Future Apple Silicon Macs Rumored to Include Redesigned 14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro, 24-Inch iMac, and Smaller Mac Pro

[[AUT] Thomas]

That news... it's quite obvious what's going to happen soon...

To be fair, Intel is carrying baggage from the 1980's with the 8086/8088 instruction set. Lot easier to make big leaps when you start from an architectures that's 30 years newer.

To be fair, Intel is carrying that baggage because of their own lazyness. They could have put efforts into various co-processors, hybrid chips, innovative memory/storage solutions,... instead they deliberately chose to just sit on x86. And they messed up even that. intels latest gen CPUs often don't even support DDR4-3200. We are talking about i7's here. What a joke...
Meanwhile the M1 is not just an ARM CPU. That chip is packed with features...

You can hate or love Apple, but with the move to ARM they are giving the industry a huge boost. 2020 is the first year in over a decade that I feel like something is really going on in the computer industry.

Indeed. More so if the transition to ARM is quick and smooth. That will probably push the rest of the industry over the edge (of x86).
However, architecture alone is not enough... The old concept of Memory<->CPU<->GPU<->VMemory is outdated.
Today, a high bandwidth "central memory" needs to be at the core of the system rather than the processor. To that HBM bus you connect the CPU, GPU and solid-state storage. In that scenario you don't even need to load everything to real memory. Certain stuff could just reside on the storage (basically like a swap file on steroids just implemented on a lower and more efficient level). See also: ULLtra-DIMM
Apple basically already did that with the M1 in certain ways... probably also the reason why the they don't put so much memory into the machines compared to classic x86 setups.

in a world where people want compatibility how are these new Macs going to work in the corporate world on an Active Directory Microsoft Network?

They're NOT. cause they just lost the ability to run or boot windows

The 7 percent Mac share apple had to the 92 percent share of windows will dwindle.

If Microsoft wants to, they could launch a Windows on ARM VM for Mac... tomorrow.
Active Directory is not an argument for a plattform architecture. You can connect a Synology NAS to an AD if you want to... (which I did on my backup NAS).
...or just use RDS or an old-school terminal-server if you run that old software. Network speeds have increased to a level that the bandwidth requirement is neglible. Thanks to GPU acceleration this also doesn't require much ressources anymore...
More and more stuff also works just over browsers... or other plattform agnostic tools. For good reason. The approach to install complex software on clients usually comes with security concerns and high administration efforts (compared to centralized roll-out on e.g. a term server).

 

[jetjaguar]

Holding out for the smaller and hopefully cheaper mac pro

 

[filterdecay]

The core is not the same as 30 years ago.
Also if you are judging by instruction set; the ARM instruction set dates back to the 1990s. Remember the Apple Newton? It used an ARM processor.

the point is intel takes backwards compatibility seriously and apple doesnt give a hoot about the damage done during transitions.

 

[filterdecay]

Holding out for the smaller and hopefully cheaper mac pro

trashcan 2.0

 

[Jaro65]

How about a 32" iMac and iMac Pro?

 

[lakerchick4life]

Will wait for the whole new redesigned 14 inch macbook pro

 

[Krizoitz]

I for one am not excited about the new Apple Silicon. It reminds me of the PowerPC days all over again. They promised the world back then as well. We all know how that turned out.. I’ve had all of the PPC variants over their lifespan. I was very excited when Apple went to intel. From my experience and perspective, RISC processors are good on the front end, very fast. It’s the back end to me where CISC shines. I just purchased a 16 inch i9, 2TB 5600m on Monday to keep me going for awhile and I love it. So I’m going to hang on to intel for as long as I can lol..

This is nothing like the situation with the PowerPC chips.
First, Apple didn’t have direct control over those chips either, with the M1 they do.
Second, it took a lot more work back then to transition apps. Developers who worked on the M1 developer machines have already talked about having to do little to no work to get their apps running natively. Even for big apps like Office and Adobes suites it’s likely to be a lot smoother as the various frameworks such as Metal have abstracted away a lot of the architecture specific parts. Aside from games few apps are going to be leveraging chip family specific features.
Third, the first PowerPC Macs were released over 26 years ago. Apple is a massively different company now compared to then.
Fourth, Intel has repeatedly slipped deadlines with its chips in recent years. They are the one promising but being unable to deliver. That was part of the reason Apple moved on from the PowerPC in the first place, and why they are moving on again now. Based on the A series chips performance over the years Apple has already demonstrated the ability to make execute, and the M1s numbers are incredible.

If you just upgraded it would be rather silly to jump ship right away, sticking with your new 16” makes sense, but I have no doubt this transition will put the Mac on even stronger footing compared to PCs for years to come.

 

[UltimateSyn]

I wonder if they will do another batch update for the machines that get the M1X. I would assume that's the 14" and 16" MBPs and 23" iMac. Then an M1Z for the 27-30" iMac?

 

[reallynotnick]

I feel like a space grey Mac Mini Pro with an M1X is the most likely thing in store. Get 8 performance cores, somewhere between 12-24 GPU cores, back up to 4 TB ports, and support 32-64GB of RAM. Basically the same chip they'd put in the the MBP 16".

 

[DNichter]

Bummer, was hoping for a redesigned 12 inch MacBook.

 

[hwein001]

To be fair, Intel is carrying baggage from the 1980's with the 8086/8088 instruction set. Lot easier to make big leaps when you start from an architectures that's 30 years newer.

the effect of that 'baggage' I believe is very overstated - it accounts for very little these days in modern CPUs from all I've read. Intel has simply fallen way behind in their manufacturing node and architecture - just look at AMD's mobile chips which outperform with lower power usage, and these Apple chips are on 5nm while Intel is still struggling with their 10nm process (and thus still selling many at 14nm), with their 7nm chips still being delayed.

 

[Freeangel1]

I feel sorry for parallels and VMWARE.

They just lost all kinds of future business losing the ability to run windows on ARM chips instead of intel

Hackintosh on Intel and AMD is the future!

 

[Krizoitz]

in a world where people want compatibility how are these new Macs going to work in the corporate world on an Active Directory Microsoft Network?

They're NOT. cause they just lost the ability to run or boot windows

Macs running macOS have been able to join Active Directory networks for years. They don’t need to run or boot Windows to do so. I do it every weekday for my current job at a major IT company. I did it in a previous job at a major IT company located in Redmond Washington. It’s a non-issue.

You vastly overestimate the number of people who need to dual boot their OS. Even among tech professionals it’s a niche case. For some people it’s necessary but not most, ESPECIALLY Apples primary audiences: consumers, students, and creatives.

Meanwhile Microsoft ALREADY has a version of Windows that runs on ARM. I would not be at all surprised if a BootCamp or at least VM solution for ARM Windows is available before long. And Linux is already widely available on ARM as well.

As long as people can share files and use apps like Office or Photoshop there won’t be an issue with Macs running on Apple silicon for the overwhelming majority of people. And if you are one of the small percent in that edge space, the good news is Apple is still selling Intel based Macs for the time being and has stated they will provide software support for years to come.

 

[Stella]

Compared to a quad core i7 machine. It’s in Apple’s website.

It’s a ‘u’ i7 variant. Low power cpu not the higher end version.

 

[Krizoitz]

I feel sorry for parallels and VMWARE.

They just lost all kinds of future business losing the ability to run windows on ARM chips instead of intel

Hackintosh on Intel and AMD is the future!

Microsoft already makes a version of Windows that runs on ARM, as I said in a previous comment I won’t be surprised if we see that running on Apple silicon in the near future. And Linux already runs on ARM.

 

[mouthster]

the point is intel takes backwards compatibility seriously and apple doesnt give a hoot about the damage done during transitions.

If you had said Apple doesn't give a hoot about Windows compatibility, then I would agree.

 

[filterdecay]

If you had said Apple doesn't give a hoot about Windows compatibility, then I would agree.

im not talking about os. Im talking about software that is native to osx. The last transition left a lot of software behind and this one will do the same.

 

[SWAON]

It may be a dumb question, but what would be the difference of performance between the Mac book air and the MacBook Pro since they have the same ship?

- MBA is listed with 8 core CPU and 7 core GPU without active cooling, suggesting it will be M1 with lower clock speed
- MBP is listed with 8 core CPU and 8 core GPU (1 more than the Air) with active cooling, based on higher M1 clock speed probably.
- Mac Mini would be similar to MBP case, maybe just slightly different clock speed, since both have the same M1 chip or it seems on paper.

 

[utsava]

im not talking about os. Im talking about software that is native to osx. The last transition left a lot of software behind and this one will do the same.

According to Apple, the software runs faster on the M1 in Rosetta2 emulation than on the native Intel machines...

 

[kazmac]

There is little value and more compromise with the first gen M1 Macs. You would be much better of going with an existing Intel Mac if you require right away; or waiting if you can to upgrade at the end of 2022.

As editor of 9 to 5 Mac noted, look at where Apple came from in 2006s MacBook to 2008’s MacBook Air?

The 2008 MacBook Air was underpowered, expensive and beautiful, but by 2010 it became the mainstream Mac for most. I don’t think history is gonna repeat itself with an underpowered redesigned thinner Mac in 2022 (then again 2015’s redesigned butterfly MacBook wasn’t a good attempt).

But I can see innovation fruiting from the transition with refreshed designs. Just don’t go backing yourselves into a thermal corner. Remember Apple, people need these things to make unboxing videos on YouTube at 8k.

In terms of M1, maybe, maybe not. Hard to say.

Apple wasn’t making Macs I wanted prior to yesterday, now they are. The Intel 27” iMac is fine, but I need a smaller desktop and will wait. Look forward to the innovations and new designs.

That said, I needed a laptop now and am confident the new MBA will be fine for my use. Happy to get in on the ground floor.

10 points for Your 8k YT quip, that made me 😂

 

[filterdecay]

I feel like a space grey Mac Mini Pro with an M1X is the most likely thing in store. Get 8 performance cores, somewhere between 12-24 GPU cores, back up to 4 TB ports, and support 32-64GB of RAM. Basically the same chip they'd put in the the MBP 16".

You need more then 8 cores. I would think a compelling mac pro product would have 24-32 cores.

 

[filterdecay]

According to Apple, the software runs faster on the M1 in Rosetta2 emulation than on the native Intel machines...

great. Last time there was a timelimit to rossetta. Lets hope this is different. Also I dont know how much I trust somethig like avid running in emulation mode. Time will tell but I can only base my opinion on history.

 

[jonnysods]

It would make sense to turn the 13” MBP into a 14” as they are so close in specs to the MBA’s now. Especially with only 2 TB3 ports...

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

- MBA is listed with 8 core CPU and 7 core GPU without active cooling, suggesting it will be M1 with lower clock speed
- MBP is listed with 8 core CPU and 8 core GPU (1 more than the Air) with active cooling, based on higher M1 clock speed probably.

The high-end MBA also has 8 GPU cores.

 

[KawaSr]

Revolutionary Chip. Great products for average users BUT a massive disappoint for any power user who multitasks. A max limit of 16GB shared memory between system and Graphics on any of these systems including a “pro” laptop is embarrassing. I use up my 32GB and need to upgrade to accommodate my workflow and can imagine others with more complex workflows who have similar needs. THE 16” MACBOOK PRO IS PAST DUE FOR AN UPGRADE, is behind its peers with 9th gen processor instead of intel 10th gen, has a 720p camera for video conferencing and is already missing some of the new Apple technologies. How can a pro user feel comfortable spending over $6000 on 16” MacBook Pro today?