Apple’s Touchscreen MacBook Pros Will Use M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips

*Bloomberg reports show Apple will skip M6 Pro and M6 Max chips for the first touchscreen models and move straight to the M7 generation afterward.*

Apple plans to equip its initial touchscreen MacBook Pros with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips already shipping in current models. The company will release a base M6 chip but will not produce higher-binned M6 Pro or M6 Max variants.

This approach marks a shift from Apple’s recent pattern of introducing full chip families at each generation. Reports from Bloomberg, cited by 9to5Mac and Thurrott, state that development resources will move directly to the M7 lineup after the base M6.

What the reports say

The M5 Pro and M5 Max parts in question are the same silicon that powers MacBook Pros released in March. No new higher-performance variants will appear under the M6 label for the touchscreen hardware. The base M6 is still expected, after which Apple intends to accelerate work on the following generation.

Thurrott’s summary aligns with the 9to5Mac coverage: the first touchscreen MacBook Pros will reuse existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips rather than wait for new silicon.

Why it matters

Reusing current high-end chips for a new form factor suggests Apple is prioritizing the display change over a processor upgrade in this cycle. Engineers and buyers who expected a full M6 Pro/Max refresh will instead see familiar performance levels paired with the new screen. The decision also compresses the usual two-year cadence between major silicon tiers, which may affect component planning for accessory makers and enterprise refresh cycles that track Apple’s chip releases.

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Sources:

• 9to5Mac
• 9to5Mac
• Thurrott

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