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Apple's 'M2' Next-Gen Mac Chip Enters Mass Production, Expected to Debut in Redesigned MacBooks Later This Year
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If it comes with a 8 cores M2, it will be extremely disappointing! Wasn’t it supposed to come with a M1X (with more cores)?
Let’s hope it isn’t the M2
Let’s hope it isn’t the M2
Probably you are correct, there are references to new processors in Big Sur 11.4 beta 1.
Usually new codes for cpus are added to beta patches when the release of the cpu is planned to be around the time of release of the beta software.The beta cycle for MacOs patches is about two months, so June 2021 may be the time for new machines, with new more powerful M1 variants (WWDC 😃). M2 seems to early ... but who knows
Intel’s marketing benchmark team are going to be really busy the next few months.
My 2018 i9 hex core MBP is throttling way too much these days, can’t wait to get some cool running ARM cores.
My 2018 i9 hex core MBP is throttling way too much these days, can’t wait to get some cool running ARM cores.
Before school starts would be neat, but with the iMac and iPad Pro not coming until late May, that might be too tight.
Apple will probably carry on selling M1 Macs as 'Entry level', M2 will possibly be for the new MacBook Pro's and iMac Pro? Perhaps there will be no M1X at all?
Edit: I like how I am being negged because I speculated on a rumour...on a rumours site lol
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Extremetech had an interesting article, about how Apple uses ONE chip for everything, from the cheapest MacMini to a rather expensive iMac. And what that means for Intel, which makes money by providing many, many different chips, and PC makers who differentiate by using different chips.
With that in mind, I started thinking that maybe releasing a chip with 8 performance cores now, then another one with 12 or 16 cores later, may not really make sense. If Apple goes straight from 4+4 cores to 12+4 cores, with doubled GPU cores, and the on-chip memory just as a giant cache with more external RAM, that would be very interesting. An M2 chip would then be equivalent to 18 Intel cores. So you would have the choice between either an M1 chip for "low-end" Macs that works just fine (and better than quad core Intel chips), or an M2 which blows every Intel chip out of the water, except for the most expensive Mac Pros. And nothing in between. So nothing for people who say "I want something a bit faster". Either "M1 is just fine for me" or "I really want all the performance that I can get".
(12+4 cores and not 12+12 because more than 4 power savings cores don't make sense to me. The amount of on-chip RAM would be interesting; if you have 64GB outside the chip, the choice between 8GB or 16GB on chip would be only for performance because there is little difference between a total 72GB or a total 80GB, and 8GB might give you most of the performance gains).
So: MacMini - choice of M1 or M2. MBA - only M1, because it is only entry level. MBP - M1 or M2. iMac 24" ??? iMac 27/30" ???
And of course nobody knows what Apple will call the chips. They could call them all M1. And next year's chips, whether 4 or 8 or 12 cores would be M2, and M3 the year after that and M10 in 2030.
With that in mind, I started thinking that maybe releasing a chip with 8 performance cores now, then another one with 12 or 16 cores later, may not really make sense. If Apple goes straight from 4+4 cores to 12+4 cores, with doubled GPU cores, and the on-chip memory just as a giant cache with more external RAM, that would be very interesting. An M2 chip would then be equivalent to 18 Intel cores. So you would have the choice between either an M1 chip for "low-end" Macs that works just fine (and better than quad core Intel chips), or an M2 which blows every Intel chip out of the water, except for the most expensive Mac Pros. And nothing in between. So nothing for people who say "I want something a bit faster". Either "M1 is just fine for me" or "I really want all the performance that I can get".
(12+4 cores and not 12+12 because more than 4 power savings cores don't make sense to me. The amount of on-chip RAM would be interesting; if you have 64GB outside the chip, the choice between 8GB or 16GB on chip would be only for performance because there is little difference between a total 72GB or a total 80GB, and 8GB might give you most of the performance gains).
The M1 Macs _are_ "entry level". They are just astonishingly fast "entry level" computers, which confuses many people. Now the existing machines all make sense. I'd think that every line except maybe the MBA will gain an M2-based model. What I would find interesting is whether Apple would build the 27" iMac (probably upgraded to 30") with an M1 at all, or only with the more powerful M2.
So: MacMini - choice of M1 or M2. MBA - only M1, because it is only entry level. MBP - M1 or M2. iMac 24" ??? iMac 27/30" ???
And of course nobody knows what Apple will call the chips. They could call them all M1. And next year's chips, whether 4 or 8 or 12 cores would be M2, and M3 the year after that and M10 in 2030.
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No I'm going to wait for the M3X. Just joking TAKE MY MONEY APPLE!
Why would you want a laptop chip in your iMac? I want a desktop-class M2 in my iMac. I also want it bigger than 27".
A few possibilities:
- despite the name, this chip isn't as low-end as the M1 was, and adds features like four (say) monitors, four Thunderbolt ports, and eGPU support (I'm not sure if this one is even a hardware limitation or simply a software feature waiting to be ported). Meanwhile, the current M1 Macs stay on the M1 for a while, and perhaps move downward in price, slightly.
- the rumor is slightly inaccurate/incomplete, in that the real story is that this is a whole family of M2 CPUs, e.g. M2L, M2, M2X.
If they produce a 30 inch iMac with one of these chips and Face ID, then I would be very tempted.
This naming is confusing though?
If this M2 would be used in higher end iMacs, higher end Macbook Pros and lower end Mac Pros.... I would assume M3 which would launch in 2022 would be even more powerful, thus being designed for higher end Mac Pros (and maybe re-introduction of iMac Pro).
What would then an updated version of Macbook Air use? Or Mac Mini? Lower end Macbook Pros? Lower end iMacs? Everything that currently uses M1 basically?
If this M2 would be used in higher end iMacs, higher end Macbook Pros and lower end Mac Pros.... I would assume M3 which would launch in 2022 would be even more powerful, thus being designed for higher end Mac Pros (and maybe re-introduction of iMac Pro).
What would then an updated version of Macbook Air use? Or Mac Mini? Lower end Macbook Pros? Lower end iMacs? Everything that currently uses M1 basically?
This will be nice for the people who require it. The current Apple silicon already provides more than enough performance for my needs, so no regrets about jumping in early.
The M1 is great but it was always my plan to wait for 2nd gen. I guess it’s just a habit. I like to let others test it out and wait for the tech to mature. Doesn’t seem to be any need for that with Apple Silicon but whatever. Also, my PC is still quite capable so in no rush to upgrade it but I am ready to come “Back to Mac” after 9 years away.
I’m hoping we get a 27+ inch iMac with an M2 in it. If for whatever reason that doesn’t seem like a good choice I would probably want a 16 inch MacBook Pro.
I’m hoping we get a 27+ inch iMac with an M2 in it. If for whatever reason that doesn’t seem like a good choice I would probably want a 16 inch MacBook Pro.
Fits well with being announced at DubDub in June.
Is eGPU support confirmed? Was hoping for this but haven't seen it mentioned yet.
If it is in fact M2 and not M1X, I can see that:
2021 - M1 Low end, M2 High end
2022 - M2 Low end, M3 High end etc…
I still think M1X makes more sense though.
2021 - M1 Low end, M2 High end
2022 - M2 Low end, M3 High end etc…
I still think M1X makes more sense though.
Was thinking about getting the M1 Air, or will it be upgraded in Sept/Oct and worth the wait? 
July is the earliest the first run of M2 would go out. They still need to be soldered on to the motherboard which needs to be installed in the housing. Then sufficient quantities have to build up for the preordering period.
It will be October , not late summer.
I'm coming from the future and have been using M7 on my iPhone for years.
No.
Either they haven't gotten around to implementing it on ARM, or they are waiting for a hardware component that isn't on the M1, or they aren't planning to do it at all.
Good. Apple shouldn't have put M1 in the 24" iMac and iPad Pro. It's like reusing a old chip. They used the same chip to launch products at two different times. After the MacBook Air, Pro, and mini in Nov 2020, they should move on to M2 immediately.