Apple has begun shaping the next generation of its processors with the initial order of the long-awaited M5 chips from TSMC, its exclusive processor partner. This new series of chips promises to revolutionize the performance of devices such as the iPad Pro, MacBooks and even the Apple Vision Pro, with innovations that could reach end of 2025.
The M5 will use the advanced 3 nanometer technology from TSMC, a decision that has generated a stir in the technology industry. Although TSMC has a leading 2 nanometer process, Apple would have opted for the 3 nm process due to cost reasons, prioritizing a balance between innovation and accessibility for its consumers. Even so, this new chip will not disappoint: it will include significant improvements in energy efficiency and power, thanks to the integration of System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology.
New technology for the M5 chip
SoIC technology marks a milestone in processor design by enabling 3D stacking that optimizes thermal management and minimizes electrical leakage, pushing the limits of traditional two-dimensional designs. Apple has also expanded its collaboration with TSMC to incorporate a new thermoplastic carbon fiber molding technique, a technical detail that, although it may sound futuristic, translates into faster devices and durable.
Since July of this year, TSMC has been testing early production of this hybrid SoIC package, which would indicate that Apple is betting on more efficient integration between hardware and software. This will not only improve the user experience on consumer devices, but will also be vital for the development of your AI infrastructure.
Since Apple began its transition to Apple Silicon processors in 2020, TSMC has been a pillar fundamental in your strategy. The Taiwanese company’s ability to manufacture chips with advanced technology has been crucial for Apple to maintain its leadership over the competition.
This new movement reaffirms the alliance between both companies and indicates that Apple has no plans to change suppliers in the short term. With the manufacturing of the new M5 underway and a horizon full of technological promises, Apple demonstrates once again why it continues to be the benchmark in innovation within the world of technology.
The M5 chip not only aims to redefine the user experience in renowned products like the MacBook Pro, but also to build Apple’s future in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence. Will we be facing the chip that will give a qualitative leap to the Apple ecosystem? From the looks of it, the wait will be worth it.
What devices will debut the M5?
If Apple follows its usual hardware update schedule, the first products with the M5 chip are expected to hit the market on these dates:
- iPad Pro: could be the first to debut the M5, probably at the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026.
- MacBook Pro: Versions with M5 are expected by the end of 2025.
- Macbook Air: its models with M5 could land in the first quarter of 2026.
- Apple Vision Pro: The second generation of the headset, equipped with this chip, would arrive between autumn 2025 and spring 2026.
In addition, the M5 will not only be the heart of consumer devices, as Apple also plans to use it in its servers to boost AI capabilities in both devices and cloud services.
