- Apple’s M5 chip could debut at the end of this year
- You will find your way at the Macbook Pro before iPad Pro, says a report
- It is expected to be a minor update compared to next year M6 chip
When we first saw Apple’s M4 chip in 2024, it did not land first in a MAC, it arrived at the iPad Pro before anything else. Now, however, Apple plans to change things, restoring the MAC as the first destination for new M -series chips.
That is according to Bloomberg’s reporter Mark Gurman, at least. In his last power in the newsletter, Gurman explained that the transition to the M5 chips will begin “together with the new MacBook Pro models in autumn” of 2025. After that, “we should obtain an M5 iPad Pro in the first half of 2026 “, Gurman,” Gurman argued.
While it may seem strange to reverse the order used for the M4 chip, it really makes a lot of sense. In recent years, the new iPad Pro models have appeared in a cadence of approximately 18 months. However, the MacBook Pro has begun to be updated annually, with new models that appear in autumn.
The seventh generation iPad Pro with M4 Chip appeared in May 2024, while the sixth generation edition came out in October 2022. Before that, the fifth generation model landed in April 2021. Continuing with that pattern, we wait for the iPad M5 Pro to be revealed at some point around December 2025.
That is a little before Gurman’s prediction of “the first half of 2026”, but Gurman’s timeline makes sense. After all, the delays occur, and Apple is no stranger to that (I just look at their attempts to get the new Siri through the door). With that in mind, looking for an M5 iPad Pro at the end of 2025 or early 2026 seems sensible.
An incremental update
What can we expect from the M5 chip? Well, it is not likely to be an update that returns the Earth, and an increase in yield has been suggested from around 15% to 25%. In other places, we could also see the introduction of Wi-Fi 7, while the input level MacBook Pro could also obtain the Thunderbolt 5 connectivity that has reached high-end models.
If you have been waiting for a broader renewal, you are likely to wait until 2026, when Gurman believes that Apple is planning a “true revision” of Macbook Pro. This could mean an OLED screen, a new chassis design and a significant increase M6 chip performance, which could be done using a new 2NM process.
So, although it is anticipated that the M5 chip makes its way to the MacBook Pro before iPad Pro, do not be surprised if it is more an incremental update than anything else. Anyone in the market for a total Redesign of Macbook Pro will probably have to wait a little longer.
