Apple just dropped its latest silicon bombshell — the M5 chip — and it appears the company wants to dominate the AI hardware race from every angle. Unveiled today across a new 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro, the M5 marks what Apple calls “the next big leap in AI performance,” promising faster on-device machine learning, better efficiency, and stronger support for Apple Intelligence — the company’s new suite of generative AI tools.
The M5 chip, built on Apple’s third-generation 3-nanometer process, features a 10-core CPU and GPU with a Neural Accelerator in every GPU core. Apple claims the M5 delivers up to 3.5x faster AI performance than last year’s M4 and up to 6x faster than the M1 generation.
Whether it’s a laptop, tablet, or mixed reality headset, the message is clear: the M5 is Apple’s foundation for its AI-first future — and it’s already in everything you can buy this fall. Here’s everything announced:
14-inch MacBook Pro
Credit: Apple
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro is the first Mac to get the M5 treatment. According to Apple, it’s not just faster — it’s smarter. The machine can now run large language models (LLMs) locally, accelerating workflows for developers, researchers, and creatives. Apple says the M5 MacBook Pro can deliver up to 24 hours of battery life, 1.6x faster graphics, and 2x faster SSD speeds compared to the M4 model.
Mashable Light Speed
It ships with macOS Tahoe, Apple’s latest desktop OS, and features expanded Apple Intelligence integration, a brighter Liquid Retina XDR display, and a space black finish. The 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro starts at $1,599, with preorders open today and availability beginning Oct. 22. Be aware that if you’re a European buyer, though, the laptop will not ship with a charger.
iPad Pro
Credit: Apple
The iPad Pro joins the lineup as the lightest and thinnest yet, also powered by the new M5 chip. Apple says it delivers desktop-class AI capabilities for apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, and now includes an enhanced display and longer battery life. With the M5, iPad users can take advantage of the same on-device Apple Intelligence features available on Mac, including generative image tools and smarter writing suggestions.
The M5 iPad Pro starts at $999 and is available for preorder today, shipping on Oct. 22.
Apple Vision Pro
Apple also announced an upgraded Vision Pro, featuring the M5 chip and a new Dual Knit Band for comfort. The company says that the M5 dramatically improves rendering, battery life (now up to 2.5 hours of use), and AI-driven features in visionOS 26, such as new Personas, real-time translation, and spatial scene generation. The device also supports 120Hz refresh rates and sharper visuals thanks to improved micro-OLED displays.
Credit: Apple
The M5-powered Vision Pro will launch on October 22 and be available for demos in Apple Stores beginning this week. It will cost $3,499.
