Apple's M5 Chip Enters Mass Production: What This Means for 2025 Devices

Apple Silicon M5 Chips Likely in Mass Production

South Korean media, specifically ETnews, reports that TSMC is packaging early production units of Apple's M5 chip, indicating the start of mass production. This aligns with expectations for the first M5-equipped devices to ship by the end of 2025. Key highlights include:

• M5 iPad Pro: Expected in late 2025.
• Macs with M5: Also expected in late 2025.
• Second-generation Apple Vision Pro: Rumored to feature the M5 chip before year-end.

The M5 chip has been spotted in code as early as August 2023, suggesting ongoing development. While it's expected to retain a similar architecture to previous M-series chips (M1 through M4), the M5 Pro might introduce a split design for the first time. The M5 Pro and M5 Max are slated for mass production in the second half of 2025, with the M5 Ultra following in 2026.

TSMC's latest chip packaging process, SoIC-mH, is rumored to be used for the M5 Pro and other variants, though it's unclear if the core M5 will use this process. The M5 processor is expected to be manufactured using TSMC's N3P technology, which will first appear in the iPhone 18 range.

ETnews has a strong track record regarding Apple's supply chain moves but less accurate when predicting specific timelines or product details.