Our verdict
This MacBook Pro is for people whose work makes an ordinary laptop wait: large photo libraries, long video projects and demanding creative jobs. It runs on Apple's M5 Pro chip, and this version has 24GB of memory and 1TB of storage. The 16.2-inch mini-LED screen, lit by many tiny LEDs for bright highlights and deep blacks, runs at 3456 x 2234 and up to 120Hz, so scrolling and editing timelines look smooth. Notebookcheck found the M5 Pro could run at full speed without throttling, the slowing that affects thinner high-power laptops, and stayed very quiet in everyday use. The 99.6Wh battery gives very long runtimes. The checked 16-inch, 24GB memory and 1TB storage price is £2,699; no cheaper size or storage option is used in the value judgement.
Buy it if
- Your paid work regularly includes large photo, video or creative projects
- You need a large, accurate screen away from a desk
- You value quiet, consistent speed over a thin, light body
Skip it if
- Your work is mainly email, documents and web browsing
- A light travel laptop matters most
- You want to upgrade memory or storage yourself later
How it would fit your home
Video and photo work
The M5 Pro chip keeps its speed during long exports, and the 120Hz mini-LED screen shows timelines and fine detail clearly.
Working away from a desk
The 99.6Wh battery and 16.2-inch screen let you edit on a train or at a client's office without a monitor or plug.
Before paying
Confirm the exact 16-inch, 24GB memory and 1TB storage version and the final basket price; a different size or storage allowance is a different value decision.
The details, in plain English
Screen
The 16.2-inch screen uses mini-LED backlighting: many tiny LEDs light small zones separately, so bright highlights and dark areas sit side by side. Its 3456 x 2234 resolution keeps photos and text sharp, and the 120Hz refresh rate, up to 120 screen updates a second, makes movement smooth. A matte nano-texture finish is available to cut reflections. Notebookcheck found brightness extremely high, but also constant PWM flicker, a rapid pulsing of the backlight that some people find tiring.
Performance
The M5 Pro chip handles the processing and graphics. Notebookcheck tested a higher-specification 64GB unit. Crucially, the 16-inch body lets the chip run at full speed for long periods without throttling, so long exports do not slow down halfway. This version's 24GB of memory suits large photo and video projects.
Battery and charging
The battery holds 99.6Wh (watt-hours, a measure of stored energy), large for a laptop. Notebookcheck found runtimes very long. The supplied 140W charger connects by MagSafe, Apple's magnetic charging plug, which leaves the Thunderbolt ports free. It reaches its limit when the processor and graphics are both working as hard as possible.
Sockets, sound and build
There are three Thunderbolt 5 ports for fast drives and monitors, HDMI, and an SD card slot for camera cards. It has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Notebookcheck rated the six speakers as excellent and found the fans very quiet. There is a 12MP Center Stage webcam for calls. At about 2.1kg it is heavy for daily carrying, and memory and storage are fixed, so choose the right amount at the start.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- M5 Pro chip that Notebookcheck found holds full speed without throttling
- 16.2-inch mini-LED screen, 3456 x 2234 at up to 120Hz, for detailed creative work
- 99.6Wh battery with very long runtimes despite the power on offer
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, an SD card slot and MagSafe charging
- Fans stay very quiet in everyday use, and the six speakers sound excellent
What to watch out for
- The price is extremely high
- At about 2.1kg it is heavy enough to notice in a daily bag
- The supplied 140W charger reaches its limit during the hardest combined work
- Notebookcheck found constant PWM flicker, which can bother people sensitive to it
- Memory and storage cannot be upgraded later
Compare the MacBook Pro 16 with laptops for the same kind of buyer, keeping the exact configuration in view. Home users can spend far less without making everyday tasks slower; the £2,699 price makes sense only when saved waiting time has real value.
Make the Apple MacBook Pro 16 M5 Pro easier to live with
Add-ons that answer a drawback we named above. Check compatibility with your exact model before buying.
Solves: memory and storage cannot be upgraded later
Samsung Portable SSD T7 1TB MU-PC1T0T/WW Not yet reviewed by us
Adds external space for files without relying on a later internal-storage upgrade. It cannot add RAM or make a weak processor faster.
Check first: Adds external file storage, not RAM or internal upgradeability.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Apple MacBook Pro 16 M5 Pro (this one) | An exceptional large work laptop with long battery life for demanding creative work, but far more machine than most homes need. | £2,699RRP · 16-inch, 24GB memory and 1TB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Apple MacBook Pro 14 M5 Max | A very fast compact workstation for short, heavy jobs, but not the one to buy if you need steady top speed for hours or a quiet machine. | £3,599RRP · 14-inch, 36GB memory and 2TB storage, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) | A superb work laptop for anyone who needs long battery life and dependable speed for demanding creative or professional work. | £1,699RRP · 16GB/1TB, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra | A polished creative Windows laptop with an excellent screen and good battery life, held back by its £2,999 price and fans you can hear under load. | £2,999RRP · 16-inch, 32GB memory, 1TB storage and RTX 5060 graphics, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Read the review |
Worth reading next
Where our findings come from
Research-based review; UKTechExpert did not physically test this laptop. We checked Apple's UK release and pricing information and Notebookcheck's independent review. Measurements quoted here are Notebookcheck's, taken on a higher-specification 64GB and 4TB unit.