MacBook Pro Models With M5 Chips Might Not Launch Until Next Year

[MacRumors]

In a research note today, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that MacBook Pro models with M5 chips might not launch until 2026.

Kuo discussed how the A20 chips in iPhone 18 models will be packaged with WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) technology, which integrates the so-called "underfill and molding processes" for more efficient manufacturing and increased yield, a term that refers to the percentage of functional chips that can be obtained per silicon wafer.

Kuo went on to say that high-end M5 chips in 2026 MacBooks — likely referring to the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips — will continue to have separate underfill and molding processes during production. His mention of 2026 is the key part here, as it was previously rumored that MacBook Pro models with M5 chips would launch in late 2025. Last month, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was "considering" pushing back the release of the next MacBook Pro models with the M5 series of chips until 2026.

All in all, Kuo's mention of "2026 MacBooks" with high-end M5 chips is the latest clue that the MacBook Pro might not be updated this year after all.

Timing aside, we recommend skipping the MacBook Pro models with the M5 series of chips if you can wait, as the subsequent models with the M6 series of chips are expected to feature more significant changes, including an OLED display, a thinner design, and possibly a smaller notch. However, those models might not launch until early 2027 now.

Article Link: MacBook Pro Models With M5 Chips Might Not Launch Until Next Year

 

[ipedro]

A March PRO event makes a lot of sense. MacBookPro and Mac Studio with M5 and either an upgrade to the Mac Pro or a new tower design, alongside the unveiling of Apple's Creative Suite: Final Cut Pro updates for Mac and iPad, Logic for coming to iPad and the official welcoming of the newly acquired Pixelmator and Photomator, likely to be rebranded to fit in Apple's family of creative products — Apple Creative Pro and the return of Aperture, respectively.

That's a lot of newness to fit in October when they'll not want to overshadow the brand new iPhone Air and a series of other consumer related news like the possibility of the HomePad announcement, new HomePods and Apple TV released for the holidays.

 

[dcny]

I guess all the signs hinted to skip this year's MacBook Pro

 

[KENESS]

Oh crap, people are going to be moaning about a "delay" for a release date that was never official or announced in the first place.

 

[tyrnnsrs]

I was wanting to wait on upgrading my M1Pro til the supposed refresh that is coming which now looks to be a year later than planned. These M series Macbooks still have a ton of life in them so I'm in no hurry.

 

[anakin44011]

A March PRO event makes a lot of sense. MacBookPro and Mac Studio with M5 and either an upgrade to the Mac Pro or a new tower design, alongside the unveiling of Apple's Creative Suite: Final Cut Pro updates for Mac and iPad, Logic for coming to iPad and the official welcoming of the newly acquired Pixelmator and Photomator, likely to be rebranded to fit in Apple's family of creative products — Apple Creative Pro and the return of Aperture, respectively.

That's a lot of newness to fit in October when they'll not want to overshadow the brand new iPhone Air and a series of other consumer related news like the possibility of the HomePad announcement, new HomePods and Apple TV released for the holidays.

I want a glass of whatever you are drinking...but I love the concept!

While we're at it, how about a Mac Pro with an option of multiple M5 Extreme daughter cards to serve as a render farm! Not that I need one, but it would be cool for Apple to have a halo workstation that would help really high end creators do some fantastic things with Immersive Video.

 

[RaoulCapano]

I wonder if this timeline includes Air also?

 

[sparkie7]

Next month is about Apple watches and iPhones anyway. M4 MacBook Pros are plenty fast for now and means M4 owners can enjoy their “latest” machines that little bit longer

 

[iBluetooth]

I highly doubt that Apple will delay the MacBook update as it really needs to keep their revenue going. But I expect better memory bandwidth with this new packaging as that would boost the AI speed. We might also see the max memory increased.

 

[Scipster]

A March PRO event makes a lot of sense. MacBookPro and Mac Studio with M5 and either an upgrade to the Mac Pro or a new tower design, alongside the unveiling of Apple's Creative Suite: Final Cut Pro updates for Mac and iPad, Logic for coming to iPad and the official welcoming of the newly acquired Pixelmator and Photomator, likely to be rebranded to fit in Apple's family of creative products — Apple Creative Pro and the return of Aperture, respectively. That's a lot of newness to fit in October when they'll not want to overshadow the brand new iPhone Air and a series of other consumer related news like the possibility of the HomePad announcement, new HomePods and Apple TV released for the holidays.

Agree the March timing makes the most sense, especially if they refresh the Mac Studio and Studio display too. Will probably upgrade from M1 to M5 if only for the design language - this current gen is solid!

 

[waziazi]

still no 120hz outside the pro model... apple's hardware is feeling super lackluster and dated. imbeciles up and down the chain.

 

[torontotim]

This notion of annual updates to the M chips, iPhones etc. has always been a bit nuts.

I'm still running just fine on my iPhone 12 Pro Max and M1 Pro MacBook Pro.

Apple doesn't need to update these things every 12 months and people will keep buying.

 

[torontotim]

still no 120hz outside the pro model... apple's hardware is feeling super lackluster and dated. imbeciles up and down the chain.

Yeah - they're total morons.

 

[Kylo83]

Will get GTA 6 before the new oled MacBook Pro haha

 

[Kylo83]

Sticking with my M1 Max until they remove that horrible notch

 

[Astuces iOS]

I'm going to say lol since I have m4 mbp

 

[DrWojtek]

A March PRO event makes a lot of sense. MacBookPro and Mac Studio with M5 and either an upgrade to the Mac Pro or a new tower design, alongside the unveiling of Apple's Creative Suite: Final Cut Pro updates for Mac and iPad, Logic for coming to iPad and the official welcoming of the newly acquired Pixelmator and Photomator, likely to be rebranded to fit in Apple's family of creative products — Apple Creative Pro and the return of Aperture, respectively.

That's a lot of newness to fit in October when they'll not want to overshadow the brand new iPhone Air and a series of other consumer related news like the possibility of the HomePad announcement, new HomePods and Apple TV released for the holidays.

*********. If they wouldve had the chips ready by october they’d release them then. The competition is not sleeping.

 

[anthony13]

isnt it possible they are still releasing the thinner model next year but just with M5's now? or do they need the M6 to reduce heat?

 

[MayaUser]

probably new redesign so they delay it until next year

 

[Quackington]

With this rumoured thinner model, are we expecting all the ports to remain or stuff like HDMI is gonna be cut.

 

[Christopher Kim]

I was wanting to wait on upgrading my M1Pro til the supposed refresh that is coming which now looks to be a year later than planned. These M series Macbooks still have a ton of life in them so I'm in no hurry.

I'm in the same boat. I actually just pulled the trigger on a 15" M4 MBA 16/512 via the Amazon sale (all models $200 off). My M1Pro 14" MBP still has a lot of life left, but nearing 4yrs old now, and I've realized I don't really *need* the MBP right now with the M chips providing such great performance. (I am more a "prosumer" - I don't use my Mac for work, but like having the slightly more premium device).

The current M4 MBA (especially if you can get away with the base models) are such a great bang-for-buck, and with this as a semi-stop-gap, I won't have any impatience waiting for the redesigned OLED MBPs to come out (whether it's late-2026 or ends up being 2027).

 

[hvfsl]

Hopefully they offer more sensible storage options with the new models. The PRO machines should start at 1TB, with 2TB, 4TB and 8TB options.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Didn't we have this exact rumor/article recently?

or am I hallucinating, like AI?


Update: We did! I thought so

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m5-macbook-pro-no-longer-coming-in-2025.2461339/

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Makes sense, the iPad Pros will easily outsell the MacBook Pros, so, make sure those orders are fulfilled first, then the less popular systems get them later.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

This notion of annual updates to the M chips, iPhones etc. has always been a bit nuts.

I'm still running just fine on my iPhone 12 Pro Max and M1 Pro MacBook Pro.

Apple doesn't need to update these things every 12 months and people will keep buying.

There are more people in the world that don’t own Macs than do. Updating every 12 months means that those folks buying their first Mac gets a new one that’s, at most, 18 months old or so. If someone that bought one last year wants to buy a new one this year, that’s just gravy for Apple, but these releases are to provide opportunities for folks with older systems or no systems to buy in.