In the AI race, there’s no question that Apple is trailing behind its rivals, despite the fact that it has been enjoying the past few quarters thanks to its hardware sales going through the roof. Fortunately, WWDC 2026 could put an end to all the doubters who have concluded that the technology giant isn’t serious about this category.
While the keynote has exclusively been focused on software, a report states that the M5 Ultra could make a surprise appearance as part of the company’s push to display the capabilities of its most powerful SoC, including running several billion-parameter AI models thanks to sporting heaps of unified memory.
Official release of M5 Ultra may happen in Q4, with Apple possibly showcasing the new UltraFusion architecture with the M5 Max’s Fusion Architecture
It’s unclear what kind of features will be previewed for macOS 27 in a couple of hours, but we wouldn’t be surprised to witness a revamped version of Siri that’s given a strong boost with the help of Google’s Gemini. Additionally, Commercial Times reports that the M5 Ultra could be previewed, showcasing the best of TSMC’s 3nm N3P process coupled with Apple’s Fusion Architecture used for the M5 Pro and M5 Max.
Based on earlier predictions, the UltraFusion architecture could make a return for the M5 Ultra, with the latter relying on two M5 Max dies combined together to form a single solution. The paper specifications mentioned in the report are beyond impressive, with the M5 Ultra capable of attaining a 1,000GB/s per unified memory bandwidth, along with supporting up to 512GB of unified RAM.
In comparison, the M5 Max can only support up to 128GB of unified memory, along with a 614GB/s memory bandwidth. In short, those ambitious enough to run billion-parameter or even 1 trillion-parameter models will be extremely ecstatic if the M5 Ultra gets demoed on stage. Other details include a whopping 36-core CPU and an 84-core GPU, bringing compute and graphics performance to the next echelon.
Unfortunately, don’t be surprised if the M5 Ultra isn’t available to purchase immediately. With TSMC unable to meet chip demand for customers like Apple during the AI boom, the company’s workstation-class SoC may not arrive before Q4 2026. There’s currently no word on pricing, but with the Mac Pro out of the launch picture, the silicon could only power the Mac Studio.
News Source: Commercial Times
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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