Apple introduced its latest generation of MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro devices on Wednesday, featuring the new M5 chip that promises significantly faster performance and improved AI capabilities compared with previous models, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to CNBC.
The refreshed MacBook Pro starts at $1,599, while the redesigned 11-inch iPad Pro begins at $999. The latest Apple Vision Pro headset, equipped with a Dual Knit Band, carries a starting price of $3,499. Preorders for all three products are now open in most regions, and retail sales will begin on October 22 as part of Apple’s extended fall lineup.
Apple’s fall product cycle traditionally precedes the company’s strongest sales quarter in December, driven by holiday demand. Following the release of the iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11 in September, this launch rounds out the company’s key hardware refreshes ahead of the peak shopping season.
At the center of the announcement is the M5 chip — Apple’s most powerful processor to date — which, according to the company, delivers up to four times the peak compute performance compared with the M4. Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, emphasized that the new chip “delivers a huge boost to AI workloads,” underscoring Apple’s growing focus on artificial intelligence integration across its devices.
Despite speculation on potential price adjustments amid ongoing trade tensions and semiconductor tariffs linked to former President Donald Trump’s policies, Apple maintained the same starting prices for its latest M5 models as in previous generations.
Although iPads and MacBooks do not match the iPhone in terms of sales volume, they remain vital components of Apple’s hardware business. In the June quarter, iPad revenue totaled $6.58 billion, marking an 8% year-over-year decline, which Apple attributed to strong comparisons with the previous year’s release of new iPad Pro models. Meanwhile, Mac revenue rose 15% to $8.05 billion, supported by the earlier launch of the updated MacBook Air.
The Vision Pro headset, grouped with Apple Watch and AirPods under the company’s “Wearables and Other Products” category, has yet to generate significant revenue, according to analysts. Combined sales of MacBooks, iPads, and Vision Pro remain far below the company’s flagship iPhone revenue, which contributed nearly 47% of Apple’s total income — just under $45 billion — in the June quarter.
Wall Street observers continue to monitor Apple’s performance closely, focusing primarily on iPhone sales while also assessing how the company’s AI-driven devices could influence future growth.
Earlier we wrote that Apple removes ICEBlock App from App Store following security concerns.
