Unveiling Soon: M5 iPad Pro Expected at iPhone 17 Event – Here’s the Scoop

Today, September 9, marks the start of Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event, anticipated to showcase a slew of new products including the iPhone 17, AirPods Pro 3, and Apple Watch 11, among others. While it seems the event is already packed, rumors suggest there could be an additional surprise: the unveiling of the M5 iPad Pro.

A recent leak has shed light on the forthcoming next-generation iPad Pro, which is expected to feature an M5 chip. This leak details both Wi-Fi and Cellular models available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. Much like its predecessor the M4 iPad Pro, these models were anticipated, however, the leak also includes new information about the upcoming Apple Watch models.

An anonymous but reliable source via X (formerly Twitter, as reported by 9to5Mac), suggests that today’s event will also see the announcement of the Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. The timing of this new information about the M5 iPad Pro leads to speculation that Apple might also reveal its latest tablet today.

It has been widely speculated that the M5 iPad Pro will launch in October. This aligns with Apple’s recent strategy of synchronizing their iPad announcements with Mac releases, especially since they now share the same M-series chips, and the upcoming M5 MacBook Pro is also expected.

While the timing of the leaks doesn’t seem too convincing, there’s a significant reason why we might see the M5 iPad Pro unveiled today…

Apple celebrates a big iPad Pro anniversary

Typically, we wouldn’t expect to see the iPad Pro at the iPhone 17 event, but history shows that Apple has announced iPhones and iPads together in the past, and we might witness a brief return to this practice at today’s “Awe Dropping” event.

This is especially pertinent since today, September 9, marks the 10-year anniversary of the first announcement of the iPad Pro, which took place on September 9, 2015. This makes today’s event an ideal moment to celebrate the anniversary with the announcement of the M5 iPad Pro.

Last year’s iPad Pro was the first to showcase Apple’s M4 chips, making it logical for the next iteration, the M5 chip, to follow. Moreover, with the expected launch of iPadOS 26 this September, alongside iOS 26, it provides Apple an opportunity to demonstrate the updated operating system’s capabilities on a brand-new tablet.

The unveiling of the M5 iPad Pro at the “Awe Dropping” event wouldn’t be entirely unexpected. However, the event already seems to be quite packed, and other surprises may still be announced, such as the AirTags 2 or perhaps a new color for the Apple Vision Pro.

In any event, we’ll soon find out, as Apple’s major event is set to start at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. BST / 3 a.m. AEST today (September 9). For all the latest updates and announcements as they occur, make sure to follow our live blog of the Apple Event.

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