Apple isn't resting on the laurels of its current chips. While the M5 chip isn't expected until late 2025, internal development for the next generations – the M6 and M7 – is already underway. The company is also working on a new AI chip for its server infrastructure, which should provide greater performance for Apple Intelligence in the long term.
The current M4 chip was introduced in May 2024 and first used in the iPad Pro. The iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro followed in October 2024, and finally the MacBook Air in March 2025. Now the M5 is already in the starting blocks. Even more exciting, however, is that Apple is already working on the successor chips, the M6 ("Komodo") and M7 ("Borneo") – and on a new processor for AI servers that will replace the current M2 Ultra.
The M5 will arrive at the end of 2025 – but Apple is already planning ahead
According to current information, the M5 chip is scheduled to debut in the MacBook Pro towards the end of 2025. A new design is unlikely. The iPad Pro with the M5 is also planned and is reportedly already in the testing phase. The Apple Vision Pro is also being discussed as a possible application for the M5. Technically, the M5 will be based on the M4 but will be more powerful – however, exact details have not yet been announced.
M6 (“Komodo”) and M7 (“Borneo”) – the next chip generation is in the works
According to Bloomberg, Apple is currently developing two new chip generations, internally codenamed "Komodo" (M6) and "Borneo" (M7). These chips are intended for future iPad and Mac models. Again, no technical details are available yet, but early development shows that Apple is planning its roadmap for the long term. Another project involves a system-on-chip for the Mac, codenamed "Sotra," about which little information is available so far—except that it is also in the works.
Apple's new AI server chip is called "Baltra"
In addition to chips for end devices, Cupertino is also planning a new server chip specifically designed for AI tasks. The project's codename is "Baltra." The chip is intended to replace the current M2 Ultra in Apple's data centers, where it is currently used for remote queries from Apple Intelligence. Development is underway in collaboration with Broadcom, and completion is planned for 2027 at the latest. According to the report, Apple is testing various configurations—with two, four, or even six times as many CPU and GPU cores as the current M3 Ultra. This should significantly increase computing power for AI. The goal is to make Apple Intelligence faster and more powerful in the future (via Bloomberg).
Conflicting reports on AI strategy
Cupertino's approach to AI is not entirely consistent. As early as March 2025, it was reported that Apple was investing in AI servers from Nvidia – suggesting that Apple is also relying on third-party solutions. In April 2025, a rumor surfaced that Apple was collaborating with a Japanese chip manufacturer to develop its own AI components. It appears that Apple is exploring several options to protect itself technologically.
Apple thinks further – far beyond the M5 chip
Even though the M5 chip won't be released until the end of 2025, it's clear that Apple is already thinking several steps ahead. With the planned M6 and M7 chips, as well as the AI server processor "Baltra," the company is working on the next stage of technology. While concrete technical details are still lacking, the direction is clear: more performance, more AI, more control over its own infrastructure. If you use Apple products or follow developments in the tech sector, the next few years will definitely not be boring. (Image: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff)
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