Apple’s 3nm M5 Chip Leveraging TSMC’s N3P Process Set for Mass Production in 2H25 Promising Significant Performance Improvements for Macs; No Upcoming iPad Pro Update

Apple is set to commence mass production of its latest M series chips in the latter half of 2025. These new chips will power the next generation of Macs as well as Apple’s intelligence servers. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has announced this timeline in a recent Medium post, providing insights into when users might expect the roll-out of higher-end chip variants. Additionally, plans are in place for the launch of the M4 Ultra chip in the coming year, suggesting that Apple will maintain a consistent strategy akin to that of the M4 chip.

Anticipated Launch of the M5 Chip in 2025

The forthcoming M5 chip is anticipated to offer substantial enhancements in computational and graphical performance over its predecessor, the M4. While it will be manufactured using a 3nm process instead of 2nm, Apple is expected to utilize TSMC’s advanced N3P technology, which may yield notable performance improvements. Along with enhanced computational power, the efficiency of the M5 chip will also see a boost, which is likely to enhance battery life in upcoming models of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Release Timeline and Product Integration

According to projections, the M5 chip’s mass production is slated for the latter part of next year. This release schedule closely mirrors the timeline for the M4 chip, with a significant exception for the OLED iPad Pro. Hence, users can anticipate the introduction of the M5 version of the iPad Pro by the close of next year rather than its spring launch. Aside from the iPad Pro, the M5 chip will also be incorporated into the new MacBook Pro models.

Upcoming Models and Expected Upgrades

In October of next year, Apple is expected to unveil the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max versions of the MacBook Pro. However, it remains uncertain if the new Mac mini will also see an upgrade to an M5 chip. Meanwhile, the M5 variants for the MacBook Air lineup are anticipated to debut in the first half of 2026, with the higher-end M5 Ultra planned for release in the latter half of the same year.

Shifts in Apple’s Release Strategy

This year, Apple appears to be adopting a distinct release cycle for its Macs, with the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini all launching in the last quarter. The MacBook Air is expected to hit the market in March, followed by the Mac Studio and Mac Pro featuring the new ‘Ultra’ chip projected for mid to late 2025. Furthermore, Apple’s AI servers, which currently operate on M2 Ultra chips, are also slated for an update to the M4 Ultra next year. This enhancement is aimed at facilitating accelerated cloud-based processing, aligning with Apple’s ambitious plans for future high-end features. Stay tuned for further updates on the new 3nm M5 chips and their capabilities.

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