Apple has just unveiled its long-awaited MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, and it’s raising the bar for storage. The new models offer up to 16TB of internal SSD storage—double the limit of the previous generation. That extra capacity comes at a steep cost. On the highest-spec M5 Max model, increasing the storage from the standard 2TB to 16TB adds $7,000 to the price—$4,000 more than the jump to 8TB.
Specs, Configurations & Pricing
The new MacBook Pro comes in two sizes: 14- and 16-inch, both featuring Apple’s new PROLED XDR Display, which blends tandem OLED tech with high-brightness HDR performance. They’re powered by either the M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, with memory options that go as high as 128GB. Alongside the 16TB pinnacle storage, lower tiers like 4TB and 8TB are available—and precious few users will likely miss the boost if they don’t opt for 16TB. The 16TB configuration, however, comes with a price tag that reflects its elite status.
Starting prices vary by model and chip choice: the 14-inch M5 Pro starts at $2,899, while the 16-inch M5 Pro begins at $3,399. With the more powerful M5 Max chip, entry prices jump to $4,499 for 14-inch and $4,799 for 16-inch models. These prices represent increases across the board compared to prior non-touchscreen models. For instance, the base 14-inch M5 Pro has gone up by roughly 16%, while 16-inch models with M5 Max saw increases closer to 9–10%.
Top-End Builds & Release Timeline
Fully loaded models with 16TB storage, 128GB unified memory, nano-texture glass, and the highest-end M5 Max chip push the price well above $14,000—landing at $14,249 for the 14-inch and $14,549 for the 16-inch. Even choosing everything except the 16TB drive still results in a hefty bill; the 8TB version of the top 16-inch spec is priced at $10,549. These new MacBook Pros are available to pre-order starting October 28, with first deliveries and in-store purchases beginning November 6.
Aside from storage, Apple has packed in other upgrades. The PROLED XDR display delivers up to 2,000 nits of brightness for HDR and SDR content, a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 120Hz variable refresh rate. The design includes a reworked hinge to reduce screen wobble during touch input. Key external upgrades include three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, SDXC slot, MagSafe, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Touch ID, and improved environmental credentials with recycled materials in multiple components. The machines ship with macOS 27 Golden Gate, which adds optimized touch interactions and enhanced features including Siri AI and Apple Intelligence.
Apple is offering education pricing on the new models: the 14-inch and 16-inch M5 Pro variants are available for $2,749 and $3,199 respectively with student or educator discounts; the 14-inch and 16-inch M5 Max units with education savings are listed at $4,199 and $4,499.
Release & Availability: Pre-orders begin today (October 28, 2026) in 30+ regions; shipping and in-store arrivals are set for November 6.
This is Apple’s most dramatic MacBook Pro update in years. The addition of 16TB storage answers the calls of high-demand users working with ultra-heavy media workflows, archiving, or large datasets. But the resulting price leaps underscore just how much each increment in storage, memory, or screen treatment now adds to a machine’s cost. Considering Apple’s long-standing control over hardware and scarce options for aftermarket upgrades, buyers will need to plan carefully—especially if chasing that 16TB max. The question now isn’t whether 16TB is attainable—it clearly is—but whether it’s worth the investment.
