Apple’s upcoming M5 MacBook Pro lineup may not be as straightforward as it sounds.
The latest online whispers suggest that the M5 Pro and M5 Max might not be two separate chips at all. Instead, they could be different configurations of the same underlying silicon. This would be a move that could reshape how Apple sells high-end Macs.
The idea gained traction after a recent change to Apple’s online store. The company removed its usual pre-configured Mac options and now drops buyers straight into a full spec customiser. That shift already hinted at more flexibility in CPU and GPU choices. However, a new report suggests the change could run much deeper.
According to YouTuber Vadim Yuryev, the reason the M5 Pro didn’t appear in a recent beta code leak is simple: it may not exist as a distinct chip. Instead, Apple could be using a single M5 Max design. The Pro and Max would be differentiated by enabled CPU, GPU and memory configurations.
This theory ties back to earlier reports that Apple plans to use server-grade 2.5D SoIC-mH chip packaging for its higher-end M5 chips. The technique separates CPU and GPU components within the same package. As a result, it improves thermal performance and production yields — and, crucially, allows Apple to bin chips more flexibly.
If that’s the case, the “Pro” model could essentially be a cut-down M5 Max. Meanwhile, buyers wanting maximum GPU cores and higher RAM limits would still need to pay for the full Max configuration. From Apple’s perspective, this would reduce the number of chip variants it needs to design and manufacture. It would also save costs and simplify logic board layouts.
It would also explain why Apple seems increasingly comfortable letting users fine-tune specs themselves, rather than nudging them toward fixed tiers. For power users, that could be good news, especially if it means more granular control over performance without unnecessary upgrades.
Of course, for now, this is still speculation. Apple hasn’t confirmed anything about the M5 lineup. The truth won’t be clear until the first M5 MacBooks are torn down and examined. If the Pro and Max really do share the same silicon, it’ll be obvious soon enough.
