We ’ve not yet seen the full rollout of Apple’sM4 chipfamily — theM4 Ultrais still yet to make an visual aspect — but already we ’ve just learn that theM5 flake is now in production . That means it ’ll probably arrive in Macs either late this year or early next twelvemonth .
If you ’ve been waiting to buy a newMacBook Pro , that could mean 2026 is the year to finally tear the trigger . After all , Apple is expected tofully redesignits flagship laptop computer for next year ’s release , and if that coincides with a muscular new M5 chip , all the honorable .
But there ’s another twist the M5 chip is rumor for : theVision Proheadset . And on that front , thing are a lot more complicated . On the surface , it await supporting . The M5 will belike convey increase functioning and better efficiency , the latter of which could lead to improved battery liveliness in the Vision Pro .
But there ’s another thing we could see when the M5 drops into the mixed - reality headset : the inclusion ofApple Intelligence , the company ’s artificial intelligence ( AI ) system . While the M2 in the live Vision Procanrun AI ( it does so in Macs , after all ) , it ca n’t do it in the Vision Pro where it also needs to handle many other heavy processing workload .
Adding artificial intelligence to the Vision Pro makes sense from Apple ’s perspective , as it ’s trying to gain a beachhead in the AI market . But does it actually make sense for Vision Pro users , both be and prospective 1 ? I ’m not so certain .
The wrong priority?
Irecently wrotethat there ’s one thing the Vision Pro needs to resurrect itself , and that ’s a inexpensive model . At $ 3,500 , the current Vision Pro is well out of the reach of most consumers , and sales are suffering as a solvent . And really , I can say that a strong chip and Apple Intelligence were not on my list of necessary improvements .
So why is Apple prioritizing a raw chip instead of a abridge - price model ? Well , a fresh physique constituent takes time to develop , especially if Apple was n’t project on launching one and was instead draw into activeness by lacklustre Vision Pro sales .
But are AI and a more powerful chip really what the headset pauperism ? It ’s already one of the most powerful and feature - richvirtual realism headsetson the market , and that ’s exactly why its Leontyne Price is so high . add up in a brand - new buffalo chip is going to do nothing to make the Vision Pro more low-priced , something that desperately needs to pass off .
As well as that , Apple Intelligence is very limited aright now . While ithas some ripe use , it will involve to be in a far better country by the meter it launches in the Vision Pro to really have any major impact ( or convince purchaser to snap one up ) .
While I can see how AI could assist Vision Pro users navigate a new interface and an unfamiliar means of operate ( just ask Siri to do something if you ca n’t find it , for illustration ) , it will be irrelevant if the headset is still too expensive for most people to really buy one .
Taking the long view
I expect that this M5 update is signify to keep the Vision Pro relevant while Apple work on amore affordable sib model , which we jazz is in development . But really , the M5 inclusion just helps to highlight how much of a drastic afterthought the Vision Pro needs . dewy-eyed chip upgrades and hokey intelligence information are n’t going to trend it .
I ’m hopeful that that kind of overhaul is exactly what Apple has planned . There ’s no motivation to ditch the current Vision Pro entirely — that can carry on as a model for enthusiasts and those for whom money is no object . For those people , the M5 chip will be a welcome rise .
But I have a bun in the oven that everyone else would be willing to bound off the M5 cow dung if it meant Apple could fetch down the cost and unloosen a more affordable headset . It ’s just a shame that the cut - Mary Leontyne Price headsetmight not launch until 2028 . Until then , Apple will have to trust upgrades like the M5 are enough to keep the great unwashed happy .
