The FCC Just Leaked Apple’s Next Product Releases
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A new set of regulatory filings from the US Federal Communications Commission has just provided us with a big hint of what we can expect from Apple in the next few months.
There aren’t many surprises here, but the FCC’s published documents, which reference several model numbers that don’t yet exist, confirm what we already know, while also suggesting that some of these new updates may be closer than we think. Here’s what’s on the list.
The M5 MacBook Pro
There’s a model A3434 that refers to a new MacBook Pro, and while the FCC documents don’t provide any specifics, it’s a reasonably safe bet that this is the M5 model expected to launch soon.
The jury is still out on the specific timing for Apple’s next MacBook Pro update. If the company follows the schedule it set over the past two years, we could see the M5 MacBook Pro lineup announced later this month — both the M3 and M4 models came on October 30 in 2023 and 2024, respectively. However, in July, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple might delay the MacBook Pro release until early 2026. Sources suggested this wasn’t about the new models not being ready, but rather Apple’s desire to spread out its product launches to level out its revenue stream.
In this case, the M5 MacBook Pro lineup might follow the M2 MacBook Pro, which skipped the fall launch schedule and didn’t arrive until January 2023. Either way, even though the leaked FCC documents only include the paperwork for a single model, we’re very likely to see M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The lack of paperwork for more than one model might also support an early 2026 timeframe. Documents can be filed with the FCC months in advance of an actual product release, and it’s unknown whether the FCC has other documents in the queue that weren’t leaked or if it’s still awaiting additional submissions from Apple.
The M5 iPad Pro
Unlike the single MacBook Pro model, the FCC documents include a whole collection of iPad Pro models, all of which are undoubtedly variations on the M5 version that Apple is expected to launch this fall.
Specifically, the docs refer to six devices: A3357, A3358, A3359, A3360, A3361, and A3362. These would cover the 11-inch and 13-inch Wi-Fi and Cellular iPad Pro versions, which are typically separated into global and China-specific variants.
As with the MacBook Pro paperwork, the iPad listings reveal nothing beyond model identifiers. Still, the complete collection, combined with other recent rumors and leaks, suggests that we’re likely to see the M5 iPad Pro launch in the coming weeks.
Reputable sources have been pegging this fall as the most likely release date for the M5 iPad Pro for most of 2025. There was even a leak just before Apple’s September event that hinted it could come alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup.
There’s also a plausible theory that Apple once again wants to lead with the iPad Pro when unveiling its new M5 chip, just as it did with the M4 iPad Pro in May 2024. If the reports are accurate, this could explain Apple delaying its MacBook Pro releases until early next year.
However, the biggest clue that an M5 iPad Pro launch is imminent is a new unboxing video that appeared on YouTube yesterday from the Russian channel Wylsacom that shows a 13-inch iPad Pro with an M5 chip, 256 GB of storage, and a Space Black finish.
In addition to subtle differences, such as the absence of the “iPad Pro” inscription on the back, the leaker in question did the same for the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro a few weeks before it launched last year, so there’s a track record here.
The New Vision Pro
Now comes the wildcard: Apple’s next-generation Vision Pro.
The FCC documents reference a “Head Mounted Device” with a model number of A3416, which is a healthy jump from the A2117 of the current Vision Pro. Again, there are no details provided, so the documents merely confirm its existence.
Speculation about Apple’s roadmap has been swirling since the original Vision Pro was unveiled at WWDC 2023. While rumors of a lower-cost version preceded even the initial announcement, it was challenging to determine what Apple’s timeline would be.
Reports flip-flopped between those that said Apple was actively exploring the lower-cost version and putting the second-gen Vision Pro on the back burner, to others that claimed Apple wasn’t sure about a more affordable version and preferred to focus on ways to improve the flagship model.
By late 2024, the consensus had shifted toward a second-generation “Vision Pro 2” arriving in late 2025 or early 2026, with a more powerful chip being the most significant upgrade. The biggest question was which chip? Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and China’s IT Home initially pointed to an M5, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman disputed that in July, reporting that the new Vision Pro will only get an M4 chip.
Whether Apple goes with an M4 or an M5, we’re still looking at a significant upgrade from the current model, which uses the M2 — a chip that was already on its way out when the Vision Pro launched in early 2024.
Sadly, that’s likely to be the only change in Apple’s second-generation headset. One thing that all the reports agree on is that the physical design will remain the same, which means it will likely be just as heavy and costly as the original model. Instead of reducing the weight, Gurman says Apple is developing new straps to better balance it.
As for timing, the FCC filing supports the late 2025 to early 2026 window that analysts have been predicting. Whether Apple unveils the new headset this month, waits until early next year, or quietly slips it out via press release remains an open question — but the paperwork suggests the sequel is already moving forward.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
