Constrained supplies of the M4 iPad Pro and the lower end 14-inch MacBook Pro at Apple retail are the best sign yet that Apple will launch M5 models very soon.

Following September's iPhone event, Apple is anticipated to launch more hardware later in the fall. If supply levels through Apple's retail operations are an indicator, it could happen in the near future.

Supplies of the iPad Pro with M4 are "fairly constrained" in Apple Store locations, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. In an X post, he writes that online shipments for the iPad Pro have also started to be delayed until between October 21 and October 28 for some configurations.

AppleInsider has checked Apple's online store and confirmed the delayed shipments for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4. However, it was not able to confirm online shipments were delayed for the iPad Pro.

He reasons that this is "a good as any sign" for the debut of the M5 iPad Pro.

The supply limitations aren't just limited to the iPad Pro. Gurman says that the base level 14-inch MacBook Pro is also seeing constraints until the end of October for some custom configurations.

This, however, is apparently not the case for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. Gurman says this could mean the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 is also on the way.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is also unaffected, but that may be because the current version is sold with M4 Pro and M4 Max, not the base M4 chip.

A returning timescale

This does make some sense for the entire range, if you consider Apple's usual routine for shipping Apple Silicon models.

It tends to launch the base M-series chip first in a few entry level models, then brings out the Pro and Pro Max versions a few months later. This first wave usually includes the iPad Pro and the base versions of MacBook Pro, along with the Mac mini.

The M4 chip timeline was highly unusual, in that Apple led solely with the iPad Pro, no Macs. It waited until the launch of the M4 Pro and M4 Max before introducing updated MacBook Pro models using the chips.

If the availability levels are a true indicator for Apple's launch plans, it seems the company is reverting to its previous program of updates, not the M4 timescale.

Many signs

While shipment delays are an indicator of inbound products, it's far from the only sign of their impending arrival.

For example, on September 30, the FCC leaked multiple model numbers for Apple hardware, including the MacBook Pro and 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro in both Wi-Fi and Cellular varieties.

Since hardware has to undergo regulatory testing, it is unsurprising that there would be sightings in FCC filings for the models. However, it doesn't determine launch timing.

There is also the case of a Russian YouTuber claiming to have acquired a prerelease iPad Pro with an M5 chip. Again, it doesn't provide a specific timeline aside from expectations of a launch happening soon.

As for what to expect from the launches, the two lines are expected to have spec bump upgrades across the board. The only real rumor outlier is the claim of Apple using a dual front-facing camera system for the iPad Pro.