Apple has quietly raised the bar for on-device AI with the M5, a chip that packs neural accelerators into each GPU core and promises to speed up everything from image generation to 3D rendering and local large language models.
That silicon arrives first in a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro, a redesigned iPad Pro and an upgraded Vision Pro, each claiming notable gains in AI, graphics and battery life.
Last month, Apple unveiled its lightest and slimmest iPhone yet, the iPhone Air, alongside the iPhone 17 and high-performance iPhone 17 Pro models, while also introducing next-generation Apple Watch and AirPods lineups.
M5 chip overview
Apple said the M5 is its next major step for on-device artificial intelligence (AI) and general compute. The chip is built on third generation 3 nanometre process technology and brings several architectural changes meant to speed AI tasks and graphics. Chief among these is a new 10-core GPU design with a small dedicated Neural Accelerator inside each GPU core.
A Neural Accelerator is a hardware block tuned specifically for the kinds of matrix arithmetic that modern AI models use, which means certain machine learning tasks can run much faster and more efficiently than on a general CPU.
The tech giant claims the result is over four times the peak GPU compute performance for AI compared with M4, and substantial uplifts compared with the original M1 generation.
M5 brings next-level AI performance with its next-generation GPU architecture, powerful CPU, faster Neural Engine, and higher unified memory bandwidth. | Image: Apple
The M5 also includes a refreshed CPU with up to 10 cores, a 16-core Neural Engine, a faster media engine, and higher unified memory bandwidth of 153 GB per second, with configurations available up to 32 GB of unified memory.
Unified memory bandwidth refers to how quickly the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine can access the same pool of memory, which matters for large AI models and for moving big images or video frames between processors without copying data.
According to Apple, M5 has a third-generation ray tracing engine for better visual fidelity. Ray tracing is a technique for more realistic lighting in 3D applications.
Apple positions M5 as the chip for the new 14-inch MacBook Pro, the new iPad Pro and an upgraded Apple Vision Pro, all available to pre-order now with devices shipping from October 22, 2025 in many regions.
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14-inch MacBook Pro with M5
Apple presented the 14-inch MacBook Pro as the portable pro machine upgraded by M5.
The company highlighted up to 3.5 times faster AI performance versus the previous M4 MacBook Pro, up to 1.6 times faster graphics and an improvement to overall multithreaded CPU throughput of around 20% when comparing like-for-like configurations.
Practical benefits claimed include faster local large language model workloads, quicker rendering for creative apps, and higher frame rates in games.
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro features the M5 chip, faster AI performance and storage. | Image: Apple
The machine has familiar pro touches. There is a Liquid Retina XDR display, a 12 megapixel Center Stage webcam, a six speaker audio system, a range of ports and the new macOS Tahoe operating system with tighter Apple Intelligence features.
Apple also emphasised battery life, stating up to 24 hours in certain configurations and claiming fast charging up to 50% in 30 minutes with a suitable 96-watt or higher USB-C adapter.
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 starts at Rs 169,900 and education pricing starts at Rs 159,900. It is offered in space black and silver, and pre-orders begin today with retail availability from October 22.
iPad Pro with M5
The new iPad Pro family receives the M5 upgrade in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes.
According to Apple, this is a big leap for AI on iPad, with claims of up to 3.5 times faster AI performance compared with an M4 iPad Pro and up to 5.6 times faster than the original M1 iPad Pro.
The chip improvements are shown as benefits for on-device diffusion image generation, video masking, 3D rendering and other tasks that are increasingly shifting to the tablet form factor.
The new iPad Pro with M5 unlocks the most advanced iPad experience ever, packing an significant amount of power and AI performance into the ultraportable design. | Image: Apple
For connectivity, Apple introduced two custom chips in iPad Pro models. N1 is a wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. C1X is a cellular modem for the cellular models and is said to offer up to 50% faster cellular data performance than the prior generation while using less power.
Apple has also upgraded storage and memory options. The 11-inch and 13-inch models come in 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB capacities.
The 11-inch Wi-Fi model starts at Rs 99,990 and the Wi-Fi plus Cellular model starts at Rs 119,900. The 13-inch Wi-Fi model starts at Rs 129,900 and the Wi-Fi plus Cellular model starts at Rs 149,900. Education prices reduce those starting figures to Rs 89,900 for the 11-inch and Rs 109,900 for the 13-inch.
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Apple Vision Pro with M5
Apple has also upgraded Vision Pro with the M5 chip and a new Dual Knit Band for improved comfort.
The M5 brings higher multithreaded CPU performance, a 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, and a 16-core Neural Engine that Apple says delivers up to 50% faster system AI experiences and up to twice the app performance for some third party titles.
The headset renders about 10% more pixels on its micro-OLED displays and can increase refresh rates up to 120 Hz, which according to Apple, reduces motion blur and sharpens detail.
The upgraded Apple Vision Pro features the M5 chip, the Dual Knit Band, innovative features with visionOS 26, and all-new spatial apps and Apple Immersive content. | Image: Apple
The new Dual Knit Band is a fabric strap with a counterweight and fit dial meant to make longer sessions more comfortable.
Battery life is increased to about 2.5 hours of general use and around 3 hours of video playback on a single charge, and the unit ships with a battery and accessories such as a 40 watt dynamic power adapter.
Vision Pro remains a high-end product and Apple has kept its pricing in that bracket. The new models start at $3,499 and are available with 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB storage. Availability is staggered by market. Pre-orders are open in select countries.
Edited by Affirunisa Kankudti
Original Article
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