Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, ETR:APC) has unveiled its latest in-house processor, the M5 chip, representing a major advancement in the company’s silicon roadmap.
The announcement came alongside the launch of new models of the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Vision Pro, all of which are powered by the new chip and available for pre-order starting on Wednesday.
The M5 features a 10-core CPU with six efficiency cores and up to four performance cores, offering up to 15% faster multithreaded performance compared with the M4.
According to Apple, the chip also includes a next-generation 10-core GPU architecture that integrates a Neural Accelerator in each core, delivering up to four times the peak performance for AI workloads and up to 45% improved graphics performance.
A redesigned 16-core Neural Engine enhances AI task acceleration, while the M5 supports up to 32GB of unified memory and a bandwidth of 153GB/s, about 30% higher than its predecessor.
Built on Apple’s third-generation 3-nanometer process, the M5 aims to deliver both higher performance and improved energy efficiency, the company said.
Among the first devices to feature the chip are the new 14-inch MacBook Pro, which Apple says achieves up to 3.5x faster AI performance and up to 24 hours of battery life, and the new iPad Pro, which introduces several hardware and connectivity upgrades.
The latest iPad Pro includes Wi-Fi 7 support through the new N1 wireless chip, and faster cellular data via the C1X modem, which offers up to 50% greater efficiency than prior models.
“Powered by the next generation of Apple silicon, the new iPad Pro delivers our most advanced and versatile iPad experience yet,” Apple senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus said.
“iPad Pro with M5 unlocks endless possibilities for creativity and productivity — with a huge leap in AI performance and a big boost in graphics, superfast wireless connectivity, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, it pushes the boundaries of what iPad can do yet again.”
Shares of Apple were up almost 1% on the announcement at $250.