Apple on Tuesday quietly introduced new versions of the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro, all powered by its new M5 chip, with no launch event or keynote presentation. The devices are available for preorder now and will go on sale October 22.
While the hardware designs remain largely unchanged from their predecessors, the M5 processor is the centerpiece of the refresh. Built on a 3-nanometer process, the M5 features a 10-core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core. Apple says the chip delivers four times the peak GPU compute for AI compared to the M4, along with 30% higher overall graphics performance and 15% faster multi-threaded CPU performance. The 16-core Neural Engine has also been enhanced, and unified memory bandwidth is up 30%, enabling larger AI models to run directly on the device.
The M5 chip is now standard across the updated iPad Pro lineup, available in 11-inch and 13-inch models starting at $999 and $1,299, respectively. Externally, the tablets are nearly identical to the previous generation, retaining the Tandem OLED display, 1,600-nit peak brightness, and thin design. Apple says the new models deliver a 3.5x boost in AI performance over the M4 version, 1.5x faster 3D rendering with ray tracing, and faster video processing in apps such as Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. The devices also include Apple’s N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, along with the C1X 5G modem for improved cellular performance.
On the Mac side, Apple introduced a new 14-inch MacBook Pro configuration powered by M5, starting at $1,599. The company did not refresh the full MacBook Pro lineup; larger 16-inch models and M5 Pro or M5 Max variants are expected later. Apple says the M5 MacBook Pro delivers 3.5x faster AI performance, 1.6x faster graphics over the prior M4 model, and 2x faster SSD performance, while maintaining the same mini-LED display, 24-hour battery claim, and port selection.
Apple also updated the Vision Pro headset with the M5 chip. The mixed-reality device retains its $3,499 price tag but now offers faster performance in visionOS 26, a 10% increase in rendered pixels on its micro-OLED displays, and refresh rates up to 120 Hz. Battery life improves from two hours to two and a half hours of general use, or up to three hours for video playback. A new Dual Knit Band is included for added comfort.
Separately, Apple announced M5 Pro and M5 Max chips for MacBook Pro models launching March 11. Built on a new Apple-designed Fusion Architecture that combines two dies into a single system-on-chip, M5 Pro and M5 Max feature an 18-core CPU with six “super cores” and 12 performance cores. Apple says the chips deliver up to 30% higher multithreaded performance for pro workloads and more than four times the peak GPU compute for AI compared to the prior generation. The GPUs scale up to 40 cores in M5 Max and support up to 128GB of unified memory.
Apple’s low-key rollout suggests this update is about internal performance gains rather than design overhauls. With the M5 family now spanning tablets, laptops, and mixed-reality hardware, the company continues to push AI and graphics performance directly onto its devices — but without the spectacle that has traditionally accompanied major Apple silicon transitions.
This analysis is based on reporting from WIRED.
Image courtesy of Apple.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
