After unveiling pretty much all the M4 Macs (perhaps there’s still a Mac Pro to be announced), Apple can now move on to the next M5 chip generation. The M5 family will mark an important milestone for Cupertino as the company keeps improving its processors to perform AI tasks better.
While there are only a few rumors about when Apple is expected to release M5 Macs, the picture of what the company could unveil in the next few quarters is taking shape.
M5 will be big for Apple Intelligence
Apple reportedly started mass-producing the M5 chip in January. While we’re still months away from an official release, ET News says the “Apple M5 chip packaging is handled by Taiwan’s ASE, the US’ Amkor, and China’s JCET. Initial mass production has been started by ASE, and mass production with Amkor and JCET will follow suit.”
These companies also add resources to make the high-end M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra chips. While power efficiency has been improved by 5-10% and performance improved by 5% compared to the M4 chip, we need to see them in action to know if the AI processors can fully power future Apple Intelligence features and other complex tasks.
According to The Elec, the M5 chip will feature an enhanced ARM architecture and be manufactured using TSMC’s latest 3-nanometer process technology, an improvement over the M3 and M4 chips. The M5 processor will adopt a new System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology, which enhances thermal management and reduces electrical leakage.
With that, we could see enhancements in performance and efficiency, and a broader focus on Neural Engine tasks for AI and Apple Intelligence. Interestingly enough, now that Apple announced it might skip Ultra chips in some generations, it’s possible that the company will unveil an M5 Ultra processor due to this new SoIC technology.
M5 MacBook and Mac release dates
The M5 Macs aren’t expected to be released before the fall of 2025. Still, Apple can introduce these new computers anytime, as it unveiled the M4 MacBook Air and the M4 Max/M3 Ultra Mac Studio in March. While we still have no words on a new Mac Pro, the company may save an upgrade for an M5 Ultra chip.
With that in mind, this is when we could expect new M5 Macs:
- MacBook Pro: The M5 MacBook Pro is expected to be released in the second half of 2025, not before the fall; it should include M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max options.
- MacBook Air: If Apple follows the trend, a new MacBook Air will likely be released by the beginning of 2026, around the first quarter.
- Mac Studio: Rumors suggest that Apple is planning a new Studio Display, so the company might also release a new Mac Studio with the M5 chip. This computer could ship with an M5 Ultra chip by mid-2026.
Apple’s schedule for releasing updates for the Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro has been irregular lately. That said, if the company plans to release these Macs, the first two could be available anytime from late 2025 to mid-2026, while the latter could be available from mid-2026 to late 2026.
macOS 16 will power the next generation of M5 Macs
Since the M5 Macs are expected to be released in late 2025, they will feature Apple’s new macOS 16 operating system. This will mean that, at least from the outside, these computers will look different.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports that macOS 16 “will fundamentally change the look of the operating systems and make Apple’s various software platforms more consistent.” According to the journalist, Apple will unify the look of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS to deliver a more straightforward experience through the platform.
With that, Apple will adjust the look of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons. This is said to be the most significant redesign for the iPhone since iOS 7 and for the Mac since Big Sur. The primary goal behind these design overhauls is to bring more cohesion to Apple’s disparate operating systems.
Besides that, Apple is expected to add new features to its Intelligence system. Below, you can learn more about macOS 16.
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