Apple raised prices on most computers. This one is now paradoxically more worth buying than yesterday

This offer has unusually good timing. Apple yesterday raised prices across practically its entire portfolio, and the 14″ MacBook Pro with M5 now costs 54,990 CZK on apple.cz (and that’s only for the 1TB disk version — Apple removed the 512GB variant from its offering). Nevertheless, at Alza, you can get the 512GB model with AlzaPlus+ membership for 38,000 CZK. Before ordering, I recommend checking the current price and availability in detail at Alza — with such a fresh difference, the status can change quickly.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you want a quiet, lightweight laptop for work, photos, and video editing, and you appreciate the 120Hz display and HDMI, which the Air doesn’t have.
⚠️ Consider that the price of 38,000 CZK applies with AlzaPlus+ membership (59 CZK/month, can be canceled) and that you cannot later expand the 16 GB RAM or 512GB disk on a Mac.
💡 For 38,000 CZK you get a machine cheaper, which is significantly more expensive directly from Apple today

Why this MacBook is interesting now

The whole magic of this offer rests on three numbers. The MacBook Pro 14″ with M5 went on sale for 46,990 CZK. After yesterday’s widespread price increase by Apple, it jumped to 54,990 CZK — but for that money, you can only buy the 1TB version, because Apple quietly discontinued the 512GB one. At Alza, however, the 512GB model is still available and costs 38,000 CZK with AlzaPlus+. So you are buying a configuration that you can no longer get from the manufacturer, and you’re getting it significantly cheaper.

Who will this change the workday for? People who need performance and peace of mind on the go — journalists, photographers, developers, students of demanding fields. You get pro-level equipment (XDR display, HDMI, card reader) in a machine that you can carry in a backpack all day without worrying about a charger.

Key parameters explained simply

At its heart is the Apple M5 chip with a 10-core CPU and GPU. In practice, this means the machine handles everyday tasks — dozens of browser tabs, office work, background music — without you hearing the fan, and it’s sufficient for lighter video editing or photo adjustments in Lightroom. The M5 is also built for on-device AI functions, so Apple Intelligence runs locally. The display is a 14.2″ Liquid Retina XDR with a resolution of 3024 × 1964 and, most importantly, a 120Hz refresh rate — scrolling and movement are silky smooth, and colors and contrast are accurate even for demanding photo work.

In addition, 16 GB unified memory and a 512GB SSD. But here’s an Apple catch: you can never expand the memory or disk on a Mac; what you buy is what you’re stuck with. For everyday work and a secondary machine, 16 GB and 512 GB are more than enough, but anyone planning heavy video production or large datasets should consider a higher configuration right away. Connectivity, on the other hand, is professional: Thunderbolt, HDMI, SD card slot, MagSafe, and a headphone jack, plus Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

Practical aspects: battery life, weight, speakers, and ports

I use this MacBook myself on the go as a secondary machine, and after some time, there isn’t a single thing that annoys me about it. The reason I opted for the Pro instead of the cheaper Air were three things: the 120Hz display, HDMI (you can directly connect a projector or monitor without adapters), and an inch larger screen area (14″ vs 13″). The weight of 1.55 kg is excellent for a professional body with an XDR display — you practically don’t notice it in your backpack.

What truly surprises is the battery life of up to 24 hours — realistically, this means you can leave your charger at home and last through an entire workday (even a long one) without needing an outlet. Sound is another great aspect: the six-speaker system plays unexpectedly full for a laptop; you don’t need external speakers for watching a series or video calls. In a hotel room, I sometimes play music on the Mac and don’t have to carry an external speaker. The webcam is 12MP Center Stage, so you look sharp on calls, and the camera keeps you in frame. Touch ID for unlocking and payments is a given.

When it doesn’t make sense

If you’re doing heavy video production, 3D, or working with large datasets, the base M5 with 16 GB of memory will hold you back — look directly for M5 Pro or M5 Max variants with more RAM. Similarly, if you’re purely looking for the cheapest Mac for writing and web browsing and don’t care about 120 Hz, HDMI, or an XDR display, you’ll save money with a MacBook Air M4/M5, which can do the same tasks more cheaply and is even lighter. And of course — anyone who relies on applications that only run on Windows won’t switch to the macOS ecosystem just for one discount.

Verdict: who it’s worth it for

In summary: you’re getting the current 14″ MacBook Pro with M5 for 38,000 CZK at a time when Apple itself sells it for 54,990 CZK — and that’s only in the more expensive 1TB configuration. Given that Apple has just raised prices and discounts on fresh Macs are rare, it’s unlikely you’ll find it cheaper anytime soon. If you’re considering this type of laptop, this is a reasonable moment to buy — discontinued configurations in stock won’t last forever.

Would you take this 14″ Pro with a 120Hz display and HDMI, or rather a lighter and cheaper MacBook Air?