The next big iPad Pro refresh will arrive in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, according to a new report. The upgraded M5 iPad Pro reportedly will be the first product to use the next-gen Apple silicon chip.
Apple surprised everyone by launching this year’s iPad Pro refresh with an M4 chip.
M5 iPad Pro should enter mass production in second half of 2025
Apple typically operates on a 12-to-18-month upgrade cycle for its iPad Pro lineup. The M4 iPad Pro launched in May 2024, arriving 19 months after its M2 predecessor. More importantly, it skipped an entire generation of Apple silicon, debuting with a faster and more efficient 3nm SoC. The new M4 chip went well with the 2024 iPad Pro’s slimmer design and upgraded Tandem OLED displays.
TF International securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the M5 iPad Pro will go into mass production in the second half of 2025. A launch in September or October seems plausible.
In his latest Medium post, Kuo says Apple’s business momentum will see a notable uptick in H2 2025 following the launch of several new products.
M5 chip to bring modest performance gains
Given that the M4 iPad Pro introduced major design and internal changes, next year’s refresh is unlikely to pack any notable changes. Even the M5 SoC is likely to bring only minor performance and efficiency improvements. Reports suggest it will still be fabricated on TSMC’s 3nm node, albeit on a newer generation for better transistor density.
Following the iPad Pro, Apple undoubtedly will use the same M5 chip on its 2025 MacBook Pro lineup. Even the next-gen Vision Pro is rumored to use the M5 chip.
