Mac power users waiting for high-end M5 MacBook Pro models may not have to wait much longer. Apple shipped an M5 upgrade for the base 14-inch model last fall but left the M4 Pro and Max versions untouched. New signs suggest a refresh is imminent.

Shipping times for several high-end configurations have slipped to mid-to-late February, a common indicator that production is slowing for an upcoming update. This delay specifically affects the M4 Max versions of both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, while many M4 Pro models remain available for immediate shipment.

The timing could align with Apple's new Creator Studio subscription, a bundle of creative apps that would benefit from the additional CPU and GPU power in the next-generation laptops. However, ongoing industry-wide RAM shortages and production prioritization for base chips could also contribute to the delays.

Virtually every Mac in Apple’s lineup is due for an M5-series refresh. While MacBook Pros and Airs typically see updates with each new chip generation, desktop models like the Mac Studio and Mac Pro have occasionally skipped generations, leaving the Mac Pro's future particularly uncertain.