Apple has announced M5, its next-generation Apple silicon built on third-generation 3-nanometre technology. The company says M5 delivers the next big leap in AI performance, pairing a more powerful CPU with a new 10-core GPU architecture that places a dedicated Neural Accelerator inside every GPU core. In headline terms, Apple is claiming over 4x the peak GPU compute performance for AI compared to M4, alongside a faster 16-core Neural Engine and a near 30 per cent uplift in unified memory bandwidth to 153 GB/s. The chip will debut in a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro, the new iPad Pro, and the latest Apple Vision Pro.
At the heart of M5 is that reworked GPU. Each of the 10 cores integrates a Neural Accelerator, so GPU-based AI workloads such as diffusion image generation and local large language models can run dramatically faster on the device. Apple says peak GPU compute for AI rises more than sixfold versus M1 and more than fourfold versus M4, while third-generation ray tracing and enhanced shader cores push graphics performance up to 45 per cent compared to M4. The company has also rearchitected its dynamic caching to keep frames smooth, visuals more realistic in 3D apps, and render times shorter for creators.
14-inch MacBook Pro with M5
Apple’s new 14-inch MacBook Pro pairs M5 with faster SSDs, a Liquid Retina XDR display with an optional nano-texture finish, a 12 MP Centre Stage camera, six-speaker audio, and a wide range of ports.
Apple claims up to 24 hours of battery life and the same high performance whether on battery or plugged in.
For AI and pro workflows, Apple highlights much faster performance in Topaz Video, Blender, and Xcode compared with earlier Apple silicon. The machine supports running larger on-device models thanks to the unified memory design and bandwidth gains, and can be configured with up to 4 TB of storage.
Singapore availability: Pre-orders open Friday, October 17. Retail availability begins Wednesday, October 22. Starting price is S$2,199, or S$2,049 with education pricing.
iPad Pro with M5
The latest iPad Pro brings the same M5 architecture to an ultraportable form factor. Apple says AI throughput is up to 3.5x compared to the M4 iPad Pro, with big gains for on-device diffusion image generation, AI masking in creative apps, and ray-traced 3D.
The tablet adds the Apple-designed N1 networking chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, while cellular models use the C1X modem for faster and more efficient mobile data.
iPadOS 26 introduces a new windowing system, a refreshed design, and pro features such as Background Tasks and a more capable Files app, aiming to make multi-app creative and professional work smoother.
Singapore availability: In stores from Wednesday, October 22. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, silver or space black, with multiple storage tiers and education pricing.
Apple Vision Pro with M5 and Dual Knit Band
Apple Vision Pro moves to M5 for sharper rendering on the micro-OLED displays, support for refresh rates up to 120 Hz, and faster system responsiveness.
Apple says the headset now renders 10 per cent more pixels, reduces motion blur, and extends battery life to as much as two and a half hours of general use or three hours of video playback on a single charge.
The 16-core Neural Engine accelerates AI features such as Personas and spatial photo transforms, and developers can tap the Foundation Models framework for on-device intelligence.
A new Dual Knit Band with an upper and lower strap improves comfort, balance, and fit, and is compatible with the previous generation.
Singapore availability: Pre-orders begin Friday, October 17, with in-store availability on Wednesday, October 22. Starts at S$4,999 with 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB options. The Dual Knit Band is included and sold separately as an accessory.
Find out more at apple.com/sg/.
