Following its yearly research & development cycle, Apple makes every effort to roll out its next-generation advanced chip - the Apple M5 series chip this year, just like it did all of the best for the last solid chip - the M4 chip.
This post keeps track of kinds of launch events and statements from the official based on the Apple M5 series chip, and here is everything we know so far. Do not hesitate, and let's have a quick overview then!
Apple M5 series chips: what we know so far
Apple M5 series chip is one of the main high-ranking themes of Apple Research & Development in 2025, while the rest of them include macOS 16, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and sorts of lineups soldered with the M5 chips. Now let's concentrate on the M5 chip in the following aspects:
Research & Development footprints
Based on media from South Korea, the chip manufacturing of Apple has come to the final stage - packaging, for protection and electrical connectivity. This means Apple enters the mass production of this long-awaited chip, which will be soldered with loads of Apple lineups as expected.
Four chip manufacturer giants have participated in this grand and splendid chip production: TSMC takes the significant responsibility for the front-end chip fabrication, OSAT, including Taiwan's ASE Group, China's JCET, and America's Amkor, handle the packaging procedure.
Specifically, ASE takes the pioneer burying in the mass production, then Amkor and JCET follow in its steps as Apple plans. The M5 chips will be seen on Mac lineups, iPhones, and iPads soon.
Base model production
The M5 series chip is said to be soldered with the base M5 model instead of Apple's advanced-entry lineups like M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra processors.
Although dropping the 2-nanometer processor technology due to cost considerations, we are convinced that Apple will bolster great improvements and enhancements of the M5 chip with 3-nanometer processors.
Featuring TSMC's System on Integrated Chip technology, the M5 chip makes it possible to support vertical chip stacking, improve thermal management (thermoplastic carbon fiber composite molding technology), and reduce electrical leakage.
First device shipped with the M5 chip
It is believed that the first device soldered with the M5 chip is the iPad Pro by late 2025 or early to mid-2026. If you guys cannot wait to taste the incomparable performance and speed of the Apple M5 series chip, you can purchase an iPad to get the quickest experience.
Then, the following devices will be shipped as expected, tailored for different requirements:
- MacBook Pro: Late 2025
- MacBook Air: Early 2026
- Apple Vision Pro: Updated version between fall 2025 and spring 2026
AI integration
Apple Intelligence has come with the release of macOS Sequoia in 2025. It supports services in various utilities to help users communicate, work, and express, which include writing tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, Siri overhaul, Mail, Photos, Notifications, Visual Intelligence, and ChatGPT integration.
When it comes to the next-generation chip, inferring from Apple's official code, Apple plans to integrate it into the AI server infrastructure to boost AI performance across both user devices and cloud ends. That's a remarkable step forward!
Apple M5 series chip: what details we expect
For more specific enhancements and improvements coming with the Mac M5 chip, like the processing capability of CPU and GPU, the RAM and memory upgrade, the price of each lineup, the difference between the base and advanced model lineups, etc., we can expect that WWDC 2025 may uncover some details that will be held in June of this year.
If you cannot wait to know more info about the newly coming Mac M5 chip, you can follow all kinds of official public men related to Apple, like Mark Gurman, who always publishes associated info about the new chip or device.