Apple launched the M4 chip for the OLED iPad Pro models in April and later released the M4 Pro and M4 Max versions, which deliver major performance enhancements compared to its M3 chip.
This leaves one wondering how the next M5 chip is going to fare. It has also been reported that Apple has already issued orders to TSMC for M5 chips we can expect to deliver both computational, as well as graphical performance improvements. They will use a new ARM architecture and be made on TSMC’s leading-edge 3nm process, the same one used in the current M4 chips, with further performance enhancements.
Table of Contents
Apple Chooses TSMC’s SoIC Tech Over 2nm for M5 Chip, Mass Production Set for Late 2025
Though the M5 chip won’t come to market using 2nm technology as was previously anticipated—presumably due to high costs—the Cupertino giant is aiming to eventually use the tech in future M and A-series chips for its iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, though it could take a year.
But the M5 will still deliver a considerable performance uplift from the M4, thanks to TSMC’s new System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology. The 3D stacking helps with thermal management and mitigates electrical leakages common in 2D designs.
A hybrid SoIC from the introduction of the thermoplastics carbon fiber composite molding technology has also brought a deeper alliance for Apple and TSMC. Preparations for small trial production gradually began in July, and if everything goes according to plan, mass production of M5 chips in the second half of 2025. This could also mean that Apple won’t be refreshing the iPad Pro in Spring 2025, and it may instead push it out to later that year or Spring 2026.
We could see the M5 chip in MacBook Pro models first, while MacBook Air models would come in Spring 2026. The M5-powered iPad Pro could be launched alongside the MacBook Pro, with no details known yet. Additionally, Apple plans to leverage the M5 chip for its AI server infrastructure to enhance future Apple Intelligence features, including a new LLM Siri that will replace ChatGPT integration and launch in Spring 2026.
FAQs
When will the M5 chip be available?
The M5 chip is expected to enter mass production in late 2025, with devices like the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro potentially launching soon after.
Why did Apple choose not to use 2nm for the M5 chip?
Apple opted for TSMC’s 3nm technology due to the high cost of 2nm, aiming for performance and power efficiency instead of cutting-edge fabrication.
