A new leak has sparked fresh debate around Apple’s upcoming M5-series chips. According to recent reports, Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max may not be separate processors at all, but different variants of the same underlying chip.

It was previously suggested that Apple’s upcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models would offer more flexible CPU and GPU core configurations. This would allow users to tailor performance based on their needs.

A recent change to Apple’s website appears to support this idea. The company has removed pre-configured options when buying a Mac online, instead pushing users directly into a fully custom configuration process.

The backstory

The speculation gained traction last year when reports claimed Apple would adopt a new chip packaging process for higher-end M5 variants.

According to those reports, the M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra will use server-grade System on Integrated Chip (SoIC) packaging. Apple is reportedly shifting to a 2.5D packaging method known as SoIC-mH, or molding horizontal.

This approach separates CPU and GPU designs, improving thermal performance and production yields.

By separating CPU and GPU cores, Apple could offer greater flexibility when configuring a machine. For example, buyers could choose a modest CPU setup while maximising GPU cores for graphics-intensive workloads.

This design also allows Apple to better utilise chip binning, reducing waste and improving manufacturing efficiency.

Same chip

YouTuber Vadim Yuryev added to the discussion after noticing that the M5 Pro chip did not appear in a recent beta code leak.

According to Yuryev, Apple may be using a single M5 Max chip design for both the M5 Pro and M5 Max models, with differences enabled through configuration rather than separate silicon.

He suggested this approach would significantly reduce Apple’s costs by simplifying design and cutting down the number of stock keeping units.

Under this theory, the M5 Pro would be a limited configuration of the same chip used for the M5 Max. Users would need to opt for the M5 Max variant to unlock the highest GPU core counts and maximum RAM support.

This would mirror Apple’s existing strategy of tiered performance through configuration rather than entirely different chips.According to reports, the theory appears plausible. In addition to improved yields through chip binning, Apple would also benefit from using a single logic board design across multiple models.

However, the report notes that confirmation will only come once the new machines launch. A teardown of the hardware will quickly reveal whether the M5 Pro and M5 Max are indeed built from the same chip.