Apple's New M5 AI Chip Powers Its Upgraded MacBook Pro, iPad Pro & Vision Pro

Despite getting a late start in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena, Apple has come in strong, upgrading its product line with new and improved AI features, capabilities, and chips.

Now, Apple has upgraded a host of its products with its latest silicon chip. 
 

Apple M5

The company unveiled a new and improved chip called M5, which is said to deliver more than 4x the peak GPU compute performance for AI when compared to its predecessor, the M4, and over 6x against the M1.

The chip has been built using third-generation 3-nanometer technology and introduces a next-generation 10-core GPU architecture with a Neural Accelerator in each core, which enables faster running of GPU-based AI workloads.

With enhanced graphics capabilities and third-generation ray tracing, its GPU delivers a graphics performance that is up to 45% higher than the M4. It comes with an improved 16-core Neural Engine, a powerful media engine, and a nearly 30% jump in unified memory bandwidth to 153GB/s.

The new chip will be available in products such as the new 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Vision Pro, all of which are now available for pre-order.


“M5 ushers in the next big leap in AI performance for Apple silicon,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s SVP of Hardware Technologies, who summarized M5’s capabilities.

“With the introduction of Neural Accelerators in the GPU, M5 delivers a huge boost to AI workloads. Combined with a big increase in graphics performance, the world’s fastest CPU core, a faster Neural Engine, and even higher unified memory bandwidth, M5 brings far more performance and capabilities to MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Vision Pro.”
 

MacBook Pro

While Apple didn’t revamp the entire MacBook product line, it did introduce the M5 chip in a new 14-inch MacBook Pro.

The M5 14-inch MacBook Pro comes in 3 options:
 

• A 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD Storage MacBook Pro priced at $1,599.

• A 16GB unified memory, 1TB SSD storage MacBook Pro priced at $1,799.

• A 24GB unified memory, 1TB SSD storage MacBook Pro priced at $1,999.

All three variations are available in the Space Black and Silver color options and are expected to begin delivery starting October 22.

As for performance, M5 delivers 1.8x faster AI video-enhancing performance in Topaz Video; 1.7x faster 3D rendering in Blender; 1.6x higher frame rates in games; and up to 1.2x faster build performance when compiling code in Xcode, when compared to the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip.

In comparison to the M1, M5 offers up to 6x faster AI performance, up to 6.8x faster GPU performance with ray tracing, and up to 2x faster CPU performance. It also comes with boosts in battery performance, display (Liquid Retina XDR display with a nano-texture option), and Apple Intelligence capabilities, along with an advanced camera, mics, and speakers.


“M5 marks the next big leap in AI for the Mac and delivers a huge boost in graphics performance, accelerating demanding workflows for everyone from students to creatives, developers to business professionals, and more,” said John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of Hardware Engineering. “With its amazing performance, extraordinary battery life, and unrivaled display, M5 takes the new 14-inch MacBook Pro to another level.”

MacBook Pros powered by Apple’s M4 Pro and M4 Max remain available across the 14-inch and 16-inch models.
 

iPad Pro

Apple launched the powerful new iPad Pro with the M5 chip, which offers “a big leap in AI performance, faster storage, and the game-changing capabilities of iPadOS 26.”

It delivers up to 3.5x more AI performance than the iPad Pro with M4.

It comes with Apple’s new wireless networking chip N1, which supports Wi-Fi 7; the C1X modem that delivers up to 50% faster cellular data performance than its predecessor, more efficiently; and features the Ultra Retina XDR display.

iPad Pro with M5 delivers up to 1.5x faster 3D rendering with ray tracing in Octane X; up to 1.2x faster video transcode performance in Final Cut Pro for iPad; 2x faster AI image generation performance in Draw Things for iPad; 2.3x faster AI video upscaling performance in DaVinci Resolve for iPad when compared to iPad Pro with M4.


“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,” said John Ternus.

It’s available in Space Black and Silver in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations.

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 (Wi-Fi) and $1,199 (Wi-Fi + Cellular), and the 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,299 (Wi-Fi) and $1,499 (Wi-Fi + Cellular). Meanwhile, the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro costs $299 (11-inch) and $349 (13-inch), with both available in black and white finishes.

The new iPad Pro is available for pre-order and will hit stores on October 22.
 

Vision Pro

Apple’s Vision Pro has been upgraded with its new M5 chip, which comes with improved display rendering, faster AI-powered workflows, and extended battery life, and offers innovative features with visionOS 26 and all-new spatial apps and Apple Immersive content.

It provides an even faster, smoother, and more responsive experience for Apple Vision Pro users and introduces new opportunities for developers to create more advanced spatial and immersive experiences.

It also comes with the soft, cushioned Dual Knit Band to help users achieve an even more comfortable fit, and features upper and lower straps that are 3D-knitted as a single piece.


“Paired with the comfortable Dual Knit Band, innovative features in visionOS 26, and all-new Apple Immersive experiences spanning adventure, documentary, music, and sports, spatial computing is even more capable, entertaining, and magical with the new Vision Pro,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s VP of Worldwide Product Marketing.

Apple Vision Pro with the M5 chip and Dual Knit Band starts at $3,499, and is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities. The Dual Knit Band is available to purchase separately for $99.

It’s available for pre-order now and will hit stores on October 22.

Do you think Apple’s new chip will help it capture a better position in the AI consumer electronics market?

Let us know in the comments below!