M5: Apple’s Next Super-Powered Chip for the iPad Pro—Not Overkill, Just Irrelevant 

Published: Feb 07, 2025, 9:39 AM 

In 2023, when rumors circulated that Oppo and OnePlus were developing smartphones with 24 GB of RAM, I referenced Motörhead's iconic 1979 album "Overkill."

As we step into 2025, some smartphones are already shipping with 16 GB of RAM, and it won’t be long before 24 GB becomes commonplace. This trend is fueled by the tech industry's obsession with integrating more AI capabilities into devices, which often demand substantial RAM.

Now, I'm tempted to revisit the "Overkill" theme, this time focusing on Apple and its iPads, particularly the powerful iPad Pro. Reports indicate that Apple has begun production of its M5 chip.

If you’re familiar with Apple’s developments, you know how impressive the M4 chip has been. It’s logical to assume that the M5 will be even more powerful, faster, and more efficient than its predecessor.

However, the term "overkill" typically refers to an excessive amount of something beyond necessity. In the context of smartphone RAM, 24 GB was indeed overkill for 2023. Yet, the M5 chip seems set to be overkill to the point of irrelevance. According to reports, the M5 won’t deliver the significant leap many anticipated; it won’t be as groundbreaking as some had hoped.

Apple has started mass production of the M5 chip, which is expected to debut in the next iPad Pro. While the M5 will offer improvements, it won’t represent a substantial upgrade. The chip will continue to utilize TSMC’s 3 nm process, just like the M3 and M4, rather than adopting the more advanced 2 nm technology.

In mobile devices, the nanometer (nm) measurement indicates the size of components within the chip. Generally, a smaller nm number signifies a more advanced chip that consumes less power while delivering greater performance.

Although Apple is sticking with the 3 nm process for the M5 instead of moving to 2 nm, this doesn’t tell the full story. Today, nanometer measurements are more about generational labeling than just size.

Even without transitioning to the latest manufacturing process, Apple is enhancing efficiency by stacking more circuit layers. This means the M5 should perform better while consuming less power, despite the unchanged nanometer size.

This decision likely stems from cost considerations, especially with potential tariffs. However, Apple’s new assembly method allows for more circuit layers to be stacked, boosting efficiency while maintaining the 3 nm design.

Claiming to produce the most powerful product only holds weight for so long; overuse of such claims can diminish their impact.

The 2024 iPad Pro (M4) is a powerhouse and will remain relevant for years. Consequently, the iPad Pro (M5), being an incremental upgrade, feels somewhat irrelevant to me.

We still utilize 2020 and 2021 iPad Pro models in the office (with A12Z and M1 chips)—they perform excellently and are significantly cheaper than the M4 or the upcoming M5 models.