When Apple unveiled the MacBook Air M5 and MacBook Pro M5 Pro/M5 Max in March, it marked the beginning of the M5 generation — not the end. Several desktop Macs are still running previous-generation silicon, and all signs point to a wave of upgrades arriving in the coming months.
The most anticipated update is the Mac Studio. According to multiple reports from Bloomberg, AppleInsider, and MacRumors, Apple is preparing Mac Studio models powered by the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, with a launch window around WWDC in June 2026. The timing makes strategic sense: WWDC traditionally serves as Apple's platform to showcase professional-grade hardware alongside new software capabilities.
The M5 Ultra is particularly noteworthy because Apple effectively skipped the M4 Ultra entirely. The company never shipped an M4 Ultra chip in any product, choosing instead to jump directly from the M3 Ultra to the M5 Ultra. This means the new chip represents two generations of architectural improvements in a single leap.
Based on Apple's established "Ultra = two Max chips fused together" approach, the M5 Ultra is expected to feature a 36-core CPU and an 80-core GPU, with significantly higher unified memory bandwidth than its M3 Ultra predecessor. For creative professionals working with 8K video, large 3D scenes, or complex machine learning models, the performance gains could be substantial.
The Mac mini is also in line for an M5 refresh. Current expectations place new Mac mini models with M5 and M5 Pro chips in the mid-2026 timeframe, likely alongside or shortly after the Mac Studio. The compact desktop has become one of Apple's best-selling Macs thanks to its aggressive pricing and surprisingly capable performance, and an M5 update would further cement its position.
An M5 iMac is also expected before the end of 2026, though its timeline is less certain. Some analysts suggest it could arrive alongside the Mac mini, while others place it later in the fall alongside new iPhones.
The Mac Pro remains the wildcard. Apple's most expensive desktop has historically been the last to receive chip updates, and there's been little concrete information about an M5 Extreme or M5 Ultra Mac Pro for 2026. Professional users waiting for the tower form factor may need to exercise patience into 2027.
For now, one thing is clear: the M5 generation is far from complete. The laptops were just the opening act — the real performance showcase arrives this summer.