M2 Chip Rumored to Arrive in 2022 With Redesigned MacBook Air

[Tagbert]

I tend to doubt that Apple will continue the 'X' designation with the M series.

They may or may not use "X" but they need to differentiate the base level chips from the mid level and high end.

Something like this. Exact naming would be a marketing decision.

features	base configuration	more RAM, more cores, more GPU	More more more of everything
machines	Air/Mini/iMac	MBP/large iMac	Mac Pro
initial series cores based on A14	M1	M1x		2021
faster core design based on A15	M2	M2x	M2z	2022

 

[kyeblue]

whatever Apple Silicon is going to be called, new Macs should support more system memory, say up to 128G if not 256G

 

[ghanwani]

Still hoping new MBA will be announced this year. I need to upgrade my 2019 and the display on the 2020 M1 isn't working for me.

 

[jk73]

M1X for the MacBook Pro sucker buyers expecting the M2! LOL! To much! M2 has a thinner wafer (4nm) so it going be be much faster and cooler at the same time with less battery needed to run!

I thought the M1 was already ridiculously fast and cool? How much faster and cooler could the M2 be to the point that M1X buyers (who are currently using Intel MBPs) would be disappointed?

 

[SactoGuy18]

I believe that the M2 will have the same processing core counts as the M1, but with two more GPU cores. And the possibility of a revised memory controller to allow access of up to 32 GB of RAM.

 

[Apple_Robert]

So is MacRumors finally going to stop insisting that the new Pros are getting the M2?

MR has never insisted that although some individual members opined such is likely.

 

[subjonas]

Not at all confusing the iPad pros have had X based chips for a long time. A8X, A9X, A10X and A12X

Is A8x better than A9? I honestly have no idea. I don’t think any of my friends would know either. It might make more sense to use a different prefix letter altogether, like P, to better distinguish. M1 P1, M2 P2, etc. As long as the number is the same to indicate same base generation chip.

 

[theluggage]

I thought the M1 was already ridiculously fast and cool?

The M2 will be 1 faster and cooler than the M1.

Possibly the MIX is Roman numerals, in which case it will be 8 more fasterer and coolerer than the M1.

 

[Michael Scrip]

The M2 will be 1 faster and cooler than the M1.

Possibly the MIX is Roman numerals, in which case it will be 8 more fasterer and coolerer than the M1.

I'm waiting until they go to 11

 

[Karma*Police]

Does sound confusing that the M1X would be 'better' than the M2.

It’s a horrible idea and would be a marketing disaster. M2 should absolutely be the more powerful processor.

 

[jk73]

It’s a horrible idea and would be a marketing disaster. M2 should absolutely be the more powerful processor.

“The M2 is this year’s; the M1X is last year’s, improved” isn’t really Apple-esque marketing.

 

[CWallace]

It’s a horrible idea and would be a marketing disaster. M2 should absolutely be the more powerful processor.

Well M2 will be more powerful than M1, if not as powerful as M1X.

 

[alphaswift]

Sounds like Apple will go with the tick-tock cadence Intel used to use before they lost their mojo and had to abandon it. M1X in 2021, M2 in 2022, M2X in 2023…..

seems like a good way to relieve pressure on delivering a new gen CPU every year.

 

[ajfahey]

I tend to doubt that Apple will continue the 'X' designation with the M series.

I tend to disagree with you. Optimized and extended function MnX processors for pro versions makes perfect sense against Mn for entry versions.

 

[ajfahey]

Do you think the M processors will be upgraded every 2 years?

Initially, yes. Eventually processor feature size reduction will become asymptotic.

 

[ajfahey]

Maybe.

I'm thinking M2/M3 launch at same time, or closely. Or M2/M2X for standard/pro.

You’re way ahead of your skis.

 

[ondert]

This transition needs to accelerate. Are they going to achieve it within two years liked they promised? Having only one chip and its bigger brother (M1 and M1x) after two years will be frustrating for a 2.3 trillion dollar company. There should be more choices like M1z or whatever you say.

 

[ajfahey]

whatever Apple Silicon is going to be called, new Macs should support more system memory, say up to 128G if not 256G

Certainly 16GB as base with 32GB as option for MBP, at least initially. 32/64GB later. Hard to imagine uses cases for laptops beyond that in the medium term But then my first PC maxed out at 2 MB of Ram. 😎

 

[ajfahey]

It’s a horrible idea and would be a marketing disaster. M2 should absolutely be the more powerful processor.

Why? M1 eXtended to 4 TB ports and 16/32 GB of RAM with active cooling for higher operational frequencies sounds about right.

 

[317342]

The faster we can rid ourselves of Intel's rubbish, the better.

 

[jk73]

Why? M1 eXtended to 4 TB ports and 16/32 GB of RAM with active cooling for higher operational frequencies sounds about right.

People who hang out here will understand the performance difference, but it’s going to be confusing for average consumers to see $3,000 MBPs shipping with an older generation of silicon than the $900 MBAs.

 

[transpo1]

Sounds like Apple will go with the tick-tock cadence Intel used to use before they lost their mojo and had to abandon it. M1X in 2021, M2 in 2022, M2X in 2023…..

seems like a good way to relieve pressure on delivering a new gen CPU every year.

That would make sense

 

[One2Grift]

The real question is....is Apple going to start to use the M series chips in the iphones and maybe phase out the A series of chips of time...or relegate them to the lower cost phones and ipads. So the iphone pro could have the mx while the base model would have the a series?

Interesting. Another poster in a different thread noted companies don't like to rely on the same line for all product offerings. IF that logic holds true then A series will continue to see newer releases and their place in the iPhone. Plus A and M already are on the same arc. Is there a pressing need to go all M?

But an M in the Pro Max? Interesting if nothing else...

 

[LeeW]

Not at all confusing the iPad pros have had X based chips for a long time. A8X, A9X, A10X and A12X

You know that, as do many that follow such things but the general Apple consumer does not. Show your Average Apple consumer 3 identical devices apart from an M1, M1X, or M2 chip, they will pick M2 assuming it is better.

All I am saying is that it is confusing for most, and it is.

 

[lowkey]

I mean, M1 in 2020, M2 in 2022... I see a pattern there. Maybe we’ll have the X version on the remaining years. Like M1 in 2020, M1X in 2021, M2 in 2022, M2X in 2023, M3 in 2024, M3X in 2025... and so on. Just an idea.

I think the chip updates will be yearly, with a 6 month offset between high end and low end. At least that’s what I hope. The current roll out, like pretty much everything at the moment is affected by Covid and chip manufacturing shortages.

Q1 M1
Q3 M1X
Q1 M2
Q3 M2X

iPhone chips are updated each year, so I think the M series chips will do the same.