The recent iOS 26.3 release candidate has stirred excitement in the tech community, as it hints at the possibility of new Apple chips, specifically the M5 Max and M5 Ultra. This revelation was made public by Marko Zivkovic on February 4, 2026, detailing how these unreleased processors have been referenced within the code of the iOS 26.3 release candidate build.
Just a week following the launch of the third developer beta, Apple has rolled out this release candidate for iOS 26.3. Although this update doesn't introduce any groundbreaking features, it does contain crucial files that allude to unannounced processing hardware from Apple.
Notably, the upcoming macOS 26.3 is anticipated to align with forthcoming MacBook Pro models. This connection was highlighted by AppleInsider last year, indicating that the presence of the M5 Max chip in the iOS 26.3 RC is quite expected. Moreover, the code also suggests the existence of the M5 Ultra chip, which may debut alongside an upgraded version of the Mac Studio.
Moreover, as reported by MacRumors, the iOS 26.3 release candidate reveals a chip identified as T6051, also known as H17C, along with another referred to as T6052, or H17D. Based on Apple's established naming conventions, it's reasonable to predict that the H17C chip corresponds to the M5 Max, as Apple has consistently used the suffix "C" for its previous "Max" variants, like the M1 Max (H13C) and M4 Max (H16C).
On the other hand, the H17D chip is likely to represent the M5 Ultra, following the trend where previous Ultra chips from M1 to M3 included the letter "D" in their identifiers.
Interestingly, the iOS 26.3 RC does not mention the T6050 or H17S chip, which many believe should denote the M5 Pro. This absence raises questions about whether Apple has altered its internal naming conventions for this new family of chips.
Regardless of these uncertainties, it is widely anticipated that the refreshed MacBook Pro models featuring these advanced chips will be unveiled alongside macOS 26.3 sometime in February or March 2026. The anticipation around these new devices is palpable, and fans are eagerly waiting to see how they will shape the future of Apple's product line.
