Apple has officially entered mass production of its next-generation M5 chip, signaling the next leap in Mac, iPad, and Vision Pro performance, according to ET News . The base M5 model is currently in production, with M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra variants expected to follow later in the year.
The M5 chip series will be manufactured using TSMC's 3-nanometer process and will incorporate System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology, a cutting-edge 3D stacking approach that enhances efficiency, reduces electrical leakage, and improves heat dissipation.
M5 Chip Expected to Power Apple's 2025 Product Line
Industry analysts predict the M5 chip will debut in three major product lines in 2025:
- MacBook Pro: Expected in late 2025, the M5-powered MacBook Pro will likely see significant performance gains with its enhanced AI processing capabilities.
- iPad Pro: Set to enter mass production in late 2025 or early 2026, the M5-powered iPad Pro is expected to be Apple's most powerful tablet yet.
- Vision Pro: A refreshed Vision Pro with M5 capabilities could launch between fall 2025 and spring 2026, enhancing Apple Intelligence features for mixed reality applications.
Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-regarded Apple analyst, stated that the M5 chip will enable the Vision Pro to fully integrate AI-driven features, a capability missing in the current M2-powered model.
Key Features: Improved AI Processing and Chip Redesign
Apple's M5 chip lineup will focus on AI performance enhancements and potential architectural shifts compared to previous M-series iterations.
Notably, a new SoC design approach may introduce a more distinct separation between the CPU and GPU, a departure from previous M-series chips that tightly integrated both components within a single package. This could boost AI performance and increase production yields, according to supply chain sources.
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Developments
Apple continues to outsource fabrication to TSMC, with packaging handled by multiple semiconductor assembly and test companies:
- ASE Group (Taiwan) was the first to begin mass production of the M5 chip.
- Amkor (USA) and JCET (China) are expected to follow sequentially in ramping up production.
- The high-end M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra models are reportedly still in development, with supply chain partners investing in additional production capacity to meet demand.
Apple has opted to remain on TSMC's 3-nanometer process for cost reasons, foregoing the more advanced (but expensive) 2-nanometer process.
Enhanced Thermal Efficiency for Sustained Performance
The M5 chip is designed to run cooler, allowing devices to sustain peak performance for longer periods without thermal throttling. This improvement is expected to benefit power-hungry applications, particularly on the MacBook Pro and Apple's AI cloud infrastructure.
Apple is reportedly planning to deploy M5 chips within its AI server infrastructure, strengthening AI performance across its consumer and cloud services.