Apple's Mac Rumor Mill: M5 Pro Delays and a $400 Budget Mac on the Horizon?

Mac power users are watching shipping delays like hawks—could Apple’s next silicon revolution be just weeks away?

Shipping delays for M4 Max 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models now range from February 3 to February 24, according to MacRumors tracking data. This contrasts sharply with the immediate availability of the Mac Studio with M4 Max, suggesting production bottlenecks are MacBook Pro-specific. Ongoing AI-driven RAM shortages are cited as a potential cause for the delays, though Apple’s broader product strategy may also play a role.

Apple skipped M5 upgrades for most Macs in 2024, with a likely M5 Pro/Max refresh in 2025. This pattern mirrors historical product cycles where high-end models receive silicon updates first, followed by broader refreshes.

The current delays could indicate Apple is preparing a significant silicon shift, though concrete details remain scarce.