The M5 chip is set to be featured in this year’s MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro, as indicated by a recent supply chain report confirming its entry into mass production.
While specific details remain limited, it is anticipated that the chip will enhance AI capabilities, and it has been suggested that there may be some alterations in its design compared to earlier M-series chips.
M5 Chip for Three Products in 2025
The M5 chip is expected to be incorporated into three 2025 product models:
- MacBook Pro
- iPad Pro
- Vision Pro
Among these, the Vision Pro may be the most noteworthy, as the M5 chip is believed to introduce advanced Apple Intelligence features to the spatial computing experience—capabilities that the current M2-powered model lacks. This limitation is not due to the M2 chip’s inability to handle AI tasks but rather its insufficient power to manage both visionOS operations and Apple Intelligence concurrently. The remaining hardware design is likely to see little to no significant changes.
The MacBook Pro is reportedly set to receive a substantial performance upgrade through a new chip packaging technique, as noted in a report by Ming-Chi Kuo late last year.
A key aspect of Apple’s A-series and M-series chips is the System-on-a-Chip (SoC) architecture, which effectively integrates all elements within one package, including the CPU and GPU.
However, new information implies that the M5 Pro chip might adopt a different strategy, opting for a more separated CPU and GPU design to optimize performance and enhance production yields.
This shift could particularly improve AI functionality.
For those contemplating an upgrade from an earlier MacBook Pro variant, it may be worth waiting for the 2026 model, which is rumored to feature a complete redesign aimed at making it thinner and lighter.
Currently in Mass Production
ETNews has reported that the M5 chip is now in mass production.
Apple has commenced mass production of its next-generation semiconductor, the M5. This chip is integral to Apple’s major product lines, including the Mac series and iPad. It is understood that Apple has implemented new processing technology to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
The report indicates that production has started with the standard M5 chip, with variants like the M5 Pro, Max, and Ultra expected to follow.
In addition to improved performance, the chip is also said to operate at lower temperatures, allowing it to maintain peak performance for extended periods before thermal throttling occurs.
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