The M5 iPad Pro unboxing video has thrown some positive signals that Apple could also announce the M5 MacBook Pro before 2025 draws to a close, but a more solid confirmation has been provided in leaked macOS Tahoe code that suggests a potential launch could happen later this month. Unfortunately, Apple will go against its typical unveiling strategy because the M5 Pro and M5 Max versions are expected much later.
Code details unearthed in macOS Tahoe hint that M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models will launch in early 2026
A Mac with the unique identifier J704 was spotted in macOS Tahoe version 26.0.2, with AppleInsider reporting that this might be the M5 MacBook Pro, whose launch is around the corner. For reference, the M4 MacBook Pro features the unique identifier J604, providing further evidence that a newer version could be announced sooner.
If leaked macOS Tahoe code was not sufficient, the portable Mac also appeared in FCC filings, with stock for Apple’s M4 MacBook Pro family slowly declining to make way for the newer machines. The M5 offers a decent performance gain over the M4, particularly in GPU performance, despite the Apple Silicon sporting an unchanged 9-core CPU configuration in the previously leaked iPad Pro.
Our specifications comparison also mentioned that the new chipset now features 6MB of L2 cache over the 4MB on the M4. However, it is unclear if this configuration will debut with the M5 MacBook Pro, because the base M4 MacBook Pro shipped with a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.
When are the M5 Pro and M5 Max models expected?
Buyers requiring increased CPU and GPU core counts with their new MacBook Pro hardware will have to wait a while, because the leaked code suggests that both the 14-inch and 16-inch versions are expected to ship with macOS Tahoe 26.3. The machines sport the unique identifiers J714 and J716, and based on Apple’s software launch timeline, the more powerful chipsets will not share the same press release as the M5.
For reference, macOS 15.3 became available to the masses in January 2025, but since this is a leak, there is no explanation provided as to why the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models will be delayed. Fortunately, YouTuber Vadim Yuryev believes the delay is associated with Apple shifting to a new chip design with separate CPU and GPU blocks, allowing users to set their desired number of compute and graphics processing cores.
Of course, the actual reason could be entirely different, but Apple has been reported to switch to TSMC’s SoIC-MH packaging for the M5 Pro and M5 Max. In any case, we will wait for further updates to arrive, and like always, our readers will be informed accordingly.
News Source: AppleInsider
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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