- 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources
- 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain
- 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence
- 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence
- 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources
50%
Plausible
Apple has announced that it will host a product launch on March 4, which can potentially be the date for its M5 Pro and M5 Max that will be found in updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. One of the chipsets’ biggest highlights is that both SoCs will switch to TSMC’s 2.5D chiplet design as Apple moves away from InFO technology (Integrated Fan-Out).
This transition helps to improve heat dissipation and reduce defective chip rates, but there’s one obstacle that the technology giant has been unable to scale for two generations, and that is raising the total number of CPU and GPU cores. According to a new discussion happening on Reddit, the chiplet design could allow the M5 Pro and M5 Max to pack additional CPU and GPU cores, plus other advantages.
With the CPU and GPU present on individual blocks, the M5 Pro and M5 Max will no longer be thermally or electrically constrained
While the new chiplet design is already rumored to increase the transistor count for Apple’s upcoming silicon, a detailed explanation from Redditor One_TrackMinded has provided an in-depth look at the M5 Pro and M5 Max layout. The majority of addressed problems, such as thermal and electrical contamination, have been discussed previously, as is the issue of increased temperatures, which the M5 suffers from when stressed too hard.
However, what caught our eye was that, with the new chiplet design, Apple can incorporate higher CPU and GPU cores into the M5 Pro and M5 Max. To recap, both the M3 Max and M4 Max were limited to up to a 14-core CPU and up to a 40-core GPU, and the M5 Max may have witnessed the same specifications ceiling had the Cupertino firm retained the InFO packaging.
With both the CPU and GPU present on separate blocks, even the M5 Pro could offer a powerful configuration without customers having to spend a small fortune on M5 Max MacBook Pro models. While Apple hasn’t confirmed this chiplet design, it appears to be the most obvious direction, as chipsets are growing in size and complexity.
Additionally, an analysis by YouTuber Max Tech states that the reason the M5 Pro wasn’t referenced in iOS 26.3 Beta code was that it is just a rebranded M5 Max thanks to the chiplet design. As always, we will keep our fingers crossed for Apple’s product launch in March, so stay tuned for more updates.
News Source: Reddit
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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