Apple Orders M5 Chips From TSMC Ahead of Late 2025 Production

Apple has ordered M5 chips from TSMC as the company begins production development of its next-generation processor for future devices, reports Korean-language outlet The Elec citing Taiwanese media.

apple silicon feature joeblue
The M5 series is expected to feature an enhanced ARM architecture and will reportedly be manufactured using TSMC's advanced 3-nanometer process technology. Apple's decision to forgo TSMC's more advanced 2nm process for the M5 chip is believed to be primarily due to cost considerations. Despite this, the M5 will feature significant advancements over the M4, notably through the adoption of TSMC's System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) technology.

This 3D chip-stacking approach enhances thermal management and reduces electrical leakage compared to traditional 2D designs. Apple is said to have expanded its cooperation with TSMC on the next-generation hybrid SoIC package, which also combines thermoplastic carbon fiber composite molding technology. The package reportedly entered a small trial production phase in July.

Apple's forthcoming M5 chip is anticipated to bring significant enhancements in performance and efficiency across various devices. Production could begin as early as the second half of 2025, with the first M5-equipped devices potentially launching by the end of next year or early 2026. Assuming Apple maintains its typical upgrade cycle for its custom silicon, here are the devices we're expecting to benefit first:

  • iPad Pro: M5 chips could debut in the devices in late 2025 or early-to-mid 2026.
  • MacBook Pro: Models featuring M5 series chips are anticipated in late 2025.
  • MacBook Air: M5 variants will likely arrive in early 2026.
  • Apple Vision Pro: An updated version of the headset incorporating the M5 chip is expected between the fall of 2025 and spring of 2026.

References to what are believed to be Apple's M5 chip have already been discovered in official Apple code. According to one report, thanks to its dual-use SoIC design, Apple also plans to deploy the M5 chip within its AI server infrastructure to bolster AI capabilities across both consumer devices and cloud services.

Today's report reinforces Apple's continued reliance on TSMC as its exclusive chip manufacturing partner. The Taiwanese foundry has been crucial to Apple's successful transition away from Intel processors beginning in 2020, with the company unable to produce its custom chips without TSMC's advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Tags: M5, The Elec, TSMC

Popular Stories

carplay next gen hero

RIP, CarPlay 2?

Sunday December 29, 2024 7:32 am PST by
Apple's website continues to state that the first vehicle models with next-generation CarPlay will "arrive in 2024." With less than three days remaining in the year, however, that timeframe is looking more and more unlikely. It would not be entirely Apple's fault if the stated 2024 target is missed, given that it is ultimately up to automakers to roll out the software in vehicles, but it is...
apple vision pro

Apple Vision Pro May Now Be Out of Production

Tuesday December 31, 2024 2:00 pm PST by
Apple's first-generation Vision Pro headset may have now ceased production, following reports of reduced demand and production cuts earlier in the year. In October, The Information's Wayne Ma reported that Apple had abruptly reduced production of the Vision Pro headset ahead of potential plans to stop making the current version of the device completely by the end of 2024. With the year now...
Sudoku Apple News iOS 18

iOS 18.2 Added a New Game to Your iPhone

Saturday December 28, 2024 12:03 pm PST by
Starting with iOS 18.2, released earlier this month, Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S. have access to daily sudoku puzzles in the Apple News app. There are easy, moderate, and challenging difficulty levels for the daily puzzles. A scoreboard tracks your sudoku stats, including your total number of puzzles solved, fastest completion times per difficulty level, and more. Sudoku is the...
Apple TV Plus Black Banner

Apple TV+ Announces Free Weekend [Updated]

Monday December 30, 2024 6:21 am PST by
Apple TV+ is set to be available to stream for free from Friday, January 3 to Sunday, January 5, providing its full catalog with no subscription fee. Following a series of teasers, Apple confirmed the free weekend on social media, building anticipation for new releases early in 2025 such as the second season of "Severance." Simply open the Apple TV app to watch for free. Apple has never...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

Five Apple Intelligence Features Coming in 2025

Friday December 27, 2024 2:43 pm PST by
Even though iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2 added multiple Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools, and more, there are still new Apple Intelligence capabilities that we're waiting on. Apple has at least one more major Apple Intelligence update coming in 2025, and the functionality that we're expecting is outlined below. Priority Notifications Notification summaries...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Expected Next Year: Here's What We Know

Monday December 23, 2024 4:18 am PST by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch sometime in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as...
New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

22 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Monday December 23, 2024 6:30 am PST by
Apple released iOS 18.2 in the second week of December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. Apple has added a handful of new non-AI related feature controls as...

Top Rated Comments

lmddawson Avatar
5 weeks ago

Yearly updates of Macs is a bit too much.
This forum will always find something to complain about.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redbeard331 Avatar
5 weeks ago
This 3D chip-stacking approach enhances thermal management and reduces electrical leakage compared to traditional 2D designs. Apple is said to have expanded its cooperation with TSMC on the next-generation hybrid SoIC package, which also combines thermoplastic carbon fiber composite molding technology. The package reportedly entered a small trial production phase in July.
Ordered.


Apple's decision to forgo TSMC's more advanced 2nm process for the M5 chip is believed to be primarily due to cost considerations.
Cancelled my order.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
frogleader12 Avatar
5 weeks ago

Yearly updates of Macs is a bit too much.
more updates is always good, we get more performance improvements
the problem is your FOMO
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PsykX Avatar
5 weeks ago

Yearly updates of Macs is a bit too much.
Disagree 1000%.

Macs have been left behind and received random updates between around 2013 and 2020. I am SO glad they're on a yearly update schedule, for me it makes perfect sense.

Nobody needs to upgrade every year anyways - this is not the purpose. Apple need to always be at the top of their game against their competitors, who themselves upgrade on a yearly basis.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrbobdobolina Avatar
5 weeks ago
I'd be nice if they actually updated *all* the computers though... The Mac Studio & Mac Pro are is still using the M2... will they get the M5? Or or the M4? (Or the M3?)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chuckeee Avatar
5 weeks ago

Yearly updates of Macs is a bit too much.
It is just like automobiles:
There are new models released annually
They don’t expect most customers to update annually
It is a standard across the industry, if they didn’t update annually it would be decremental to their status in the marketplace
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)