touch support and the better display may tip the scales enough to encourage upgrades.
That said, you are effectively paying $700 to $900 for a marginally thinner model with a much better and touchable display. It seems like a worthwhile trade, if you can afford it.
For the range overall, Apple is now providing two tiers of MacBook Pro beyond two sizes of models. You will have to pay more to get the better PROLED display, but there's still the mini-LED option for those who want the notebook without every single new bell and whistle.
Where to buy the PROLED 16-inch MacBook Pro vs 16-inch MacBook Pro
Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Display starts at $3,399, with Amazon, B&H, and Adorama selling the 2026 laptops. The 14-inch model starts at $2,899, with the latest prices and availability at your fingertips in our 14-inch MacBook Pro PROLED Price Guide.
The 16-inch M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro with a Liquid Retina XDR display, meanwhile, starts at $2,999, but there are triple-digit discounts available from Apple resellers, bringing prices down to as low as $2,749 at press time.
You can compare prices across the lineup in our MacBook Pro Price Guide.