MacBook Pro Now Expected to Get M5 Chip Before iPad Pro

Apple will bring its next-generation M5 chip to the MacBook Pro in the fall, followed by the iPad Pro in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero
Gurman's latest claim flips the previously expected order of devices to transition from M4 to M5 chips, which was based on last year's M4 product launch order. Apple first introduced its M4 chip in an updated iPad Pro in May 2024, followed by the MacBook Pro in October, but it sounds like Apple will deviate from that timeline this time around.

Before the release of M5 MacBook Pro models, Gurman says that Apple will launch updates to the Mac Studio and Mac Pro using its current generation M4 chip series. Those machines could arrive around Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2025.

The M5 series is expected to feature an enhanced ARM architecture and is reportedly being manufactured using TSMC's advanced 3-nanometer process technology. Apple's decision to forgo TSMC's more advanced 2nm process for the M5 chip is believed to be due to cost considerations. However, the high-end versions of the M5 will still feature significant advancements over their M4 equivalents, mainly through the adoption of TSMC's System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology.

This 3D chip-stacking approach vertically stacks the chips, which enhances thermal management and reduces electrical leakage compared to traditional 2D designs. Apple is said to have expanded its cooperation with TSMC on the next-generation hybrid SoIC package, which also combines thermoplastic carbon fiber composite molding technology.

References to what are believed to be Apple's M5 chip have already been discovered in official Apple code. According to one report, thanks to its dual-use SoIC design, Apple also plans to deploy the M5 chip within its AI server infrastructure to bolster AI capabilities across both consumer devices and cloud services.

Related Roundups: iPad Pro, MacBook Pro
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Top Rated Comments

BigDO Avatar
19 weeks ago
The M4 iPad Pro is about 10 years ahead of what iPadOS can do with it anyway.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iToph Avatar
19 weeks ago
Dear admins, can you please rename to: Gurmanrumors.com
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BelgianChoklit Avatar
19 weeks ago
And imo that’s how it should be. The MacBook Pro is a machine that can actually put the power to good use.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
19 weeks ago
It’s all about the m6 with the total redesign
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
leehericks Avatar
19 weeks ago
Mac Studio users deserve an M5 Ultra update this year, not to be held back with an M4…just postulating.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
19 weeks ago

Mac Studio users deserve an M5 Ultra update this year, not to be held back with an M4…just postulating.
I actually think this would make sense- to lead with M5 MAX & ULTRA instead of saving ULTRA for last in a line. As an ULTRA owner, I would not do it again, knowing that Mnext MAX is no more than 6 months away and is likely to be about as powerful and cost substantially less. IMO: the (up to) 6 months as "king" is not worth it.

However, flip the apparent release schedule slots of BASE vs. ULTRA and that seemingly fixes everything, including maximizing profit for Apple too. MAX & ULTRA first, PRO & MAX in the usual October slot, BASE the following spring. In this flip, one could confidently pay maximum (revenue & profit) for an ULTRA, knowing they have at least a year (maybe even 1.5 years) of perceiving their Mac is most powerful Mac. Bread & Butter MBpros, etc launch on the very same Fall schedule as they do now, so no effect on them. Lowest price (and presumably lower profit) BASE Macs roll out last.

Among other things, this creates the natural pressure to pay up for a higher tier chip (and thus more profit per unit sold for Apple) vs. waiting around for the "bargain" Macs... which would then be the ones bumping into the impending Mnext release speculation. As is, BASE first facilitates "bigger number" rationale further fueled by cheaper pricing for BASE Macs. In other words, for a few months, cheapest price buyers can have the next generation number and still be on "latest generation" (number) for the longest time while other, pricier Macs only step up to the same number... or linger 2 numbers behind.

Speaking just for myself: I would never buy ULTRA again based upon the reality that Mnext no more than about 6 months away is likely to be about as powerful and perhaps more in select ways. So all the extra profit realized from me with that ULTRA purchase will not be realized again without ULTRA owning the crown for longer than a half year or less. No, that is not a call to delay launches at all- just consider flipping the releases around. And no, that should have little-to-no effect on the all-important Fall releases which could still hit at the exact same time.

Presumably, ULTRA is not able to be built first and BASE must come first, then PRO/MAX and lastly ULTRA. But whether that's technical limitations or just how it's been done so far is the big question. It seems Apple could target ULTRA first and then the rest would be engineering derivatives of it over the next year... instead of starting with BASE and building up to ULTRA over the same period of time.

And yes, I know well the counterpoint about market share to try to make sense of the "as is" schedule. I don't know that market share would change much with this concept either... but average profit per unit sold might go up and that seems all-important to modern Apple. ???

For example, if guy who might typically buy MBair can't stand the wait for BASE, perhaps they move sooner to MBpro to get "latest chip power" and thus deliver greater revenue & profit for Apple. Maybe guy who might typically buy a Mini is pulled up to a MAX or even ULTRA Studio vs. waiting until the end of a generation to still buy Mini. Etc.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)