Apple plans to launch the M5 Ultra chip in 2026. It has been confirmed that the chip will be used in Mac Studio and is also expected to appear in the new Mac Pro. It is reported that Apple has not released an "Ultra" version for each generation of Apple Silicon, but the M5 Ultra has entered development and is confirmed to be part of the Mac Studio series in the future. Its release time has not yet been announced. As usual, Ultra chips are usually unveiled after the Pro and Max versions are released.
Currently, Apple has launched the M5 chip in MacBook Pro. It is expected to release M5 Pro and M5 Max in early 2026, while M5 Ultra is expected to be launched later, possibly in June or even September 2026.
Earlier this year, Apple launched updated products for the Mac Studio equipped with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, indicating that there are no plans for an M4 Ultra this time. The Ultra series of chips is essentially the fusion of two Max chips using "UltraFusion" technology, and the M4 Max chip does not have an UltraFusion connector, so an M4 Ultra chip cannot be made. Apple has also made it clear before that it will not create a high-end Ultra version for every generation of M-series chips.
There is currently no news about other new features of the new Mac Studio, so this M5 Ultra update may focus on internal performance improvements. Meanwhile, Apple is rumored to be developing two new monitors, at least one of which is expected to be released simultaneously with the 2026 Mac Studio.