So do we now know the future of the Mac refresh cycles…

[James Godfrey]

Just been having a think about this…

Late 2020 - A14 launched, so did M1 which is sort of an A14X

Late 2021 - We get M1 Pro and M1 Max

So for the future I expect…

Late 2022 - A16 will launch, we will get M2 which will be sort of an A16X

Late 2023 - We get M2 Pro and M2 Max

-

So looking at this I think we can expect 24 month refresh cycles for the entire Mac line up and the iPad Pro’s

Early - Mid 2022 (M1 Pro / Max)
Likely see Mac Mini (High end) and iMac Pro, Mac Pro

Late 2022 - Early 2023 (M2)
Likely see iPad Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini (entry), iMac, maybe entry MBP

Late 2023 - Mid 2024 (M2 Pro / Max)
Likely see high end MBP, Mac Mini (High end), iMac Pro, Mac Pro

 

[skaertus]

Just been having a think about this…

Late 2020 - A14 launched, so did M1 which is sort of an A14X

Late 2021 - We get M1 Pro and M1 Max

So for the future I expect…

Late 2022 - A16 will launch, we will get M2 which will be sort of an A16X

Late 2023 - We get M2 Pro and M2 Max

-

So looking at this I think we can expect 24 month refresh cycles for the entire Mac line up and the iPad Pro’s

Early - Mid 2022 (M1 Pro / Max)
Likely see Mac Mini (High end) and iMac Pro, Mac Pro

Late 2022 - Early 2023 (M2)
Likely see iPad Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini (entry), iMac, maybe entry MBP

Late 2023 - Mid 2024 (M2 Pro / Max)
Likely see high end MBP, Mac Mini (High end), iMac Pro, Mac Pro

Well, is the M1 a derivative of A14? I am not sure, as the A15 of the iPhone 13 has similar single-core performance as the M1.

I think Apple will probably upgrade the processors yearly to keep all of them at the same pace.

Plus, competition is coming with Intel, Qualcomm, and others, gearing up to top Apple. Apple will need to upgrade the processors frequently in this forthcoming scenario of increased competition.

 

[James Godfrey]

Well, is the M1 a derivative of A14? I am not sure, as the A15 of the iPhone 13 has similar single-core performance as the M1.

I think Apple will probably upgrade the processors yearly to keep all of them at the same pace.

Plus, competition is coming with Intel, Qualcomm, and others, gearing up to top Apple. Apple will need to upgrade the processors frequently in this forthcoming scenario of increased competition.

I can’t see the entire chip set updating on a yearly basis… it has took them over 18 months already to transition from Intel over to apple silicon since the announcement in June last year and they haven’t even finished the full line up yet.

The earliest we are going to see M2 in anything will be late 2022 as it is no way launching in an iPad Pro in early 2022, and we know from Kuo that the MacBook Air isn’t coming until late 2022, which will mean the Air wouldn’t have refreshed by that point for 2 years.

Plus I believe Apple won’t want any marketing confusion with general consumers thinking M2 is better than M1 Pro or Max… so I fully expect they will want the entire M1 Series line up launched before M2 even sees the light of day… I expect the Mac Pro Mac Mini high end and possibly the iMac Pro to debut at WWDC 2022, which will firstly complete the M1 series line up and secondly will allow apple to announce at the event that they have completed the transition to Apple Silicon within the two year period they announced at WWDC 2020.

Then once fall 2022 arrives we will likely see M2 announced alongside the MacBook Air, Mac Mini (entry) and iPad Pro’s.

I understand that yeah Apple will have to keep up with competition but they have a massive head start in that regard, so I don’t think that will be a primary focus at this point, maybe once Intel etc start catching up a good few years down the line, then potentially we may see certain products getting updated more regular via site refresh etc…