Apple fans disappointed: When will new Macs be released?
Apple fans were disappointed by the lack of new MacBook Pro announcements this week, but new models, including the high-end M5 Pro versions and the budget-friendly MacBook, are expected soon, with the latter priced around R13,000. Picture: Apple
Image: Apple
It came as a huge anti-climax when Apple did not announce new MacBook Pros this week, as all the speculation pointed to a release in the last week of January, but they are still expected soon.
In fact, they’re still expected as soon as Monday.
The last few years, Apple has released its 14” and 16” MacBook Pros within a day or two of January 27, but that didn’t happen this year.
The reason is actually linked to the release of Apple Creator Studio, the new subscription service for a number of pro apps including Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Motion. This was made available to the public on Wednesday (January 28), which was expected to coincide with the new laptops.
Apple’s Strategic Release: No New Hardware to Overshadow Apple Creator Studio
However, it’s now believed that Apple did not want to overshadow the release of Apple Creator Studio with new hardware at the same time.
As in previous recent cycles, the new devices are set to start at the same price as the outgoing model.
That means the new 14” MacBook Pro with the Apple M5 Pro chip should start at R45,299, while the 16” will begin at R56,999.
It has to be noted that these are the high-end models, and there is a major difference between the 14” MacBook Pro with the M5 chip and the same model with the M5 Pro chip.
These high-end models are geared towards power users who use apps like Final Cut Pro, Motion, and coding.
For everyone else, the base model M5 models are more than powerful enough for any task, including basic video editing and design.
Even the M4 MacBook Air can still more than cover any regular user’s needs in 2026 and for the next few years.
In fact, the MacBook, which is also set to be released soon, could prove to be the best-suited Apple laptop for the majority of people. Expected to be by far Apple’s cheapest laptop, coming in at around R13,000, this device is aimed at the budget laptop market and is perfectly suited to any office-based work.