Laptops

Apple unveils MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max

Up to 8x AI gains, faster SSD, Wi-Fi 7, and bigger starting storage

Published

March 4, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Apple has introduced the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro powered by the all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips — bringing what feels like a full Super Saiyan moment to its pro lineup.

If M5 Pro is Super Saiyan, then M5 Max is Super Saiyan 2.

Both chips are built using Apple’s new Fusion Architecture, combining two dies into a single system on a chip. The result: massive gains in CPU, GPU, memory bandwidth, and on-device AI performance.

Apple says the new CPU includes the world’s fastest CPU core, with up to 18 cores total — 6 “super cores” and 12 performance cores — delivering up to 30% faster performance. The next-generation GPU now includes a Neural Accelerator in every core, pushing AI workloads significantly further.

Compared to M1 models, the new MacBook Pro delivers:

Up to 8x faster AI image generation
Up to 6.9x faster LLM prompt processing
Up to 5.4x faster video effects rendering

Compared to the previous M4 Pro and M4 Max generation, AI workloads see up to 4x gains, while graphics performance improves by as much as 50%.

This isn’t just about benchmarks. Apple is positioning this as a serious local AI machine. Developers can run advanced LLMs directly on device. Creators can train models, render 3D scenes, process massive photo libraries, and edit complex 8K timelines without leaning on the cloud.

And unlike many performance laptops, it does this with up to 24 hours of battery life.

Storage, bandwidth, and wireless get upgrades too

The performance bump isn’t limited to silicon.

The new MacBook Pro delivers up to 2x faster SSD speeds, reaching up to 14.5GB/s read and write performance. Starting storage also gets a major upgrade:

M5 Pro models now start at 1TB
M5 Max models now start at 2TB
The base 14-inch M5 model also now starts at 1TB

Memory bandwidth scales aggressively depending on configuration:

M5 Pro supports up to 64GB unified memory and 307GB/s bandwidth
M5 Max supports up to 128GB unified memory and 614GB/s bandwidth

Connectivity gets a boost as well. Apple introduces its new N1 wireless chip with support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Thunderbolt 5 ports come standard, alongside HDMI with up to 8K support, SDXC, and MagSafe 3 with fast charging.

The laptop retains its Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak HDR brightness, now with a nano-texture option. It also features a 12MP Center Stage camera, studio-quality microphones, and a six-speaker system with Spatial Audio support.

All models run on macOS Tahoe, which deepens integration with Apple Intelligence and introduces updated Spotlight, Live Translation, and more customizable UI elements.

Pricing and availability

In the U.S., pre-orders begin March 4, with availability starting March 11.

U.S. pricing starts at:

14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: US$2,199 (US$2,049 education)
16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: US$2,699 (US$2,499 education)
14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max: US$3,599 (US$3,299 education)
16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max: US$3,899 (US$3,599 education)

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with base M5 starts at US$1,699 (US$1,599 education), now with 1TB standard storage.

In Singapore, pre-orders also begin March 4 via apple.com/sg/store, with availability starting March 11.

Singapore pricing starts at:

14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: S$2,999 (S$2,789 education)
16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro: S$3,649 (S$3,379 education)
14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max: S$5,099 (S$4,669 education)
16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max: S$5,449 (S$5,029 education)

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with base M5 starts at S$2,299 (S$2,159 education).

In the Philippines, customers can order the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max soon on apple.com/ph/store and Apple Authorized Resellers.

Philippine pricing starts at:

14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at ₱149,990 (₱139,990 for education)
16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at ₱179,990 (₱166,990 for education)
14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at ₱239,990 (₱219,990 for education)
16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at ₱259,990 (₱239,990 for education)

All models are available in space black and silver.

Deals

Get the MacBook Neo for as low as PhP 44 a day via Home Credit

Flexible installment payment plans available

Published

April 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Home Credit is making the MacBook Neo accessible to more Filipinos with an exclusive pre-order installment offer for the new Apple laptop.

The latest offering can be brought home through flexible installments starting at as low as just PhP 44 a day. That’s not even a dollar a day.

This exclusive offer is available during the pre-order period from April 11 to 23. If you’re looking for a high-performance laptop at a great value, then now is the ideal time to upgrade or purchase your first higher tier notebook.

Here’s a quick breakdown of available Home Credit MacBook Neo installment plans:

256GB at 24 months: PhP 44/day
256GB at 12 months: PhP 82/day
512GB at 24 months: PhP 51/day
512GB at 12 months: PhP 97/day

Apple MacBook Neo

The Apple MacBook Neo is the company’s latest laptop, which is also its most affordable. It retails at just about US$ 499 to US$ 599 in the United States and SG$ 729 to SG$ 849 in Singapore.

It runs on an A18 Pro chip for 50% faster everyday performance compared to Intel Core Ultra 5-level PCs. This chip also has a 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence and 5-core GPU for graphics workloads.

The portable and lightweight laptop has a 13-inch 2408 x 1506 display, two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 connectivity.

The MacBook Neo ships with MacOS Tahoe, complete with apps like Safari, Photos, Messages, and FaceTime. Users are promised up to 16 hours of usage on a single charge.

In the Philippines, the device is available at Apple Authorized Resellers and Home Credit Philippines partner stores nationwide, including:

Abenson
Aerophone
Beyond the Box
Blue Box
Cell Boy
Digimap
Electroworld
Fone Style
Gadget Headz
Greentelcom
Inbox Stores PH
Laycom
Octagon
PC Express
Power Mac Center
Puerto Electronico
Silicon Valley
thinkingtools@mall
The Loop
Wiltelcom
8telcom

Laptops

MacBook Neo pre-orders now open through Beyond the Box

Exclusive freebies, more perks available

Published

April 12, 2026

GadgetMatch

Customers in the Philippines can now pre-order the MacBook Neo through Beyond the Box.

Those who avail of the device during the pre-order period can get up to PhP 10,000 worth in freebies. This is a curated bundle of essential accessories.

The MacBook Neo will also appear at these two cafes, inviting those who plan on upgrading to experience Apple’s new offering first-hand:

April 16: Scout’s Honor, Uptown Mall
April 17: The Matcha Tokyo, Opus Mall

Attendees who pre-order on the spot will also enjoy complimentary beverage, live DJ performances, and the opportunity to engage with social media personalities.

And to ensure the MacBook Neo is more accessible, Beyond the Box is offering 0% interest installment plans. This is both through major credit cards, Home Credit, and GCash’s GGives.

Reservations can be made through all Beyond the Box, Digital Walker, and open_sources branches nationwide.

Alternatively, the MacBook Neo is available through beyondthebox.ph, Lazada, and Shopee. It is priced at PhP 33,990 (education) and PhP 39,990 (retail).

Apple MacBook Neo

The Apple MacBook Neo is the company’s latest laptop, which is also its most affordable. It retails at just about US$ 499 to US$ 599 in the United States and SG$ 729 to SG$ 849 in Singapore.

The portable and lightweight laptop has a 13-inch 2408 x 1506 display, two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 connectivity.

The MacBook Neo ships with MacOS Tahoe, complete with apps like Safari, Photos, Messages, and FaceTime. Users are promised up to 16 hours of usage on a single charge.

Gaming

Razer Blade 16 (2026) packs more cores, faster memory

Razer’s thinnest gaming laptop yet

Published

March 26, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Razer has officially unveiled the 2026 version of its Blade 16, doubling down on what it does best: squeezing high-end performance into an ultra-slim chassis.

This year’s refresh focuses on meaningful internal upgrades. That includes a new Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, faster LPDDR5X memory, and NVIDIA’s latest RTX 50 Series laptop GPUs — all while keeping the Blade 16 as the thinnest gaming laptop in Razer’s lineup.

Performance gets a serious bump

At the core of the new Blade 16 is the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, featuring 16 cores and up to 4.9GHz boost clock. Razer claims a 33% increase in core count versus the previous generation, translating to stronger performance across gaming, content creation, and AI workloads.

There’s also an integrated NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS, enabling faster on-device AI tasks like image generation and live translation.

Memory gets a notable upgrade too. The Blade 16 now supports up to 64GB of LPDDR5X-9600MHz RAM, which Razer positions as the fastest available in a laptop today. The result: quicker responsiveness for heavy multitasking, creative apps, and AI-assisted workflows.

On the graphics side, NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 Series (Blackwell architecture) brings DLSS 4 and enhanced AI capabilities for both gaming and creator use cases.

Display and design stay premium

Razer isn’t fixing what isn’t broken. The Blade 16 retains its signature CNC-milled aluminum chassis, measuring just 14.9mm thick and weighing around 2.14kg.

The display remains a highlight. You get a 16-inch QHD+ OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, now brighter and certified for VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 1000. It supports full DCI-P3 coverage, Calman calibration, and NVIDIA G-SYNC, making it just as suited for creators as it is for competitive gaming.

Battery life and efficiency improve

Despite the performance gains, Razer is also pushing efficiency. Thanks to Intel’s newer architecture and system-level optimizations, the Blade 16 can hit up to 13 hours of productivity use and up to 15 hours of video playback under ideal conditions.

That’s a notable improvement for a machine in this class, especially given its slim form factor.

Connectivity and audio step up

The 2026 Blade 16 gets a future-ready connectivity suite, including Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.0. There’s also a full set of ports, from USB-A to HDMI 2.1 and an SD card reader.

Audio gets an upgrade too. The six-speaker system now supports THX Spatial Audio+ with virtual 7.1.4 surround, aiming to deliver more immersive sound both on speakers and headphones.

Price and availability

The Razer Blade 16 configured with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB VRAM) and 32GB LPDDR5X-9600MHz RAM is priced at US$3,499.99 / €3,599.99 MSRP.

It is available now, exclusively via Razer.com and select RazerStores worldwide.

Still the Blade, just sharper

At a glance, the 2026 Blade 16 doesn’t reinvent the formula. But under the hood, it pushes performance, memory speed, and efficiency forward in ways that matter.

It’s still the same idea: a no-compromise gaming laptop that looks like it belongs in a minimalist workspace — just faster, smarter, and a bit more future-proof this time around.