TL;DR
Speculation has arisen that Apple could announce higher-end M5 MacBook Pro models on January 28, tied to the company’s new Apple Creator Studio subscription launch. The current M5 MacBook Pro lineup so far includes a 14-inch model with a base M5 chip; 16-inch and M5 Pro/Max updates are expected but not confirmed.
What happened
Apple introduced the first M5-based MacBook Pro 14-inch model last October, promoting notable gains in on-device AI and graphics performance. The initial offering uses a base M5 chip and comes in 16GB or 24GB memory options with 512GB or 1TB SSDs. Observers have noted that Apple has not yet refreshed the 16-inch MacBook Pro or offered M5 Pro and M5 Max variants, which many expect to appear soon. Macworld’s Roman Loyola suggested January 28 as a plausible launch date because Apple’s new Apple Creator Studio subscription is scheduled to go live that day, and the subscription’s professional focus could align with a MacBook Pro refresh. The suggestion is speculative: the source explicitly frames the date connection as conjecture rather than an official Apple announcement.
Why it matters
- A MacBook Pro update with M5 Pro/Max chips would extend Apple’s AI and graphics improvements to higher-end professional laptops.
- New 16-inch models could be important for creators and professionals who rely on larger displays and greater sustained performance.
- Launching hardware near a new Creator Studio subscription could signal coordinated marketing or product bundles aimed at creative professionals.
- If accurate, the timing would indicate Apple continuing its cadence of staggered chipset rollouts across Mac form factors.
Key facts
- Apple released the first M5-powered MacBook Pro (14-inch) in October of the previous year.
- The base M5 configuration ships with a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.
- M5 includes a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core and was promoted for large improvements in AI performance.
- Apple’s published memory options for the base M5 MacBook Pro are 16GB or 24GB, with SSD choices of 512GB or 1TB.
- Claims in coverage cite up to 3.5x AI performance and up to 1.6x faster graphics versus the prior generation (as reported by Apple).
- No official update for the 16-inch MacBook Pro has been announced by Apple in the source.
- Roman Loyola of Macworld proposed January 28 as a possible launch date, linking it to the Apple Creator Studio subscription release.
- The speculation was reported by Ben Lovejoy on 9to5Mac on January 14, 2026.
What to watch next
- Official Apple announcements or press releases around late January for confirmation (not confirmed in the source).
- Apple Store product pages for updates to 16-inch MacBook Pro and listings for M5 Pro/M5 Max SKUs (not confirmed in the source).
- Details and marketing for the Apple Creator Studio subscription on January 28 and whether Apple pairs it with new Mac hardware (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- M5: Apple’s system-on-chip family for Macs; in the context of recent MacBook Pro models it refers to a generation focused on higher AI and graphics performance.
- M5 Pro / M5 Max: Higher-end variants of the M5 chip line that typically offer more CPU/GPU cores, greater memory capacity, and higher sustained performance for professional workflows.
- Neural Accelerator: A dedicated hardware block inside Apple silicon designed to accelerate machine learning and AI workloads on the device.
- Apple Creator Studio: A subscription service announced by Apple aimed at creators; in coverage it is noted as launching on January 28, which has prompted speculation about related hardware announcements.
Reader FAQ
Is a January 28 MacBook Pro launch confirmed?
Not confirmed in the source; the date is presented as speculation tied to the Apple Creator Studio launch.
Will Apple announce 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max?
The source says such models are expected, but their launch is not officially confirmed in the source.
What does the M5 chip offer?
According to Apple as reported in the source, M5 delivers higher AI and graphics performance, includes a Neural Accelerator per GPU core, and offers improved CPU and memory bandwidth.
Did the coverage come from an Apple announcement?
No; the date link was suggested by a Macworld writer and reported as speculation by 9to5Mac.
Apple debuts ‘Apple Creator Studio’ subscription, here’s what you get Chance Miller Jan 13 2026 MAC MACBOOK PRO M5 MACBOOK PRO Apple may have hinted at a high-end MacBook Pro…
Sources
- Apple may have hinted at a high-end MacBook Pro launch on January 28
- Apple Is Expected to Launch These Four MacBooks in 2026
- Six new Apple products will launch early this year, here's …
- Upcoming Apple Products Guide: What's Coming in 2026
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