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New M5 Chips Spotted in iOS 26.3 Beta

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The iOS 26.3 release candidate includes references to a pair of unreleased chips that are in the M5 family, according to information found by Nicolás Alvarez and shared with MacRumors.

m5-macbook-pro-cyber.jpg

The iOS 26.3 RC mentions two unreleased SoCs, T6051 and T6052, with associated H17C and H17D platform names. The 17 is a reference to the M5, as the standard M5 chip is numbered H17G. Typically, the "C" lettering is used with a Max chip, and the "D" lettering is used for Ultra chips. G is used for standard chips, and S is used for Pro chips.

When using Apple's past numbering and lettering as a reference, that would suggest an M5 Max and an M5 Ultra chip. There is no current reference to T6050 H17S, which is the chip identifier and platform name we'd expect for the M5 Pro.

Since we're currently waiting on new versions of the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the chip references located are a bit confusing. We have three possibilities: there's an M5 Pro chip along with an M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip and it's just not added to the iOS 26.3 code yet, Apple is changing its numbering, or Apple is planning for M5 Max and M5 Ultra MacBook Pro models.
  • Chip 1 in the beta: T6051, H17C. Presumably M5 Max.
  • Chip 2 in the beta: T6052, H17D. Presumably M5 Ultra.
  • Not in the beta: T6050, H17S. Chip identifier expected for M5 Pro.
Apple's past Max chips have all used "C" lettering, including the M1 Max (H13C), M2 Max (H14C), M3 Max (H15C/H15M), and M4 Max (H16C). There was also an M variant of the M3 Max for the 14-core chip, with Apple using C for the 16-core chip.

Ultra chips have all used "D" lettering, including the M1 Ultra (H13D), M2 Ultra (H14D), and M3 Ultra (H15D). There was no M4 Ultra chip.

It's not clear why we are only seeing signs of an M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip, but rumors suggest that new MacBook Pro models with higher-end M5 chips are set to launch in the next few weeks. Apple is supposedly working on a Mac Studio in the M5 family, which would use an M5 Ultra chip, but we haven't heard rumors about an upcoming launch.

Article Link: New M5 Chips Spotted in iOS 26.3 Beta
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/04/new-m5-chips-ios-26-3-beta/
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Also, there was rumor of being able to customize the graphics part of the SoC starting with M5 Pro. The theory was you could get just the M5 Pro but get the better graphics traditionally only offered on the Max. What if it's the reverse? Everyone gets a "Max" chip but they can customize the graphics. It would simplify things a bit — M5 vs. M5 Max, ridding the middle "Pro" tier. Thoughts?
 
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DHagan4755 said:
Also, there was rumor of being able to customize the graphics part of the SoC starting with M5 Pro. The theory was you could get just the M5 Pro but get the better graphics traditionally only offered on the Max. What if it's the reverse? Everyone gets a "Max" chip but they can customize the graphics. It would simplify things a bit — M5 vs. M5 Max, ridding the middle "Pro" tier. Thoughts?
Click to expand...



They should put the pros in iPad pro
 
If the Ultra chip is used in a laptop, at most it would be the 16” right? Even with a couple blowers, I don’t see how the space in the 14” allows for enough cooling. Even the 16” would be tight, but there is a lot more area and volume (both) with that chassis.

I guess we’ll know soon. And it will be interesting to see what that means for the Mac mini. It would be cool to have a Mini with more powerful options. The Studio is great but it is much bigger and heavier.
 
It has never made sense to have a "MacBook Pro" with a chip that's an M-Pro and others with chips that are not. Maybe they are getting rid of "Pro" as a chip name. After all, it's incredibly easy to get wrong info when googling for reviews or when troubleshooting. Google "M5 MacBook Pro review" and you'll get M5 Pro info and vice versa, especially by Gemini blurbs, for example.
So: Pro and Air as laptop core designs; [Base], Max and Ultra as chips.
That would make some sense.
(And if they end up with thermal problems or other needs to rationalise, then "Max" could be the new name for "Pro", and "ultra" the new name for Max.)
 
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DHagan4755 said:
Also, there was rumor of being able to customize the graphics part of the SoC starting with M5 Pro. The theory was you could get just the M5 Pro but get the better graphics traditionally only offered on the Max. What if it's the reverse? Everyone gets a "Max" chip but they can customize the graphics. It would simplify things a bit — M5 vs. M5 Max, ridding the middle "Pro" tier. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Makes sense to me.👍
 
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If they really do release M5 Ultras in the next MacBook Pro, I'm going to be seriously tempted to trade in my 14" M4 Pro. It has been fantastic, but I'm itching to run some local LLMs beyond snail-speed. A M5 Ultra Mac Studio could be tempting too to run some models and I could keep on rocking my MacBook. It's fun to consider the possibilities.
 
ebika said:
If they really do release M5 Ultras in the next MacBook Pro, I'm going to be seriously tempted to trade in my 14" M4 Pro. It has been fantastic, but I'm itching to run some local LLMs beyond snail-speed. A M5 Ultra Mac Studio could be tempting too to run some models and I could keep on rocking my MacBook. It's fun to consider the possibilities.
Click to expand...
There was a rumor Apple tested the Ultra in a MacBook Pro but I'm not holding my breath! It seems like it would be way too hot for the MacBook Pro now never mind a thinner design to come later this year.
 
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The prices on the Studio with Ultra have been the top $$$ level for Apple. They are not likely to walk out of one's home. Pricing a laptop with an Ultra would be one extremely expensive machine in Apple world if it had 512GB ram and 16 GB SSD. Closing in on nice new car price..... Extremely attractive for thieves.... or other unsavory folks on the streets now......
 
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MacRumors said:
When using Apple's past numbering and lettering as a reference, that would suggest an M5 Max and an M5 Ultra chip. There is no current reference to T6050 H17S, which is the chip identifier and platform name we'd expect for the M5 Pro.

Since we're currently waiting on new versions of the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the chip references located are a bit confusing. We have three possibilities: there's an M5 Pro chip along with an M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip and it's just not added to the iOS 26.3 code yet, Apple is changing its numbering, or Apple is planning for M5 Max and M5 Ultra MacBook Pro models.
Click to expand...
Or, there will be no M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros at all (which is why we haven't seen them yet, and why the buying page at Apple.com was redesigned to de-emphasize SoC choice), there is no M5 Pro chip, and the M5 Max and Ultra are going in the Studio only.

This is also consistent with the M6 being ahead of schedule and soon entering mass production for the redesigned MacBook Pros in October, just over eight months away.
 
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DHagan4755 said:
There was a rumor Apple tested the Ultra in a MacBook Pro but I'm not holding my breath! It seems like it would be way too hot for the MacBook Pro now never mind a thinner design to come later this year.
Click to expand...
Agreed, breath holding would be premature. We just need more vapor chambers! 😀

Honestly, that would make things easier for me, and I'd just get a Mac Studio.
 
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