New leaks are emerging every day about Apple’s next-generation silicon M5 series. It has been in the news ever since the launch of the M4-powered iPad Pro and MacBook Air earlier this year. But according to a new report from NotebookCheck, the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips won’t arrive before 2026, leading to speculation about why Apple is pushing the timeline further than expected. Some leaks also suggest that Apple will introduce new changes to its M5 chip, such as the SoIC-MH packaging technology. The modular design of the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips is making it so slow. So, let’s find out in detail when the M5 series will be released.
What the Leak Suggests
NotebookCheck’s latest analysis points to an extended development cycle for Apple’s high-end M-series chips. The standard M5 chip is likely to launch in early 2025, but the Pro and Max variants may not follow the usual six-month refresh timeline. Instead, Apple may stagger releases to optimize power efficiency and improve TSMC’s 3nm “N3e” process node.
This delay is consistent with earlier rumors in the supply chain that Apple intends to reserve TSMC’s 2nm process for the M6 series, making the M5 lineup a transitional update rather than a major performance leap. If we believe other leaks, they also point to Apple bringing new changes to the chip this time around. So, let’s delve deeper into the possible reasons behind Apple’s M5 series release delay.
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Apple’s M5 Series Release Delay: Possible Reasons Behind
While there could be several possible reasons for the delay in the Apple M5 Pro and M5 Max chips’ launch in the Apple M5 series release, leaks point to the following as the main reasons:
- Thermal and Power Optimization: Apple might be reworking the M5 Pro architecture to achieve higher performance without increasing heat output, especially important for thinner MacBook Pro designs.
- Focus on AI and Machine Learning: The company could be integrating enhanced Neural Engine cores designed for on-device AI tasks, part of Apple’s broader “Apple Intelligence” rollout expected in 2025.
- Inventory and Supply Chain Balancing: It’s worth noting that Apple may still have good sales of the M3 Pro/Max MacBooks, which will reduce the pressure to release new chips soon.
- Longer Software–Hardware Alignment: This delay could also help sync macOS features with upcoming Apple Silicon capabilities, as seen with the M4 iPad Pro’s exclusive AI features.
Market Implications
If this timeline holds, MacBook Pro M5 models won’t hit the market until mid-2026, extending the M4 lineup’s lifespan unusually long. This could make 2025 the year of AI-focused Macs rather than purely performance-driven Macs.
In the meantime, developers and professional users eager for next-generation performance will likely have to wait longer, or turn to Apple’s existing M3 Pro/Max configurations, which remain competitive in most creative and developer workflows. Overall, if a new Mac mini, Mac Studio, MacBook M5, and iPad M5 with M5 are released soon, users will have to rely on the current Apple lineup.
The Bigger Picture
Apple’s apparent decision to delay the M5 Pro could reflect a strategic slowdown, prioritizing refinement over rapid iteration. With competitors like Qualcomm and Intel accelerating their AI-focused chip launches, it seems Apple is preparing to further refine its next leap in efficiency and AI performance before launching a new generation of Pro-level MacBooks. I think so too, and this is why Apple is delaying the release of its new M5 series. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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