What’s happened? MacRumors spotted Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings listing Apple model numbers that don’t match current products, pointing to unannounced iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models. The codes strongly suggest unannounced hardware:
- A3434: MacBook Pro, likely M5-powered
- A3357: 11-inch Wi-Fi iPad Pro
- A3358 / A3359: 11-inch Cellular iPad Pro
- A3360: 13-inch Wi-Fi iPad Pro
- A3361 / A3362: 13-inch Cellular iPad Pro
This is important because: The FCC does not publish chip details, but the filings align with reporting that the next iPad Pro and MacBook Pro will feature Apple’s likely new M5 chip at the heart.
- The iPad Pro entries show support for Wi-Fi 7, which delivers faster speeds and lower latency.
- The MacBook Pro entry does not include Wi-Fi 7, suggesting differences across models
- Apple’s current iPad Pro already runs on M4 chips, so M5 is the natural next step
- A3360 is tied to the next iPad Pro, and reports suggest that lineup will debut with M5 silicon.
Why should I care? The M4 chip already set a new bar for performance in Apple’s laptops and tablets, praised for both efficiency and power. That makes the arrival of M5 especially significant for creators, developers, and other pro users who push hardware to its limits.
- A MacBook Pro with M5, M5 Pro, or M5 Max would almost certainly deliver another leap for video editing, 3D rendering, and AI workloads.
- An iPad Pro with M5 and Wi-Fi 7 could mean smoother multitasking, faster file transfers, and more reliable cloud-based workflows.
Okay, so what’s next? Apple is reported to be preparing mass production of M5 MacBook Pros, while an iPad Pro launch is widely anticipated in the near term. The FCC filings also included a new headset, likely to represent a Vision Pro.
- Mass production of updated MacBook Pros has been reported by supply chain sources.
- A3416 appeared in filings as a “head mounted device,” matching Apple’s Vision Pro.
- The filing shows Wi-Fi 6 support for the head-mounted unit, with no chip details provided.
