Apple is expected to launch new MacBook Pro models featuring the M5 chip in the fall of 2025, with the iPad Pro following in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Apple to launch M5 MacBook Pro models in 2025
This latest timeline marks a significant shift from the previous order of device transitions from M4 to M5 chips, which began with the iPad Pro in May 2024, followed by the MacBook Pro in October. Gurman indicates that prior to the release of M5 MacBook Pro models, updated versions of the Mac Studio and Mac Pro will utilize the current generation M4 chip series, likely debuting at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2025.
The M5 series is anticipated to incorporate an advanced ARM architecture and will be manufactured using TSMC’s 3-nanometer process technology. Apple has opted not to use TSMC’s more advanced 2nm process for financial reasons but expects high-end versions of the M5 to outperform M4 models significantly. This advancement is largely due to TSMC’s System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology, which employs a 3D chip-stacking design that improves thermal management and minimizes electrical leakage compared to conventional 2D designs.
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Apple is reportedly enhancing its collaboration with TSMC on the next-generation hybrid SoIC package, integrating thermoplastic carbon fiber composite molding technology. References to the M5 chip have already surfaced in official Apple code, with plans to deploy the chip across AI server infrastructure, enhancing AI capabilities for both consumer devices and cloud services.
As the M5 chip rollout occurs, Gurman notes that last year’s iPad Pro may remain in use for two years before its replacement, a timeframe that is not concerning given the tablet’s robust internals powered by the M4 chip. Furthermore, this timeline allows room for Apple’s entry-level iPad and M2-powered 2024 iPad Air to be updated in the first half of the year. The standard iPad is expected to maintain its lower benchmarking scores, while the iPad Air may see enhancements to stay competitive with the 2024 iPad Pro models.
Additionally, Gurman stated that the M4 MacBook Air is nearing release, with units having already shipped from factories in Asia. He anticipates that these laptops could be available for purchase by March, coinciding with the anniversary of last year’s M3 MacBook Air launch.
With Tim Cook announcing the “newest member of the family” this Wednesday, likely the iPhone SE 4, Apple is poised for a busy first half of 2025 with numerous product refreshes on the horizon.
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