Apple reportedly developing M5 Ultra chip for next-gen Mac Studio and Mac Pro launch in 2026

Apple Mac Studio

Apple is preparing to introduce a new M5 Ultra chip for the Mac Studio in 2026, according to a report from Bloomberg. The chip is expected to represent the next leap in Apple’s high-performance silicon lineup and could also power a refreshed Mac Pro.

While Apple doesn’t release an “Ultra” variant with every chip generation, the company appears committed to bringing the Ultra back for the M5 family. The M5 Ultra is likely to follow Apple’s established release pattern — debuting after the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which are expected to arrive in early 2026. Based on past timelines, the M5 Ultra could launch around mid to late 2026, possibly during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference or a September hardware event.

The standard M5 chip has already been introduced in the latest MacBook Pro models, delivering better efficiency and performance gains over the M4 series. However, Apple skipped the M4 Ultra entirely, citing hardware limitations. The M4 Max lacked the UltraFusion connector, a proprietary interconnect Apple uses to fuse two Max chips into one Ultra processor.

The M5 Max is said to restore that capability, paving the way for the M5 Ultra to return as Apple’s flagship desktop chip. The new Ultra variant is expected to bring significant improvements in GPU performance, AI processing, and memory bandwidth — all aimed at professional workloads like video production, 3D rendering, and machine learning.

There are no confirmed design changes for the next Mac Studio, suggesting Apple may focus primarily on internal upgrades and thermal optimisation. Bloomberg also notes that Apple is working on two new external displays, with at least one of them likely to debut alongside the 2026 Mac Studio refresh.