According to 9to5Mac, Apple plans to launch M5 Ultra and M5 Max chip options for Mac Studio next year in 2025. This comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who also mentions new M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini models arriving around the same time. The M4 chip generation notably skipped an Ultra version, creating a confusing situation where Apple’s latest Mac Studio offered both M3 Ultra and M4 Max chips simultaneously. This forced pro users to choose between the most powerful overall chip and the newer generation with potentially better single-threaded performance. Gurman doesn’t mention any other Macs getting the M5 Ultra, though a Mac Pro with the chip could potentially arrive in 2026 if still in development.
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The mixed-generations mess
Here’s the thing about Apple‘s current chip strategy: it created a real headache for serious users. When you’re dropping thousands on a workstation, you shouldn’t have to choose between “most powerful” and “newest generation.” That M3 Ultra versus M4 Max dilemma was basically Apple admitting they couldn’t get their timing right. And for professionals whose workflows depend on specific performance characteristics, that’s not a fun position to be in.
Pro user relief
So this return to same-generation Ultra and Max options is definitely welcome news. The Mac Studio has become the sweet spot for many creative professionals who need serious power without the expandability (and cost) of the Mac Pro. Having both chips from the M5 family means buyers can make a clean decision based on their actual performance needs rather than generational compromises. It’s one less thing to stress about when configuring a system that needs to last several years.
What about the Mac Pro?
Now here’s where things get interesting. Gurman doesn’t mention the Mac Pro getting the M5 Ultra, which seems odd. The Mac Pro is supposed to be Apple’s ultimate workstation, but it’s been stuck with the M2 Ultra while the Studio got the M3 Ultra. If Apple continues this pattern, will the Mac Pro become an afterthought? Or are they planning something bigger that needs more development time? Follow 9to5Mac on Twitter for the latest updates as this story develops.
Timing questions remain
The report says “next year” for these M5 models, but Apple’s chip release schedule has been anything but predictable lately. Will we see a full M5 family rollout in one go? Or will they stagger releases again, potentially creating another awkward situation? And let’s be real – after the M4 only went to iPads and MacBook Air initially, who knows what Apple’s actual plan is anymore. For deeper analysis, check out 9to5Mac’s YouTube channel where they regularly break down these chip rumors.
