Mac With Apple-Designed Arm Processor Coming in First Half of 2021

[MacRumors]

Apple's first Mac with a processor designed in house is set to be released during the first half of 2021, Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo said in a note to investors this morning that was obtained by MacRumors.

There are no other details provided about the new Mac that's in the works, but the detail confirms multiple past rumors that have suggested Apple is working on custom Arm-based processors designed in-house that would allow it to transition away from Intel. Over the years, Apple's product releases have been stymied by Intel chip delays, and with its own chips, Apple will not be tied to Intel chip release cycles.

Earlier information indicated Apple could begin using Arm-based chips as soon as 2020, but Kuo's note indicates a new Mac with an Apple-designed chip won't be released this year.

Apple is said to be moving to Arm-based chips in an effort to make Macs, iPhones, and iPads work together and run the same apps. Apple's iPhones and iPads already use Arm-based chip technology, and there are custom Apple-created T2 chips in the iMac Pro and recent MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Pro models.

Kuo's detail about an upcoming Mac with an Apple-designed chip is a tidbit mentioned briefly in a note that suggests 5-nanometer chip architecture will be the "core technology" in Apple's new products in the next 12 to 18 months.

We expect that Apple's new products in 12-18 months will adopt processors made by 5nm process, including the new 2H20 5G iPhone, new 2H20 iPad equipped with mini LED, and new 1H21 Mac equipped with the own-design processor. We think that iPhone 5G support, iPad's adoption of innovative mid-size panel technology, and Mac's first adoption of the own-design processor are all Apple's critical product and technology strategies. Given that the processor is the core component of new products, we believe that Apple had increased 5nm-related investments after the epidemic outbreak. Further, Apple occupying more resources of related suppliers will hinder competitors' developments.

The new Mac with Apple-designed chip, the 2020 5G iPhone, and a high-end iPad with a mini LED display rumored for the second half of 2020 are said to use 5-nanometer chips. Chips built on a 5-nanometer node will be faster and more efficient than the A13 chips used in the most recent iPhones that are built on a 7-nanometer+ process.

Apple is said to have become "more aggressive" when it comes to research, development, and production for 5-nanometer chip technology, ramping up investments to reduce uncertainty caused by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in China.

Article Link: Mac With Apple-Designed Arm Processor Coming in First Half of 2021

 

[DHagan4755]

Ta-ta, Intel.

 

[EugW]

The design is going to be interesting. I don't think they will necessarily use the same chips as in the iPad Pros.

Will there be Rosetta-like software?

That said, an A14X would be fast enough for a lot of usage, even with Rosetta-like translation.

 

[Freida]

so it begins

 

[benshive]

I'd like to see a Mac with an AMD chip but given how impressive Apple's recent mobile processors have been I'm sure this will be pretty great.

 

[G4DPII]

All the first post does is link to the 3 line article you've posted on the front page.

Where is the link to the actual source?

 

[venom600]

The concern i have is that they are going to lock it down hard. This 16" Macbook Pro may be my last Mac, particularly if they remove bootcamp functionality.

 

[cardfan]

So dumb. First Catalina. Now this. Nothing worthwhile will run on it.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Unless they have an absolutely killer x86 and x64 interpreter, then the last Intel Macbook might be the last Macbook I buy.

There is just soooooooo much great software available for x86/x64 that is designed for traditional desktops and laptops that a switch away from x86/x64 would be giving up. Don't get me wrong, ARM is great but then might as well just have an iPad.

 

[Rudy69]

There's two ways this can go.... They can cream the current Macs and make everyone drool over the new machines. Or they'll have similar performance as the Arm Windows laptops.

Knowing Apple I think it's been a long time coming and the new CPUs will be really fast, otherwise they'd stick to Intel or expend their x64 lineups with AMD. Apple has made MacOS extremely platform agnostic. We often over estimate the % of people who really care what platform the OS is running. Yes some people would stop buying macs because it won't work with Windows but that's a minority and might not even be an issue since MS has an Arm version if you really care enough about it.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I am guessing this will come on a MacBook first.

 

[xnu]

Apple is an incredibly innovative company, but I am not feeling great about this. I hope I am wrong. I happen to like the progress AMD is making and really would hope to see some of their products in Macs. Sure iPhones, iPads and perhaps even an ultra portable for an Apple chip, but I like my desktop with a standard processor having lived through Motorola and the PowerPC eras.

 

[macintoshmac]

It's happening. Wonder how smooth this would be, people will still have enough to complain about.

 

[Roscorito]

What happened to 2020? ☹️

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I'm all for this. The only non-Apple apps I use anymore are Photoshop and Lightroom and my understanding is that the iPad versions of these apps are pretty capable, so as long as it will run competent versions of these apps, I'll gladly buy an ARM MacBook.

 

[Lucifer666]

YES!

Intel has gotten too fat & lazy, and allowed themselves to get a decade behind.

So it's time to leave them behind

 

[MacLawyer]

I need Bootcamp. Period. I *don't* want a slow virtual layer between me and the Windows apps I need to run.

 

[citysnaps]

Still don't think it will be ARM-based, rather, a full-custom Apple design. Stay tuned!

 

[Kagio]

I'm tech savvy but have a limit..

Would someone explain to me what are the implications of this?

Here's some context with why I (average user) care about it: I've been wanting to buy a MBP for years now, waiting for that combo (redesign, hardware related issues control i.e keyboard, etc) just generally the "next era" MBP. With the rumored comeback of the magic keyboard, I'm inclined to buy this next one (sad the 14 inch wishful thinking never translated in a single leak). But this is more of a convenience purchase, not a "need" right now; so I could easily wait one more year.

So, some intriguing questions:

• Will ARM processors run everything? i.e will it be a seamless tansition for us?
• Would this sole change make you careful about buying the first gen ARM based macs?
• What other implications would all this mean? (pro/cons)

Hopefully some of you care or simply find entertaining to help/explain all this!

Regards,

 

[emmab2006]

i have to Agree with @MacLawyer i still rely on the Virtualization as well.

 

[hotdwag]

Apple should be able to support two architectures and perhaps that's what they will do. With catalyst and the ability to compile binaries to specific architectures it would make sense. While Apple's ARM design seems great on low power and portable devices I wonder how it would perform scaled up vs. high end offerings from AMD and Intel x86/64.

It might not be true for everyone, but they will loose a lot of short and some long term business if they jump to ARM and dump x86 completely. They would probably emulate code like they did with Rosetta and PPC, though I doubt performance would be comparable to native architecture unless they optimized like crazy.

One of the main reasons I like mac hardware is the ability to virtualize and run bootcamp allowing tons of flexibility and use. I suppose it depends if the PC industry as a whole transitions to ARM, though I only see that for low powered devices.

If Apple releases an ARM Macbook / Air with passible x86 emulation, but keeps the x86/64 line for the "Pro" series that seems like a smart move.

 

[ruslan120]

I think improving the T2 is a better way to go. Slowly increase what the T2 can handle, make it an actual “co-processor” which is powerful and power efficient which runs basic programs, and include an x86 chip for compatibility for the first few years.

 

[g.a.papavasileiou]

I am guessing Apple will keep 2 lines of products, both Intel (iMac, Macbook Pro) and Arm (Macbook, iPads etc).

 

[cardfan]

Unless they have an absolutely killer x86 and x64 interpreter, then the last Intel Macbook might be the last Macbook I buy.

There is just soooooooo much great software available for x86/x64 that is designed for traditional desktops and laptops that a switch away from x86/x64 would be giving up. Don't get me wrong, ARM is great but then might as well just have an iPad.

It basically will be an iPad running iPad type apps. Or maybe some of that catalyst garbage. But it won’t be a Mac.

 

[KPOM]

12” MacBook making a return?