Apple are about to surprise us?

[AdmiralKirk]

Something is up with the new MacBook Pro’s, and I’m not sure whether it has something to do with the increased PC competition this year, or manufacturing issues caused by massive AI datacenter demand, or none of those things and something else entirely?

It seems like either the MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max is being skipped (which would suggest the redesign is coming in October/November 2026 for sure), or the M5 Pro is being discontinued in favour of M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips?

There is something that seems off about this release, and although I’m expecting a higher price than last year, I’m expecting a better product than initially anticipated one way or another?

Either the redesign is just a few months away and this is skipped, or we’re getting better MacBook Pro’s than we anticipated.

What’s your feelings with this release?

 

[dmccloud]

None of the above. The PC market as a whole is in a weird state of flux thanks to the AI rush and all the DRAM being bought up or simply reallocated from consumer to business/datacenter applications. A 32GB kit of DDR5 RAM that cost less than $200 six months ago now sells for $450-600 - not because it suddenly got more expensive to manufacture but because the memory manufacturers are artificially spiking demand and hiking prices by limiting availability of consumer components.

 

[jabbr]

I've seem some speculation that the Max and Ultra referenced in the latest RC could be for the Mac Studio. You might be right about them skipping M5 and releasing the redesign at the end of the year.

 

[JPack]

Nothing is amiss.

Apple forgot to scrub all the code numbers from the RC, so that means M5 Pro isn't coming?

 

[Madonepro]

Or it could be, Apple has finally plugged the leak holes, and not unlike pre 2007, it is able to command the narrative. Remembering the period of time, leading up to the launch of the iPhone, there was chat, not rumours, that Apple should invent a smart phone, what would they call it etc. The launch of the iPhone came as a surprise to most.

The growth of the company since then, and the increase in employees, has also increase the amount of 'internal' rumours, something that Apple would want to control the 'pace and theme' of.

What I think is likely, is that Apple knows, the M6 is inevitable, but maybe the refresh of chassis, display and other internals. That all comes with risk, and setting a timeframe on release, is foolhardy. If something were to go amiss, they could miss releasing a new MBP Pro/Max in 2025 and 2026. What would make more sense, is; Release M5 MBP Pro/Max & Mac Studio Max/Ultra in the 1st quarter of this year, and release the M6's towards the end of the year, just as has been rumoured for sometime.

Macworld San Francisco 2007 Rumor Roundup​

Macworld San Francisco 2007 Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers​

 

[conmee]

Or it could be, Apple has finally plugged the leak holes, and not unlike pre 2007, it is able to command the narrative. Remembering the period of time, leading up to the launch of the iPhone, there was chat, not rumours, that Apple should invent a smart phone, what would they call it etc. The launch of the iPhone came as a surprise to most.

The growth of the company since then, and the increase in employees, has also increase the amount of 'internal' rumours, something that Apple would want to control the 'pace and theme' of.

What I think is likely, is that Apple knows, the M6 is inevitable, but maybe the refresh of chassis, display and other internals. That all comes with risk, and setting a timeframe on release, is foolhardy. If something were to go amiss, they could miss releasing a new MBP Pro/Max in 2025 and 2026. What would make more sense, is; Release M5 MBP Pro/Max & Mac Studio Max/Ultra in the 1st quarter of this year, and release the M6's to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of Apple next year. Which they could coincide with refreshes of all it's computer line (iPhones/iPads etc are not 25 years old, and can be individually celebrated).

Macworld San Francisco 2007 Rumor Roundup​

Macworld San Francisco 2007 Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers​

The 50th Anniversary is coming in two months, so it would be one heck of a celebration if M6 with chassis refresh are unveiled in April.

 

[Madonepro]

The 50th Anniversary is coming in two months, so it would be one heck of a celebration if M6 with chassis refresh are unveiled in April.

Ooops, my bad. Post edited. 😂

 

[JPack]

Or it could be, Apple has finally plugged the leak holes, and not unlike pre 2007, it is able to command the narrative. Remembering the period of time, leading up to the launch of the iPhone, there was chat, not rumours, that Apple should invent a smart phone, what would they call it etc. The launch of the iPhone came as a surprise to most.

The growth of the company since then, and the increase in employees, has also increase the amount of 'internal' rumours, something that Apple would want to control the 'pace and theme' of.

What I think is likely, is that Apple knows, the M6 is inevitable, but maybe the refresh of chassis, display and other internals. That all comes with risk, and setting a timeframe on release, is foolhardy. If something were to go amiss, they could miss releasing a new MBP Pro/Max in 2025 and 2026. What would make more sense, is; Release M5 MBP Pro/Max & Mac Studio Max/Ultra in the 1st quarter of this year, and release the M6's towards the end of the year, just as has been rumoured for sometime.

Macworld San Francisco 2007 Rumor Roundup​

Macworld San Francisco 2007 Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers​

It’s impossible to plug the leaks because in 2007, Apple shipped one million iPhones. Today, Apple ships about 250 million a year. Mac has seen a fourfold increase. Even back in 2006, there were strong rumors Apple would make its own “music handset.”

With those types of volumes, it’s impossible for info to stay secret due to procurement and assembly requirements. You simply can’t escape the Asian supply chain.