While Qualcomm challenges Intel in the laptop processor market, Apple is quietly executing an ambitious silicon roadmap that extends well beyond its upcoming M5 chip.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's silicon design team is simultaneously developing multiple generations of processors. The M5 chip, built on TSMC's enhanced 3nm N3P process, is expected to debut in MacBook Pro models in late 2025, followed by the iPad Pro in early 2026. This represents a shift from Apple's previous pattern, where the iPad Pro received the M4 chip before the MacBook Pro.
More surprisingly, Apple is already working on the M6 chip (codenamed 'Komodo') and M7 chip ('Borneo'), likely targeting 2026 and 2027 releases respectively. The M6 is expected to be Apple's first processor manufactured on TSMC's 2nm process, promising significant performance and efficiency gains. There's also mention of an even more advanced Mac-related system-on-chip in development under the codename 'Sotra,' though details remain scarce.
Beyond consumer devices, Apple is developing specialized AI server chips under the 'Baltra' project, reportedly in collaboration with Broadcom. These processors would replace the M2 Ultra chips currently powering Apple's cloud-based AI features. According to industry sources, Apple is experimenting with designs featuring two to eight times the number of CPU and GPU cores found in the high-end M3 Ultra, potentially delivering massive AI processing capabilities by the project's expected 2027 completion.
The M5 MacBook Pro, expected to launch around October 2025, will likely be a modest upgrade focused primarily on the new chip. Performance gains are expected to be in the 15-25% range compared to the M4, with possible additions like Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 support. A more substantial redesign featuring OLED displays isn't anticipated until 2026.
This accelerated chip development underscores Apple's commitment to advancing its AI capabilities while maintaining its edge in performance-per-watt efficiency, a hallmark of Apple Silicon since its introduction in 2020.