Apple’s recent pattern with new MacBook Pro models has been to launch them in the fall. But recently Bloomberg indicated that may not happen this year, and now a second source has chimed in to support a later launch date.
Ming-Chi Kuo says M5 MacBook Pro is a 2026 product
Today in a research note largely about the iPhone 18’s A20 chip and its supplier, Ming-Chi Kuo also referenced Apple’s M5 MacBook Pro.
More precisely, Kuo mentions “high-end M5 processors in the 2026 MacBooks.”
This must refer to the M5 MacBook Pro because it is the only MacBook that receives “high-end” versions of Apple’s processors.
Apple is expected to launch its M5 MacBook Air in early 2026, but the MacBook Air typically only comes with the standard M-class chip.
MacBook Pro, meanwhile, always offers higher-end Pro and Max chip variants.
Thus, Kuo appears to be saying that the M5 MacBook Pro won’t arrive until 2026.
This isn’t a huge surprise based on what Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has been reporting. But it does make it less likely than ever that we’ll see a new MacBook Pro before the year ends.
Does this mean Apple has run into issues with its higher-end M5 chips? It’s possible.
The base M5 is still expected to debut this fall in the new iPad Pro, so there don’t appear to be delays to the M5 line altogether, only select variants.
However, Apple could instead be holding off so it can launch the M5 MacBook Pro alongside a rumored new external display.
In any case, if you’re waiting to upgrade your MacBook Pro, it sounds like the wait may be a little longer than expected.
Best Mac accessories