Apple's iPad lineup is poised for significant updates throughout 2025, with the tech giant planning a strategic rollout of new models across different segments of its tablet portfolio. While earlier models are expected in spring, the highly anticipated M5-equipped iPad Pro might not arrive until the year's end or early 2026.
Spring 2025 iPad Updates
The first wave of iPad refreshes is expected to arrive in spring 2025, featuring new versions of the standard iPad 11 and iPad Air. These updates will primarily focus on performance improvements, with the base iPad 11 maintaining its current design language while gaining capabilities to support Apple Intelligence features.
M5 Chip Development
The development of Apple's next-generation M5 chip is well underway, marking a significant technological advancement in the company's silicon strategy. The new chip is expected to incorporate TSMC's Small Outline Integrated Circuit Packaging (SoIC) technology, which enables three-dimensional chip stacking for improved thermal management and electrical performance. However, contrary to earlier speculation, the M5 is unlikely to utilize TSMC's 2nm process due to high wafer costs, with this transition more likely to occur in 2026.
iPad Pro Timeline and Expectations
Following Apple's recent pattern of approximately 18-month refresh cycles for the iPad Pro line, the M5-equipped models are anticipated to launch either in late 2025 or the first half of 2026. This timeline aligns with the development schedule of the M5 chip and follows the current generation's release pattern. Given that the current iPad Pro models received a significant design update just six months ago, the M5 version is expected to maintain the same physical design while focusing on internal performance improvements.
Market Strategy
Apple's staggered release approach for its iPad lineup demonstrates a careful balance between maintaining product cycles and technological advancement. The company appears to be prioritizing meaningful performance upgrades while avoiding unnecessary design changes, ensuring that each new release offers tangible benefits to users. This strategy also allows Apple to maintain different price points and feature sets across its tablet range, catering to various user needs and preferences.
