Apple puts M5 chip in premier devices

Apple Inc updated its top-of-the-line iPad Pro, Vision Pro headset and 14-inch MacBook Pro, rounding out a series of product refreshes ahead of the crucial holiday-shopping season.

- CHRIS WELCH

The new products, announced Wednesday, all use Apple’s latest in-house chip, called the M5. With the exception of a new headband for the Vision Pro, the devices don’t offer major exterior design changes. They are available to preorder now and will arrive in stores on Oct 22. Prices remain unchanged from previous models.

The more powerful chip should help Apple’s tablet surpass many high-end laptops in performance. Combined with long overdue multitasking improvements that were introduced with iPadOS 26 last month, iPad owners will finally be able to put that horsepower to greater use.

Apple is betting that the new models will bolster demand after disappointing iPad sales in the June quarter. Some shoppers may have been waiting for the updated version before making purchases.