Apple's New M5 Silicon Chip Set to Launch in Upcoming Macs and iPads

Apple is preparing to unveil new models of Macs and iPads featuring its latest M5 System on Chip (SoC). Industry insider Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has indicated that the iPad Pro equipped with the new chip is currently undergoing advanced testing and is expected to be released later this year.

The internal code names for the new devices include J817, J818, J820, and J821. Simultaneously, Apple is developing the first Mac series featuring the M5 chip, which is anticipated to be the MacBook Pro.

There is uncertainty regarding whether the iPad Pro will be the first device to launch with the M5 chip. In May 2024, the iPad Pro was updated with the M4 chip, which introduced an OLED display and a slimmer design. Gurman reports that the iPad Pro is ready for production in the second half of 2025, suggesting a possible release in September or October. While it is expected to be one of the first devices featuring the M5 chip, whether it will be the very first remains to be seen.

The M5 chip promises significant internal enhancements in terms of performance and energy efficiency. It continues to utilize TSMC's 3-nanometer process, optimized through advanced 3D chip stacking techniques. The new N3P process is expected to deliver clock speed increases of about 5% compared to the M4's N3E. More substantial improvements are anticipated particularly for the Pro and Max models, which are set to utilize TSMC's "System on Integrated Chips" (SoIC) technology, allowing multiple chips to be stacked together, including cache or DRAM chips integrated with the processor.

As for the MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, it is expected to launch in the fall, available in M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max configurations. The hardware will likely see minimal changes apart from the new processor, and features such as an OLED display and a redesigned form factor are not expected until at least 2026, despite high demand from professionals eagerly awaiting these upgrades.

Additionally, Apple is reportedly working on more M5 models, including a new MacBook Air, even though the current iteration has just received the M4 chip. Looking further ahead, the iPad Pro powered by the next-generation M6 chip is projected to debut next year, likely incorporating an Apple modem for the first time. Development on the iPad 12 has also begun.