It’s an open secret that Apple is working behind the scenes on the next version of its silicon chip, the M5 SoC (system-on-chip). Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman expects the first products with this new power source to be announced as early as this week.
Gurman is typically very knowledgeable about future Apple products. On Bloomberg, he writes that the iPhone maker is likely to announce two, possibly even three, devices this week, all powered by the new M5 processor. The current generation of this SoC powers Mac notebooks and desktops, as well as the iPad Pro (the iPad Air runs on an M3, other models on an A16 or A17 Pro chip).
Gurman expects a boost in specs for the iPad Pro, as a leaked unboxing video of the device was released via a Russian channel at the end of September. According to the video, the new tablet will indeed have an M5 processor, along with additional RAM (at least 12GB from now on). Visually, there won’t be any significant differences.
Smart glasses
The Vision Pro, Apple’s mixed-reality headset, could also be upgraded to the M5. Currently, the futuristic glasses still feature an M2 chip. If the rumours are true, the updated Vision Pro will have a more comfortable headband and will soon be available in black.
All in all, these are modest updates, which, according to The Information website, could indicate that Apple is currently focusing primarily on developing its own “smart glasses” for a wider audience, similar to the Ray-Ban Display Glasses unveiled by Facebook’s parent company, Meta, in mid-September.
Finally, according to Gurman, there’s a small chance Apple will release an M5 upgrade for the 14-inch MacBook Pro this week. Even more powerful versions of this laptop, featuring an M5 Pro or M5 Max processor, could be launched in 2026. The current MacBook Pro is equipped with the M4 generation of Apple Silicon.
