Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.
ZDNET Highlights
- The upcoming M5 iPad Pro has already been leaked in an alleged unboxing video.
- Apple’s marketing chief Greg Joswiak has teased the launch of the new MacBook Pro.
- The new Vision Pro may feature a more comfortable “dual knit band” head strap to wear.
Over the weekend, a Bloomberg report Mark Gurman claimed that Apple is expected to announce three new “Pro” devices this week. Today, Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak teased a new product launch on X (formerly Twitter). He Posted A silhouette of what appears to be a blue MacBook Pro in the shape of a V (M5 chipset), with the caption, “Something powerful is coming.”
Apple is expected to introduce a new iPad Pro, Vision Pro, and a new base 14-inch MacBook Pro – all of which will be powered by the next-generation Apple M5 chipset. Following Joswiak’s post, it looks like the launch is imminent, and the announcement could go live tomorrow, October 15th. There won’t be any physical events, and here’s everything we know about them.
1. M5 iPad Pro
The new iPad Pro is said to have at least 12GB of RAM, an M5 chip, and two front cameras – one on each orientation. While there are no specific details about the functionality of the two front-facing cameras, they are said to offer a better video-calling experience in both portrait and landscape modes.
The M5 iPad Pro was recently leaked in a pair unboxing video By Russian YouTubers. If the video is to be believed, you can expect a familiar design without the “iPad Pro” moniker imprinted on the back of the device.
Too: iPadOS 26 is turning my iPad Air into the ultraportable laptop it was meant to be
These unboxing videos also gave us a glimpse of the Geekbench 6 results, which paint the Apple M5 as a powerful chip. It can offer up to 12% faster multi-core CPU performance and up to 36% faster GPU performance compared to the M4-powered iPad Pro.
2. A New Vision Pro
The Apple Vision Pro was one of the company’s most expensive consumer products that did not become popular. But Apple seems to be committed to this product line. The upcoming Vision Pro is said to offer a more comfortable “dual knit band” head strap and come in a brand new Space Black color option.
The M5 Vision Pro is rumored to include an R2 chip for better input processing. Although it is expected to be built on TSMC’s latest 2nm process, earlier reports have suggested that Apple’s first chips using that process won’t be ready until late next year.
Also: I finally tried Samsung’s XR headset, and it outperforms my Apple Vision Pro in meaningful ways
The new Vision Pro may weigh the same as its predecessor and may continue to support Wi-Fi 6 rather than Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 wireless connectivity.
3. 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 processor
According to Gurman, a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip is set to launch, ahead of the debut of the M5 Max and M5 Pro MacBook Pro. It is expected that there will be no significant changes in the new device apart from the chipset boost.
Too: A touchscreen MacBook could finally launch next year – as we know it
More major changes are expected to come to the higher-end MacBook Pro models with M6 processors, which are still two generations away. For example, earlier reports have pointed to a touchscreen, an OLED display, and built-in support for cellular connectivity in a slim design.
Gurman further says that the new HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTags models are “still on the road map,” but there’s no word yet on a launch timeline. This M5 product release cycle is said to be followed by an upgraded entry-level iPad and iPad Air, Studio Display, iPhone 17e, and M5 MacBook Air in early 2026.
