Apple has begun its mass production of the next-generation M5 chip, which will power future MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro devices, as per the South Korean publication ETNews. The M5 Pro, Max, and Ultra versions will be produced later.
As per the ETNews report, the packaging of the M5 chip is handled by Taiwan’s ASE, the US Amkor, and China’s JCET. These companies are expanding their facilities to produce more advanced M5 chip variants.
The chip will be made by using TSMC’s 3-nanometer technology. The company is not using the more advanced 2nm process, as it is likely to be more expensive.
The upcoming M5 Pro model might get a new design that separates the CPU and GPU to improve performance and manufacturing efficiency. This is different from Apple’s usual all-in-one chip design.
It is said that the M5 chip will enhance AI capabilities, especially for the next-generation Vision Pro. The current M2-powered model struggles with certain AI features due to processing limitations while managing visionOS tasks simultaneously.
The devices with the M5 chip are expected to debut in late 2025. The iPad Pro is likely to be the first to get it. The MacBook Pro and Vision Pro will follow, with the Vision Pro possibly arriving between fall 2025 and spring 2026.
The M5 chip is being made on schedule, following Apple’s usual upgrade cycle. It is said that the M5 Pro and Max versions will enter mass production in the second half of 2025, while the Ultra version will come in 2026.
