Tag Archives: m2

New 15-inch MacBook rumored to drop in 2023 with M2 & M2 Pro chips

The rumor: A larger 15-inch MacBook could release with both the new M2 chip and the yet-to-be-announced M2 Pro chip, according to further details from Ming-Chi Kuo (72.5% accurate).

  • The larger MacBook is slated to start mass production in early 2022 and ship in the second half of 2023
  • Kuo also expects the MacBook to ship with two CPU options: M2 and M2 Pro
  • It’s possible that this 15-inch MacBook might not use “MacBook Air” branding, as Apple could introduce it as part of a different or new line
  • In the report, Kuo also says he is uncertain about the 12-inch MacBook returning after Mark Gurman (86.5% accurate) reported that it was in development

Ian’s take: This is certainly an interesting rumor. I am absolutely a fan of Apple adding options for users that want a larger screen but don’t want to spend upwards of $2500 to get it. Having the option for an M2 Pro chip in this thinner and lighter machine is very intriguing, but I worry it may encroach on the 16-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro coming later this year…

New 14/16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and Max could launch later this year

The rumor: New MacBook Pros could come as soon as the end of 2022, according to Mark Gurman (86.5% accurate, via Bloomberg).

  • “These new 14-inch and 16-inch models, codenamed J414 and J416, won’t be radically new products beyond offering the speedier chips,” Gurman says. “The M2 Max chip in the next high-end MacBook Pros will include 12 main processing cores and up to 38 graphics cores, up from a maximum of 10 processing cores and 32 graphics cores in the current models”
  • Apple’s new MacBook Pro models could see these new chips near the end of this year or early in 2023, but an exact timeline remains to be seen

Sam’s take: I wouldn’t expect these new laptops to launch before the end of 2022 as that seems a bit soon after the major update in 2021. The new M2 chips seem like they’ll actually be a moderate update though! 2 additional CPU cores and 6 more GPU cores should net some solid improvements…

New MacBook Air rumored to release at WWDC on June 6

The rumor: Apple is planning to unveil a new MacBook Air at their worldwide developers conference next week, according to Mark Gurman (86.5% accurate, via Power On).

  • “If there’s any hardware at WWDC, it will likely be on the Mac side. The company has been aiming to launch the next MacBook Air with M2 chips at the conference. The recent supply chain crunch due to Covid-related closures in China has complicated that, but developers say that Apple employees are increasingly using next-generation MacBook Airs with their apps. That’s a sign that the new Mac is close,” Gurman says
  • A teaser of the upcoming AR/VR headset could also happen, but a full unveil isn’t likely according to Gurman

Sam’s take: Since Apple themselves has confirmed that they are done unveiling M1 series chips, it makes perfect sense that they would start with M2 sooner rather than later. I think this new MacBook Air is incredibly likely, but I also think we’ll be getting a preview of the AR/VR headset or new Mac Pro, too.

Apple’s 9 new Mac computers with a M2 chip inside, revealed

The rumor: Apple is planing to release a slew of new Macs with variations of the M2 chip inside, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Bloomberg).

A rundown of the 3 new Macs expected later this year…

  • Redesigned MacBook Air: M2 chip with a 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU
  • Redesigned Mac mini: M2 or M2 Pro chip are coming down the road (but there’s also a M1 Pro Mac mini in testing, and this is likely the version that will drop in 2022)
  • Low-end MacBook Pro revamp: same M2 chip as new MacBook Air, likely in the old MacBook Pro form factor

There are more M2 Macs coming, too, we just don’t know when…

  • Updated 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros: M2 Pro or Max chips, with the M2 Max being upgraded to a new 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU
  • Revamped Mac Pro: M2 Ultra chip faster than what is currently found inside Mac Studio

Sam’s take: This is a LOT of Macs, and I can’t remember a time in history where Apple has ever been this focused on regularly updating their computers like this. It’s probably because the Mac is doing better than ever, and growing at rates that were never thought to be possible. And it’s for good reason: Apple Silicon is simply incredible, and there are now options out for almost every segment of the market. Essentially, I can’t believe we’re here, but I’m stoked that we are: the Mac is officially back.

M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro set to release before end of 2022

The rumor: Apple is working on new laptops with M2 chips inside, according to 9to5Mac (82.4% accurate).

Here’s the latest…

  • The new MacBook Air, releasing later this year, will have a M2 chip inside featuring an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 9to5Mac says
  • Apple’s also preparing to drop a new 13-inch MacBook Pro…but it’s based on the previous-generation design that could include a Touch Bar (it’ll have the same M2 chip described above)

Sam’s take: There have been numerous conflicting reports on what Mac laptops Apple will end up releasing this year, but this news seems to paint the clearest picture yet: we’re getting 2 lower-end laptops with new M2 chips. Sounds right to me.

Apple still working on M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini coming later this year

The rumor: Apple is planning 2 new chips for the upcoming, redesigned Mac mini, according to 9to5Mac (82.4% accurate).

Here’s their latest exclusive…

  • One Mac mini in development will have a M2 chip, featuring an 8-core CPU but updated 10-core GPU
  • Apple is also making a Mac mini with a M2 Pro chip inside, which will have a new 12-core CPU (no details about the GPU on this one were shared)
  • This seems to be the entire processing story for the next Mac mini, as 9to5Mac says that “Apple currently has no plans to release a version with the M2 Max or Ultra chips”

Sam’s take: Most intriguing here is this new 12-core CPU configuration on the M2 Pro chip that we haven’t seen yet: Apple’s chips available now only come in 8, 10 or 20-core CPU variants. Apparently Apple was initially planning to put M1 Pro and M1 Max chips inside this Mac mini, but this was reportedly scrapped due to the Mac Studio… Overall, the next Mac mini looks like it’ll be situated on the low-to-middle-end of Apple’s lineup.

More evidence of a new M2 processor surfaces ahead of March 8 event

The rumor: Apple is extensively testing the M2 chip across multiple new Macs and operating systems, according to Mark Gurman (85.5% accurate, via Power On).

  • “I’m told from a developer source that Apple has been testing multiple Macs with a new chip in recent weeks that includes an eight-core CPU (four efficiency cores and four high-performance cores) and 10 GPU cores…Apple has been testing this new chip on machines running macOS 12.3 (which should be released in the next week or two and run on the new Macs) and a future macOS 12.4, as well as macOS 13” Gurman says
  • Prior rumors suggested a low-end 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 could launch in early March
  • Apple’s first event of the year kicks off in just under 2 days on March 8

Sam’s take: I’m not entirely convinced that we’ll see M2 at this event…especially in the body of the outdated MacBook Pro. Is it possible? Sure. But “Peek Performance” points to something higher-end: and M2, a slightly improved version of M1, isn’t that.

Multiple M2 Macs may be unveiled at Apple’s March 8th event

The rumor: Apple is likely to announce a redesigned Mac mini and 13-inch MacBook Pro on March 8th, according to Mark Gurman (85.5% accurate, via Power On).

Ian’s Take: For weeks now there have been conflicting rumors about what to expect at the March event and it is finally starting to be clear. While at first, the 3rd-generation iPhone SE and new iPad Air seemed to be the focus of the event, it is now clear that this event will be all about the new M2 chip…which will be featured in a new Mac mini and a low-end MacBook Pro 13-inch. We also hear that Apple is planning on launching even more Macs in May or June. This is an extremely exciting year for the Mac and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us.

2022 MacBook Pro said to release in March with M2 chip and a Touch Bar

The rumor: Apple will announce a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with an unchanged design in March, according to a Weibo source spotted by MacRumors (72.7% accurate).

The details, according to the source who first claimed the 14/16-inch MacBook Pros would have a notch…

  • In March, Apple will unveil a replacement to the current 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro…but the only change will be a new M2 chip inside
  • This suggests the rest of the MacBook Pro will remain the same, even keeping the Touch Bar from the old design: no notch or 120Hz ProMotion display will be present

Ian’s Take: While initially, I was skeptical when DigiTimes reported that Apple would release an M2 13’’ MacBook Pro in early March, hearing this from a source that has previously proven to have accurate supply chain information adds more credibility to the rumor. I still find it hard to believe that Apple would release a second-generation M2 system before they finish releasing their highest-end M1-based systems…but this Weibo source has said crazier things before.

Apple will release 4 Macs with M2 chips beginning later this year

The rumor: This could be the biggest year for Mac releases ever, according to Mark Gurman (85.5% accurate, via Power On).

These are the Macs getting an M2 chip as soon as this year…

  • Low-end MacBook Pro 14-inch
  • iMac 24-inch (refresh of current M1 model)
  • Low-end Mac mini (refresh of current M1 model)
  • Redesigned MacBook Air

Our take: I find it most interesting that Apple is already looking to update their M1 products to faster M2 chips. Considering how that chip gets the job done for the vast majority of the population, I thought Apple would keep it around for some time. It doesn’t appear that way. Unlike Intel refreshes, which would happen on the Mac intermittently, every couple of years, it looks as if Apple could be updating computers with their latest silicon much more regularly!

M2 chip could launch in new MacBook Air in first half of 2022

The rumor: Apple’s next major M-series chip is coming next year in a new MacBook Air, according to dylandkt (81.3% accurate).

  • The M2 chip is separate from the upcoming M1X chip, and will come in the first half of 2022 inside a new MacBook
  • This source also mentions that the MacBook Air will be colorful, as Jon Prosser (74.2% accurate) had previously reported

Our take: dylandkt has a wildly good track record for these types of scoops, so I would bet on this being the case. Seems like M1/2/3 will be for consumer level hardware and M1/2/3X will be for pro devices.

https://twitter.com/dylandkt/status/1412089676220055555?s=20