Apple's M5 iPad Pro Enters Advanced Testing for 2025 Launch [Gurman]

Apple is working to bring its next-generation M5 chip to the iPad Pro and has begun advanced testing of the next generation device, according to a new report from Mark Gurman. In a newsletter to subscribers, Gurman says the company is positioning the iPad Pro as one of the first products to feature the M5, signalling a significant upgrade for its premium tablet line later this year.

The new iPad Pro models, identified by internal code names J817, J818, J820, and J821, are allegedly in the late stages of testing within Apple's labs. Production is slated to begin in the second half of 2025, putting the devices on track for a launch before the year ends. Alongside this, Apple is said to have already kicked off early development of M6-powered iPads, which will integrate in-house modem chips. Those models are being eyed for a 2027 release, marking a longer-term shift toward Apple's own connectivity solutions.

Just this month, Apple updated the iPad Air ($50 off) and the entry-level iPad ($20 off) with new features and performance boosts. The iPad mini, refreshed late last year, didn't join this round of updates. The iPad Pro, last overhauled in May 2024 with a sleeker design and the M4 chip, also skipped this cycle. Gurman notes that Apple sees the iPad Air as a key sales driver, with the category posting double-digit revenue growth over the holiday season. Meanwhile, a simpler "chip-and-ship" refresh for the low-end iPad, focused primarily on a processor upgrade, is already in the works for a future release.


Details on the M5 iPad Pro's specific features remain under wraps, but its advanced testing phase suggests Apple is moving swiftly to keep its flagship tablet at the cutting edge.

We'll let you know when more details surface on the M5 iPad Pro's release schedule. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for updates.