Picture: Apple/Cult of Mac
As a substitute of latest Macs, Apple will reportedly use the subsequent iPad Professional refresh because the debut system for its M5 chip. The brand new pill may launch “as early as October.”
It’s additionally engaged on an M4 iPad Air refresh and iPhone 17e for a doable early 2026 launch.
M5 chip might launch with 2025 iPad Professional refresh
For the reason that Apple silicon transition in late 2020, Apple unveiled every new M-series chip alongside a Mac refresh yearly. The M4 SoC was an exception, debuting on the slimmer 2024 OLED iPad Professional as a substitute.
It appears Apple will observe the identical technique with the M5 chip. The M5 MacBook Execs will reportedly solely launch early subsequent 12 months. However earlier than that, the corporate will supposedly take the wraps off the M5-powered iPad Professional.
As for the M4 iPad Air refresh, Bloomberg experiences it should land in March or April subsequent 12 months. A refreshed $349 base iPad with a sooner processor also needs to launch alongside the brand new Air. Each tablets will get a minor spec bump, with no main design modifications deliberate.
Apple’s early 2026 roadmap is something however quiet
That’s not it, although. Apple will seemingly have a busy early 2026, because it plans to launch the iPhone 17e subsequent 12 months. It “will look much like the 16e mannequin however embrace the A19 processor to match this 12 months’s iPhone 17 line,” says the report. The corporate will apparently undertake a yearly refresh cycle even for its price range iPhone going ahead.
Apple supposedly plans to launch a brand new Studio Show refresh early subsequent 12 months as properly. Plus, it’s engaged on a MacBook Air refresh, possible with the M5 chip. The report says they can even launch within the “first half of subsequent 12 months.”
To not overlook, Apple’s long-rumored sensible residence system hub is within the pipeline, too. However it should solely launch as soon as the brand new Siri makes its public debut.
