Apple plans to put its latest M5 chip into the MacBook Pro in the fall, with the iPad Pro following in early 2026, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This is a change from what was expected before, based on how they rolled out the M4 chips last year.
Before we see the M5 MacBook Pro, Apple will update the Mac Studio and Mac Pro with the current M4 chips. These updates might come out around the big developer conference in June 2025.
The M5 chip will have a new kind of ARM design and will be made using a very tiny 3-nanometer technology from TSMC. Instead of going for an even smaller 2-nanometer tech, which would be pricier, Apple chose this for cost reasons. But the top models of the M5 will still be a big step up from the M4, thanks to a special 3D stacking method that makes the chips cooler and more efficient.
This 3D stacking or SoIC technology stacks the chips one on top of the other, which helps with heat and power use. Apple has been working closely with TSMC on this new tech, which also uses some cool new materials for the chip’s package.
There’s already talk in Apple’s code about the M5 chip. One report says that Apple will use this chip not just in new devices but also in their servers to make AI features better, both on your device and online.