Amazon and Walmart Discount Previous-Gen M5 MacBook Pro Models by $200
Apple refreshed the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the latest M6 chip last month, but WIRED reported that buyers should skip the new release for now. The updated laptop features the M6 chip, a bright mini-LED screen, and strong battery life. Despite those attributes, the hardware fits awkwardly into the current Apple lineup because it remains physically identical to the previous-generation M5 model released in late 2025.
Retailers including Amazon and Walmart currently sell the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip for $200 less than the brand-new M6 version. Both laptops share the exact same specifications aside from the processor. Upgrading from the M5 to the M6 brings two additional CPU and GPU cores, which account for most of the performance gains.
Focuses Upgrades on Artificial Intelligence Tasks
The gen-over-gen performance bump ranks among the smallest in Apple Silicon history over the past six years. The primary upgrades center on artificial intelligence tasks, driven by a second 16-core Neural Engine and faster memory bandwidth inside the M6 chip. Day-to-day office work and standard content creation workflows show minimal speed differences between the two processors.
The base 14-inch MacBook Pro relies on the same M5 chip found inside standard MacBook Air and iPad Pro models rather than a true professional-grade processor. Wireless connectivity provides the only other notable hardware change, as the M6 model upgrades to Wi-Fi 7.
Compares MacBook Pro Display Against MacBook Air
Shoppers considering the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip can also evaluate the 15-inch MacBook Air. The MacBook Pro features a significantly brighter mini-LED panel with rich colors and improved HDR performance. It also includes built-in ports such as an HDMI output and an SD card slot alongside USB-C charging ports on both sides of the chassis.
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Laptop Deals
- How much cheaper is the M5 MacBook Pro compared to the M6 model?
- Major retailers currently offer the previous-generation M5 14-inch MacBook Pro for $200 less than the newly released M6 version.
- What storage and memory configuration is on sale for the 15-inch MacBook Air?
- The discounted 15-inch MacBook Air features 16 GB of memory paired with one terabyte of storage.
- Which wireless standard does the M6 MacBook Pro support?
- The M6 MacBook Pro includes an upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 for wireless connectivity.
Worth a look