Apple Suppliers Reportedly Preparing for Launch of New MacBook Pros Ahead of Rumored October Event

[deconstruct60]

Whhhhhhyyyyyyyy would Apple release a new model of MacBook Pro where the only update is its power? ....

Until they can start using a 4 or 3nm chip, there’s no valid reason for refreshing the MacBook Pro other than greed. And given we always hear on MacRumors how they’re taking weeks to source components and ship custom MacBooks, it’s silly that they’re adding more demand to the strained supply chain. Not to mention, the practise is contradictory to Apple‘s “earth loving“ tenet.

Who says they can't do M2 Pro/Max on TSMC N4.

2020 --- A14 on N5 , M1 on N5
2021 -- A15 on N5P , M1 Pro/Max on N5P
Spring 2021 -- M2 on N5P ( which is just catching up on process. This SoC has volume since spread over part of iPad range as well as over 50% of Mac volume. )
2022 --- A16 on N4 , Pro/Max either N5P (do nothing on fab tech) or N4 ( do something )

The Pro could be riding the volume that the A15/16 are providing to pay for the R&D in a similar fashion as in 2021. N4 is in the same common design rules of the "N5 family". There is a some work to do but not major overhaul to shift to newer process. If the additions are small then Apple gets to make more chip/dies per wafer. [ Initial long backlogs of MBP 14/16" laptops isn't going to help Apple much. ]

The Max if targeted at laptops only could possibly go with N5P . A "max" that was suppose to be used in a dual , quad configuration would be more problematical if it doesn't get smaller. Pro and Max don't have to be on the same node anymore than the 'plain' M2 does.

A full 4 E core complex could actually lead to some battery savings in some contexts where didn't need any P core 'horsepower'. Small graphic core bump will help with better system longevity. Better RAM capacity options also.

I just hope a new model creates a trickle down price reduction for the M2 MacBook Pro so I can get a bit more power and the right amount of storage (1tb).

Probably not from Apple directly. Probably old models disappear. Temporary pragmatic sales by retail folks besides Apple (that will unload inventory stockpiles ) , but there is about zero need for Apple to keep making two sets of high end laptops for more than a month or so.

 

[Deep Dish]

It makes sense that they'd want to keep the latest chip in every model possible. Otherwise, eventually things are gonna get really murky when the Mac mini has an M2, the iMac has an M3, and the MacBook Air has an M4. Don't think it's an worthwhile upgrade from what you've got? Don't buy it. They're not necessarily trying to entice people to upgrade every year. They're just keeping their stuff current.

 

[majus]

DigiTimes, so take with a grain of salt.

MacRumors, so take it with a grain of salt, although they are very good.

 

[Adreitz]

My computer is a 2011 Mac Pro with various aftermarket upgrades. I thought about getting an M1 Max MBP, but other things were a higher financial priority at the time. I thought again about the M2 Air, but I like having better graphics performance because I like eye candy and have become interested in AI text-to-image software (I'd like to try running Stable Diffusion locally). I will be really happy if this rumor is true -- Apple needs to start updating its computers more regularly. I'm just hoping the graphics performance won't be too far behind nVidia 3000-series cards. I have an old 970 and it is still faster than the M1 Max, I think.

 

[ScholarsInk]

Whhhhhhyyyyyyyy would Apple release a new model of MacBook Pro where the only update is its power? The M1 Max and M1 Ultra have more power than most people really need and if they want more, they can go for a desktop like the Mac Studio or Mac Pro.

Until they can start using a 4 or 3nm chip, there’s no valid reason for refreshing the MacBook Pro other than greed. And given we always hear on MacRumors how they’re taking weeks to source components and ship custom MacBooks, it’s silly that they’re adding more demand to the strained supply chain. Not to mention, the practise is contradictory to Apple‘s “earth loving“ tenet.

Hilariously bad take. What’s the harm in Apple simply dropping in an updated chip while keeping the rest the same? You do know, I assume, that MacBook models stay around for years with only the chip changing, right? Even when it’s a garbage machine like the butterfly.

The target audience isn’t people who already have an M1 Pro/Max; it’s people who are about to buy a computer a year later and understandably don’t want a year old, less efficient chip even though of course it’s still a good chip.

 

[fakestrawberryflavor]

A lot of people are asking why would this be released but its likely they designed and produced the chips a while ago and they need a home so they don't go to waste. The chip design and production pipeline is long and planned ~2 years in advance. These things need to go somewhere besides to the bin.

 

[dannys1]

Won't happen this year.

 

[oldwatery]

Another TimApple money grab. Gotta keep the investors happy.

 

[jml1982]

The macbook pro 16 inch isn't even a year old and it took most people 4 to 5 months to finally get their machines. If they already to to M2 chips, that would be very frustrating for all who have purchased since last November...

 

[mikethemartian]

The macbook pro 16 inch isn't even a year old and it took most people 4 to 5 months to finally get their machines. If they already to to M2 chips, that would be very frustrating for all who have purchased since last November...

Why should that be frustrating? A person who purchased the previous model received the latest technology available at the time.

 

[EugW]

The macbook pro 16 inch isn't even a year old and it took most people 4 to 5 months to finally get their machines. If they already to to M2 chips, that would be very frustrating for all who have purchased since last November...

I suggest you never buy a Mac, so that you'll never be frustrated in this way.

Seriously though, I find it far, far more frustrating when Apple doesn't update the machines in a timely fashion. I personally wouldn't want to buy a year-old Mac unless I got a 20% discount on it.

 

[Saturn1217]

I feel like people in this thread have somehow forgotten the past several decades of macbook updates? Incremental processor improvements is how it works. That's how you eventually get to the major processor updates making it into a users hands. You don't just wait and not ship incremental improvements until it is "major enough".

I know we all like to think that the current 14"/16" MBPs are basically perfection in laptop form but there are always small improvements that can be made. No need to hold these for the next major refresh. If they could (PLEASE APPLE) bring the 4 external display support to the M2Pro from the M1Max, so ALL their 14"/16" MBPs have the same IO capabilities that alone would be a huge improvement.

 

[ScholarsInk]

I feel like people in this thread have somehow forgotten the past several decades of macbook updates? Incremental processor improvements is how it works. That's how you eventually get to the major processor updates making it into a users hands. You don't just wait and not ship incremental improvements until it is "major enough".

Right, there weren’t just the annual Intel generation updates; there were also mid-year refreshes, which would mean immediate discounts on the pre-refresh model at authorized dealers.

 

[Tagbert]

Whhhhhhyyyyyyyy would Apple release a new model of MacBook Pro where the only update is its power? The M1 Max and M1 Ultra have more power than most people really need and if they want more, they can go for a desktop like the Mac Studio or Mac Pro.

Until they can start using a 4 or 3nm chip, there’s no valid reason for refreshing the MacBook Pro other than greed. And given we always hear on MacRumors how they’re taking weeks to source components and ship custom MacBooks, it’s silly that they’re adding more demand to the strained supply chain. Not to mention, the practise is contradictory to Apple‘s “earth loving“ tenet.

I just hope a new model creates a trickle down price reduction for the M2 MacBook Pro so I can get a bit more power and the right amount of storage (1tb).

What greed? Do you think that owners of the M1-series MBPs are now required to go out and buy the M2-series?

There are still a lot of people who have not made the switch to Apple Silicon or who go an M1 Air and are now ready to upgrade to an MBP or people with win boxes who are ready to switch. That is the market for the M2x.

Historically, Intel and Apple did ~annual chip updates for small performance bumps.

 

[mozz2020]

Whenever it happens this is a good thing. And as a not M1 Pro owner will likely jump on it.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Weak and meh. Go buy discounted 14" and 16" guys.

Good advice for you, maybe. But you have no idea what the needs of others are. To say nothing of a newer model being available to OS and security upgrades further into the future than older, discounted ones.

 

[ScholarsInk]

What greed? Do you think that owners of the M1-series MBPs are now required to go out and buy the M2-series?

There are still a lot of people who have not made the switch to Apple Silicon or who go an M1 Air and are now ready to upgrade to an MBP or people with win boxes who are ready to switch. That is the market for the M2x.

Historically, Intel and Apple did ~annual chip updates for small performance bumps.

More than annual, in fact! When Intel would do a little spec bump in between the full on processor family annual upgrade, Apple would bump the Macs too. No idea why this is so surprising to that person.

Whenever it happens this is a good thing. And as a not M1 Pro owner will likely jump on it.

I’m in this boat. Was close to upgrading this summer then realized I am far better off just holding off a little longer for M2 Pro.

 

[CalMin]

This not news for M1Pro/Max owners. If you have one of these chips and you are crushing it, then M2Pro/Max isn't the answer. It's likely only going to get you 15-20% boost. You need an M1/M2Ultra, or whatever sort of MacPro they are concocting over at Apple HQ.

This will be for Intel owners, and if you're one of them and have held off Apple Silicon for M2Pro/Max, prepare to have your minds blown!

 

[rembert]

[...]
There are still a lot of people who have not made the switch to Apple Silicon or who go an M1 Air and are now ready to upgrade to an MBP or people with win boxes who are ready to switch. That is the market for the M2x.
[...]

I'm one of those I guess, using a 16" i9/5500M with 32 GB. Pretty fast machine. I also have a M1 Air and the performance did surprise me. However, not enough to replace my 16" MBP even though I don't like the 16" screen - I want to go smaller, to 14". Maybe the M2 Pro 14" will push me over the line. But then again, maybe I'll just wait for the M3 pro to arrive (and the euro to become a bit stronger again).

 

[scottrichardson]

I don't see many reasons for many to upgrade their M1 to and M2. I am sure Apfel 😜 is also aware of this.

Yeah but it gives those of us who are still using powerful last generation Intel machines more of a reason to go buy a new Mac. The M1 wasn’t a big enough jump in GPU performance for me to make the jump.

 

[JonnyBravo]

I'm eager for this. Coming from an intel 2012!! which has been a workhorse...even without the current MacOS. I skipped the M1 cycle but now ready to jump with M2.

 

[pray2crom]

Is it so bad that I want a macbook pro than can play starcraft 2 at max settings running at 60fps+??? M1 max can barely run it...My 15" 2012 Macbook pro with Nvidia 1GB 650M can run it moderately well which is why I haven't upgraded yet. I don't see in value in me getting a new mac if it can't perform the same or better than what I already own. Yes I know macs aren't for gaming but given how damn reliable my 2012 macbook has been I am have been keeping the faith here.

 

[Ubele]

I bought a 2015 MacBook Pro for very cheap last year for my kid. It was in as-new condition, because it had a very recent battery replacement, and along with that came a new keyboard and top case. Also, the screen is perfect. It only came with 128 GB storage, but I did swap in a cheap Apple/Samsung OEM 256 GB SSD. That along with our iCloud account means the storage is more than enough. BTW, when I opened it up for the SSD install, I discovered it was absolutely pristine inside, with no dust anywhere. I guess Apple does a cleaning of the insides when they do that battery swap.

It feels like a modern machine, and for the time being, it effectively is, since it is running Monterey 12.6. She will be able to continue to use it for several more years, with two of those years including a full set of security updates.

My other kid is next on the list for a computer, but I don't see myself getting an Apple Silicon computer for that one either, unless I can find one for uber cheap*. Perhaps I can set up my 2014 Mac mini with 23" Apple Cinema Display (both of which I also got very cheap in the past year), or else hand down my beloved 2017 12" MacBook, as both of these machines are also running 12.6 Monterey. Actually, even my 2010 27" iMac would work, but that is starting to get more limiting. Its performance is actually OK for their needs since I installed an SSD in it, but it's limited to High Sierra so that is becoming an issue with some software, and it is no longer getting security updates.

*M1 Macs may end up being relatively affordable when I actually start looking. Next year the M1 Macs will be 3 years old. How time flies.

My 2019 27” i5 iMac is my primary computer, but my 2015 13” i5 MacBook Pro with 8 GB of RAM is my backup and still handles everything except heavy photo and video editing apps. I replaced the stock SSD with a 1 TB OWC SSD, so I have plenty of room. It has what I assume is the last version of macOS it will support, but there will be a few more years of security updates. My 2021 12.9” iPad Pro does a lot of what my MBP used to do, but it’s still nice to have a MBP around when I’m not in my home office and need to do something that’s clumsy on an iPad. I’m amazed that a seven-year-old computer is still so functional.

 

[lowkey]

Another TimApple money grab. Gotta keep the investors happy.

LOL. How is updating a model to the latest chips available a money grab?

Keeping old chips when new, faster chips are available would be a money grab.

You’re 180 degrees wrong.

 

[darngooddesign]

Another TimApple money grab. Gotta keep the investors happy.

Steve Jobs did the same thing.