Apple’s high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are likely to launch in a later wave, potentially in early 2026.

M5 MacBook

Those considering a new MacBook Pro purchase may want to wait. Reports suggest that Apple’s M4 MacBook Pro, available on the company’s website and major online retailers, is becoming increasingly difficult to produce in sufficient quantities. As a result, Apple is reportedly advancing the launch of its next-generation M5 MacBook Pro, which could debut as early as October.

Supply chain data indicates that customized 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro orders are showing delayed shipping estimates extending into late October a strong sign that Apple may be clearing stock ahead of the next release.

Further intensifying the speculation, a recent filing with the Federal Communications Commission FCC listed only a single MacBook Pro model number an unusual move that suggests Apple could be preparing a phased launch for its upcoming M5 series.

M5 Mac Book Pro Upcoming

The more powerful 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, expected to feature Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, are likely to arrive in a later wave possibly in early 2026. Since the M5 chip is rumored to be Apple’s first built on the 2nm process, the company could hold a dedicated launch event to spotlight the base M5 chip, debuting it in the 14-inch MacBook Pro and potentially an updated iPad Pro.

This revised launch strategy would allow Apple to spread major product announcements throughout the year. An early 2026 debut for the M5 Pro and M5 Max, followed by the M6 lineup later in the year, would help maintain a steady release cycle. However, this could also mean that the long-rumored OLED MacBook Pro previously expected to launch in late 2026 might be delayed to 2027.