M5 MacBook Pro Could Launch in October as M4 Model Faces Supply Constraints

[Malus120]

From a chip-production standpoint, it makes sense to produce the smaller non-Pro chips before the larger Pro, Max, and Ultra chips. Out of the devices that use a non-Pro M chip, the non-Pro MacBook Pro is probably most-deserving to receive it first, unless maybe they plan on giving it to the upcoming version of Apple’s Vision headset. Last year the iPad Pro got the M4 chips first.

I understand why it makes sense from a production standpoint but I think that in the context of the MBP as product lineup, it's just not worth it.
A. It dilutes the marketing value of the new chip because it's hard to go all in on how much better it is when the more expensive options still use the previous generation.
B. It makes the Pro and Max chips less attractive, making it harder to upsell.
C. It delineates the Pro and Max chips as "old"in the minds of even casual buyers, likely constraining demand during the holiday season.
D. It complicates the purchasing decision of those who do want to buy and will have to choose between the M5 or M4 Pro.
E. It will likely create awkward combinations of sales at third party retailers during the holiday 2025 period.

I could go on, but I think it makes far more sense to manage any such production imperatives by debuting the chip in an entirely different product category with little overlap, such as the iPad or Vision Pro, rather than splitting two generations of chips across a single product line, especially one that's supposed to be "Pro".

 

[Hicksmat1976]

So a nothing article about something that doesn’t exist yet but might maybe

 

[Basic75]

No one seems to have brought up the possibility that there will be and M5 for MBP and then an M6 for the "Max" and "Pro" variants a few months later. TSMC can produce both, in parallel, in different fabs.

How? The M4 uses the same cores as the A18, the M5 will probably use the same cores as the A19. I wouldn't expect the A20 cores to release in an M6 months before the next iPhone.

 

[dieselm]

I understand why it makes sense from a production standpoint but I think that in the context of the MBP as product lineup, it's just not worth it.
A. It dilutes the marketing value of the new chip because it's hard to go all in on how much better it is when the more expensive options still use the previous generation.
B. It makes the Pro and Max chips less attractive, making it harder to upsell.
C. It delineates the Pro and Max chips as "old"in the minds of even casual buyers, likely constraining demand during the holiday season.
D. It complicates the purchasing decision of those who do want to buy and will have to choose between the M5 or M4 Pro.
E. It will likely create awkward combinations of sales at third party retailers during the holiday 2025 period.

I could go on, but I think it makes far more sense to manage any such production imperatives by debuting the chip in an entirely different product category with little overlap, such as the iPad or Vision Pro, rather than splitting two generations of chips across a single product line, especially one that's supposed to be "Pro".

It makes sense. These are two mostly separate customer types. And there's good differentiation.

The M5 is an "entry level" macbook pro which gives you the premium quality of life issues (screen, camera, sound, ports, fans for sustained CPU).

But for real pro applications, it's very limited compared to the M4 Pro/Max (2TB storage, 32GB memory, 10 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores, 120GB/s memory bandwidth)

Compared to the M4 Pro Max where the caps are (8TB storage, 128GB memory, 16 Core CPU, 40 core GPU, 550GB/s memory bandwidth)

Back in 2022, Apple did the same releasing an M2 to sell alongside M1 Pro Max and it worked out fine.

 

[whatnot]

Is Mark feeling anxious?

Mark is in his bunker under Hawaii, leave him alone.

 

[whatnot]

ugh yes. The screen coating scratches if you look at it wrong.

if looks could kill.

 

[dieselm]

The idea that they'd split up the rollout of the M5 MacBook Pro lineup in this way is asinine. Introducing an M5 MacBook Pro that sits below the M4 Pro/Max would likely create more problems than it solves for Apple.

Unless Apple's leadership has absolutly lost the plot we'll either see:
A. M5/Pro/Max MBP in October
B. M5/Pro/Max MBP in 1H2026 with the M5 debuting first in the iPad

As to whether we'll see OLED MBPs in 2026 if we get M5 in 1H2026... who knows. People love to point to the M3/Pro/Max being announced 9 months after the M2/Pro/Max but I think that was an aberration that Apple probably doesn't want to repeat, particularly given that the OLED MBP will likely entail a whole new chassis that shares very little with prior MBPs.

not that asinine

 

[Malus120]

not that asinine

Eh. I still think it's asinine. I just misjudged whether they'd actually do it. 🤷‍♂️

 

[rwh63]

how quickly will the m5 be discounted at amazon/best buy etc?

 

[Innovati0n]

The idea that they'd split up the rollout of the M5 MacBook Pro lineup in this way is asinine. Introducing an M5 MacBook Pro that sits below the M4 Pro/Max would likely create more problems than it solves for Apple.

Aged like milk.

 

[dieselm]

Eh. I still think it's asinine. I just misjudged whether they'd actually do it. 🤷‍♂️

Wait until late 2026 when they introduce the M6 Pro/Max in a new chassis for extra $$$. The could keep the M5 Pro/Max as a mid-tier for a cycle alongside an M6 in the old chassis.