Exciting Developments on the Horizon: New M5 Chips Discovered in iOS 26.3 Beta!
On February 4, 2026, at 2:57 PM PST, Juli Clover reported that within the latest release candidate for iOS 26.3, intriguing references have emerged regarding two chips from the upcoming M5 series. This information was unearthed by Nicolás Alvarez and has been shared with the tech community via MacRumors.
The beta version of iOS 26.3 mentions two unannounced system-on-chips (SoCs), identified as T6051 and T6052, associated with the platform names H17C and H17D, respectively. The number 17 indicates a connection to the new M5 series, as the conventional M5 chip is designated as H17G. The letters "C" and "D" typically denote Max and Ultra classifications for chips, while "G" and "S" represent standard and Pro versions, respectively.
When we analyze Apple’s previous naming conventions, it strongly implies that the references pertain to an M5 Max and an M5 Ultra chip. Interestingly, there’s no mention of T6050, H17S, which would normally be expected as the identifier for the M5 Pro.
This brings us to a puzzling situation as we anticipate the arrival of new MacBook Pro models sporting the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. There are three possible scenarios to consider: either an M5 Pro chip exists alongside the M5 Max and M5 Ultra but hasn’t yet been integrated into the iOS 26.3 code, Apple may be altering its naming strategy, or they could be preparing to launch M5 Max and M5 Ultra configurations specifically for the MacBook Pro line.
Here’s a quick summary of the chips referenced in the beta:
* Chip 1: T6051, H17C – Likely corresponding to M5 Max.
* Chip 2: T6052, H17D – Presumably representing M5 Ultra.
* Not Present in the Beta: T6050, H17S – Expected identifier for the M5 Pro.
Historically, Apple has consistently used the letter "C" for its Max chips, including those like the M1 Max (H13C), M2 Max (H14C), M3 Max (H15C/H15M), and M4 Max (H16C). Additionally, the Ultra chips have uniformly adopted the letter "D," as seen in the M1 Ultra (H13D), M2 Ultra (H14D), and M3 Ultra (H15D), with no Ultra designation for M4.
It remains uncertain why only the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips are surfacing in this context. However, speculations suggest that new MacBook Pro models equipped with these advanced M5 chips are anticipated to launch in the coming weeks. It is rumored that Apple is also developing a Mac Studio that will feature the M5 Ultra chip, although no specific launch details have surfaced yet.
