FCC Accidentally Confirms Apple’s Next MacBook Pro and iPad Pro Lineup

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unintentionally given Apple fans a major peek behind the curtain. In a new set of filings, the FCC published documentation containing mysterious model numbers that clearly don’t line up with any currently available Apple products.

While Apple itself has remained silent, these filings practically confirm that the company is preparing fresh iterations of its MacBook Pro and iPad Pro lineup, potentially powered by the highly anticipated M5 chip family.

Every new Apple product must be cleared by the FCC before it hits the market. Usually, these filings are highly technical and focus on connectivity testing, antenna certifications, and compliance with wireless standards. But occasionally, as now, they end up giving tech enthusiasts a crucial clue about what’s brewing in Cupertino. The documents don’t list commercial names, but they do include reference numbers. Those familiar with Apple’s numbering system can usually connect the dots, and this time it’s no exception.

Here are the model numbers that slipped through:

• A3434 – an as-yet-unseen MacBook Pro, very likely to feature Apple’s upcoming M5 silicon.
• A3357 – 11-inch Wi-Fi iPad Pro.
• A3358/A3359 – 11-inch Cellular iPad Pro variants.
• A3360 – 13-inch Wi-Fi iPad Pro.
• A3361/A3362 – 13-inch Cellular iPad Pro variants.

Although no hardware specifications were revealed in these leaks, the very presence of these identifiers in regulatory paperwork means Apple is nearing the final stages of development. Typically, FCC filings are made only weeks ahead of an official launch, which suggests that the M5-powered iPads could be unveiled before the end of the year. The MacBook Pro models might take slightly longer, with reports pointing toward a release window spanning late 2025 to early 2026.

One notable detail buried in the filings is related to wireless standards. It seems that the upcoming M5 iPad Pro models may support Wi-Fi 7, the next-generation standard promising faster speeds and lower latency. However, the MacBook Pro entry did not explicitly reference this capability, which might mean Apple is either holding it back for later or differentiating features across its product families.

Apple’s chip roadmap has been aggressive ever since it ditched Intel for its own silicon. The M1 shocked the industry with its efficiency, the M2 and M3 built on that foundation, and the M4 recently pushed the iPad Pro into workstation-level territory. Now, the M5 promises to bring another leap in performance. If the MacBook lineup does indeed come with multiple chip tiers – M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max – power users and professionals will have a broad spectrum of options depending on their needs, from ultra-portable workflows to full-on creative production environments.

It’s also worth remembering that FCC leaks aren’t unprecedented. Just a short while ago, the FCC inadvertently published schematic details of Apple’s iPhone 16e, something the company undoubtedly wanted to keep under wraps. While these accidents are a nightmare for Apple’s notoriously secretive product strategy, they’re a goldmine for analysts, journalists, and fans eager to predict what’s next.

What does this mean for customers? In the short term, it’s confirmation that the next generation of Apple’s pro devices is coming. In the longer view, it illustrates how Apple’s steady cadence of innovation is reshaping the laptop and tablet markets. For professionals waiting to upgrade their setup, the message is clear: patience might pay off, because the most powerful iPads and MacBooks yet are just around the corner.

As always, leaks like this ignite speculation. But with Apple’s track record, it’s safe to say that when these devices finally launch, they’ll not only meet expectations but likely set new standards for performance and design in the tech world.