M5 chip will debut in iPad Pro before Macs

Apple’s upcoming M5 chip is expected to make its first appearance in the iPad Pro lineup this fall, ahead of any Mac updates, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The next-generation silicon is likely to power refreshed iPad Pro models as early as October, marking a notable shift in Apple’s typical rollout strategy.

The current iPad Pro received a major overhaul in mid-2024 with the introduction of OLED displays and the M4 chip. With that redesign still fresh, the next update is expected to focus primarily on performance gains brought by the M5—Apple’s latest chip built on TSMC’s enhanced 3nm architecture.

Gurman reports that while Apple is working on further refinements, like thinner bezels, the upcoming models will likely maintain the same design introduced last year. Instead, users can expect improvements in speed and power efficiency, positioning the iPad Pro as Apple’s most advanced device until the MacBook line catches up—likely not until sometime in 2026.

This would mark the first time Apple’s flagship chip arrives in a tablet before a Mac, underscoring the company’s growing push to position the iPad Pro as a true performance machine in its own right.