Apple Unveils M5 Chip Enhancements for iPad Pro MacBook Pro and Vision Pro
On Wednesday, Apple revealed its new M5 chip, marking significant upgrades for the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro. These devices are currently available for preorder and will begin shipping and arriving in stores on October 22. The M5 chip offers remarkable performance improvements, surpassing its predecessor, the M4, with over four times peak GPU compute capability.
Enhanced Performance of the M5 Chip
According to Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies, the M5 chip represents a major advancement in AI capabilities for Apple silicon. The innovations include:
- Up to 3.5 times the AI performance in the new iPad Pro compared to last year’s model.
- 5.6 times faster performance than the iPad Pro equipped with the M1 chip.
- Incorporation of Apple’s C1X cellular modem, delivering 50% faster cellular data.
- Integration of the N1 chip for enhanced Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread connectivity.
Upgrades to the iPad Pro
The new iPad Pro features improved storage read and write speeds, with charging capabilities increasing by up to 50% in roughly 30 minutes. As Apple aims to position the iPad Pro as a more laptop-like device, iPadOS 26 introduces enhanced window displays, the new Preview app, and folders for better file management.
Pricing for the iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch variant, with options available in black and silver.
New MacBook Pro Features
The latest 14-inch MacBook Pro outperforms its predecessor, showcasing improved graphics performance that is up to 1.6 times better than before. It offers a memory bandwidth of 153Gbps, up from M4’s 120Gbps, and enhanced storage speeds. The MacBook Pro supports a battery life of up to 24 hours, with a starting price of $1,599 in space black and silver.
Vision Pro Upgrades
The Vision Pro also adopts the M5 chip, enhancing display rendering by 10% and supporting refresh rates of up to 120Hz. AI performance increases by 50%, and battery life sees an extension of 30 minutes, offering up to 2.5 hours of general use and three hours of video playback. The Vision Pro now comes with a Dual Knit Band for improved comfort and is available in small, medium, and large sizes, maintaining its price at $3,499.
This announcement comes amid Apple’s evolving focus on developing smart glasses, shifting attention away from significant updates to its VR headset.
