Apple is preparing to launch the first devices powered by its next-generation M5 chip, beginning with an updated iPad Pro and a new 14-inch MacBook Pro expected in October. The rollout signals one of Apple’s fastest silicon transitions yet, arriving less than a year after the M4 series and reflecting a broader shift toward yearly chip updates that strengthen performance, efficiency, and Apple Intelligence features across its ecosystem.
As reported by Bloomberg, production of the new iPad Pro has already started, setting the stage for its debut later this fall. The current M4 iPad Pro introduced a thinner chassis and tandem OLED display, redefining how Apple approaches design at the high end of its tablet lineup. The upcoming model will likely focus less on appearance and more on endurance and sustained performance, with the M5 chip expected to deliver stronger thermal control and faster neural-engine processing for Apple Intelligence tasks.
Apple’s chip roadmap has been accelerating steadily since the first M-series Macs, and the M5 now enters production for both MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models. Our earlier coverage of Apple’s M5 chip mass production detailed how TSMC’s refined 3-nanometer process enables Apple to push higher clock speeds without increasing power draw. More recently, the leaked M5 iPad Pro unboxing video revealed early benchmarks and build confirmation, supporting reports that Apple is already preparing units for launch.
The company’s next MacBook Pro will reportedly ship first with a base M5 chip before expanding to Pro and Max configurations in 2026, mirroring the strategy from the M4 cycle. That staggered rollout gives Apple room to test chip yields and manage supply before introducing higher-core variants. Early regulatory listings, including the FCC filing referencing M5 MacBook Pro and iPad Pro, support the timeline, reinforcing that Apple’s silicon is already production-ready for October shipments.
Performance expectations for the new chip are ambitious as preliminary M5 benchmark comparisons show Apple widening its lead over competing PC silicon in multi-core and graphics performance while remaining more efficient in sustained workloads. These gains will be particularly relevant for workflows like 4K editing, complex simulations, and real-time AI inference, positioning the M5 as a foundation for the next wave of Apple Intelligence features across macOS and iPadOS.
This hardware cycle may also bring smaller product updates that accompany the Mac and iPad launches. Evidence from the Vision Pro FCC certification suggests Apple is preparing a refreshed headset with improved comfort and a faster chip, while reports of new Vision Pro and HomePod mini colors point to a coordinated release window rather than a single major event. This pattern aligns with Apple’s recent preference for spreading product introductions across the quarter to sustain attention and manage logistics more efficiently.
For professionals and developers, the significance of the M5 transition is straightforward. Apple is using its most demanding hardware, the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, to establish the performance baseline for everything that follows. The move ensures that creative, technical, and AI-driven tasks run natively and efficiently before the chip expands to consumer models like MacBook Air and iMac next year. By refining its silicon cadence and keeping each generation thermally stable and AI-ready, Apple continues reinforcing the performance gap that underpins its ecosystem advantage.
