Apple may be shifting its M-series chip strategy again, with a new report suggesting the upcoming M5 chip will debut in the iPad Pro this fall—months ahead of its expected arrival in the MacBook Pro.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is now targeting early 2026 for the launch of the M5-powered 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, a notable delay from its previous fall 2025 schedule.
If true, this marks the second consecutive year Apple has introduced a major M-series chip via the iPad before bringing it to Mac. In 2024, the M4 chip debuted exclusively in the iPad Pro before arriving on Macs later.
The report suggests this could signal a new trend, positioning the iPad Pro as the launchpad for future Apple silicon rollouts.
