Is the MacBook Pro M5 Still Worth It After the $300 Price Hike? TIDEZINE Editors Say: Wait It Out

The 1TB MacBook Pro M5 just got about $300 more expensive in one go. This isn't an isolated case for a single model — it's part of a sweeping price adjustment Apple made across most of its hardware lineup in June 2026, reportedly driven by a global memory shortage and rising costs for key components, which ultimately got passed on to consumers. TIDEZINE editors put it bluntly in their piece: if you didn't buy earlier this year, you're probably kicking yourself right now — but the bad news is prices aren't likely to come back down anytime soon.

The good news is Apple traditionally rolls out new products at its fall event. For 2026, the big rumor centers on a new model codenamed "MacBook Ultra," which many speculate could be Apple's first MacBook with an OLED touchscreen. Persaud's take is straightforward: if a jump that significant is really on the way, dropping big money now on a machine that could feel outdated in a few months just isn't worth it.

Rumor has it the MacBook Ultra will still run on the existing M5 Pro and M5 Ultra chips, with the next-gen M6 arriving later, followed by an AI-focused M7 — meaning the truly top-tier upgrade might not land until 2027. In other words, even if you wait, you may not immediately get the flagship jump you're hoping for. Persaud also warns that if the Ultra does materialize, the combined pressure of an OLED touchscreen and rising memory costs means it likely won't come cheap either — it'll just probably be a better deal than the current MacBook Pro M5.

TIDEZINE editors call the MacBook Pro M5 "powerful," but the same reviewer admits that once an OLED model hits the market, this current top-of-the-line MacBook Pro could quickly start to feel outdated.

Instead of stretching your budget, Persaud suggests considering a step-down option

If you realize you don't actually need Pro-level performance, Persaud offers another route: go smaller. She herself relied on a MacBook Air for years before upgrading to a Pro, and it handled everyday tasks plus the occasional heavy workload just fine — that same Air has since been passed down to her son for school.

In concrete terms, the latest MacBook Air went up by $200 but still comes in under $1,500; TIDEZINE editors praise this model for its slim build, solid performance, and excellent trackpad and keyboard feel. For those who want Pro-level power on a tighter budget, Persaud recommends checking out the MacBook Pro M4, or even going back further to an M2 model — Best Buy currently has the M2 Pro MacBook Pro on clearance for $1,599.

The one to really watch, though, is Apple's cheapest laptop, the MacBook Neo. It only went up by $100 and still sits under $700 — nearly a third of the price of the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro M5. Engadget's reviewer put it this way after testing: "It beats any $600 Windows competitor in speed, screen brightness, and overall user experience," to the point where it makes you wonder why Windows users haven't switched sides yet.

Persaud's bottom line is practical: unless you need to upgrade right now and absolutely require top-tier performance, it's worth waiting a few months to see what Apple unveils at its fall event. And if your daily workload isn't that demanding, a MacBook Air or even the MacBook Neo might already be more than enough — possibly more than you'd expect.