Apple's latest MacBook Pro refresh pushes maxed-out configurations into five-figure territory. John Gruber calculated that a fully specced 16-inch model with M5 Max chip, 128GB RAM, and 8TB SSD now costs $10,149. That build includes an 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and nano-texture display.

While base model prices rose just 13-15%, memory and storage upgrades exploded. RAM upgrade costs doubled for 64GB and 128GB options, while SSD upgrades jumped 50-67% across most configurations. These increases apply to both M5 Pro and M5 Max variants.

For most buyers, the $10,149 price represents an esoteric configuration that few will actually purchase. However, the broader upgrade cost inflation makes mid-tier builds significantly more expensive than previous generations. Professionals who need substantial RAM or storage now face sticker shock even before hitting maximum specs.

This pricing strategy reflects Apple's continued premium positioning, but may alienate pro users who previously found reasonable upgrade paths. The company appears to be maximizing margins on customers who cannot easily switch platforms, even as it makes high-end configurations prohibitively expensive for most.