TECH NEWS – Apple’s plans remain far from concrete, as the latest information suggests there is still no exact launch date for the more powerful laptops.
Apple may need around eight weeks to deliver higher unified RAM configurations to customers, but this is not a reliable indicator that the company is about to roll out its new M5 Pro and M5 Max chipsets. While many expected the Cupertino-based tech giant to unveil refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models soon, Bloomberg editor Mark Gurman indicates that these machines are more likely to arrive in the first half of 2026.
During that window, the M5 Pro and M5 Max variants are expected to appear in updated versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro lineup. Major external design changes are unlikely for these portable Macs, though Apple is anticipated to bring over internal improvements similar to those seen in the M5 MacBook Pro, including faster SSD read and write speeds and a notable performance uplift in Cyberpunk 2077.
A key chipset design change we are closely watching for in the M5 Pro and M5 Max is the introduction of SoIC-MH (Small Outline Integrated Circuit Molding-Horizontal) packaging. This approach allows chipsets to feature separate CPU and GPU blocks, enabling more flexible configurations while also helping to mitigate extremely high operating temperatures. The M4 Max can reportedly reach temperatures of up to 99 degrees under load due to its weak single heat pipe cooling setup. Under combined CPU and GPU workloads, the M4 Max draws as much as 212W, which is difficult to manage with such an inadequate heat sink. Since the M5 Max is expected to use a similar cooling solution, Apple’s answer appears to be a redesign of the chip package itself.
Beyond the M5 Pro and M5 Max, Apple is also said to be developing an M5 Ultra chip for a future Mac Studio refresh. At the same time, the Mac Pro seems to be on the way out, suggesting that Apple could discontinue this product line in the near future.
