Apple continues its work on the M5 series processors at full speed. In addition to the existing M5 chip, the company is reportedly working on three new, more powerful chipsets that will power a wide range of upcoming products. Recent reports indicate that these processors, dubbed the M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra, will be released in the first half of 2026.
The M5 family is growing: M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra are on the way
The devices in which these new chips will be used are also beginning to become clear. The M5 Pro and M5 Max processors are expected to power Apple’s 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. The most powerful member of the series, the M5 Ultra, is designed specifically for the Mac Studio. However, the reports currently do not indicate a possible Mac Pro update.
A report shared by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman details the release schedule for these new processors. Previously leaked macOS Tahoe code hinted that the high-end M5 chips would not be released simultaneously with the base M5. The M5 Ultra was also rumored to be coming to Mac Studio in 2026. Gurman’s report confirms this information and also reveals the full hardware roadmap for 2026.
According to reports, new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, as well as the MacBook Air with M5 processors, will be introduced in the first half of 2026. Mac mini models with M5 and M5 Pro chips, as well as Mac Studio updates with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, will arrive in the middle of the year. Towards the end of 2026, Apple is expected to introduce the M6 chip and a new entry-level 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro model.
The base M5 processor has already raised expectations. Despite having the same 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration as the M4, the M5 performs nearly as well as the M1 Ultra in Geekbench 6 multi-core tests. It also delivers a significant frame rate (FPS) increase in Cyberpunk 2077 compared to the previous-generation chip.
The tech world is closely watching a key development regarding the M5 Pro and M5 Max. Apple potentially utilizes a new design featuring separate CPU and GPU blocks for these chips. Such a change could allow users to configure the number of CPU and GPU cores they need based on their daily workloads. For the M5 Ultra, it’s questionable whether Apple will continue with its UltraFusion technology, which combines two M5 Max chips. It hasn’t yet been confirmed whether the company will switch to a monolithic design instead.
Apple’s 2026 hardware release schedule appears quite busy. So, what are your thoughts on Apple’s new processor strategy?
