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Which New Mac Will Apple Release at Its March Event?
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If they wanted to do that they would have done it already.
The M2 will be based on newer cores (either A15 or A16 depending on timing) and will be 10-25% faster per core then an M1, so thats quite a bit. Put it on a smaller process and the energy saving will be significant giving them the headroom to add more core even in entry level device.
A M1ProLite on the other hand would cost more to make (even more if they don't use over a wide range products) and use more energy.
So in short, growing "M1" to fit a (i)MacPro might still be possible but the time for adding more midlevel config has passed (unless they are binned down from an higher tier)
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Define "competitive."
Take a MBpro MAX. Cut off laptop-specific features (battery, keyboard, lid/screen/camera, dual speakers, etc). Package that in a little case that nicely fits what is left. Price it up to as much as the MBpro. Logically, Apple makes MORE profit on that than they do on the MBpros. So if "competitive" is about profit/margin, that may be the most profitable, highest-margin Mac Apple sells.
Now get a bit more real and trim the pricing a bit to make it more (consumer) rational that it is all the same inside as a MBpro minus laptop parts. It's STILL able to be priced lower than similarly-equipped MBpro but also be the most profitable Mac Apple sells.
In other words, if "competitive" is about making Apple money, that's easy by simply pricing this Super Mini accordingly.
If "competitive" is the other end of the buy:sell equation: value as seen through the lens of consumers, does a Mac Mini PRO & MAX equivalent to MBpros sans laptop parts have consumer appeal? For this consumer, the answer is definitely YES! I buy immediately.
What if there is an identically configured iMac "Pro" rolled out at the same time? This consumer still wants the Super Mini, UNLESS that iMac is the no-rumors-whatsoever iMac Ultra-Wide as I'm very much mentally on the train of next Mac being either Super Mini or rumored Mac Pro Jr paired with an ultra-wide monitor. I've enjoyed iMacs for over a decade but my last one just conked and I'm through "throwing baby out with the bathwater" when one dead part kills the "whole." In one (technological) "stroke," I lost my best monitor, my most useful (for work) Mac and my best (bootcamp) Windows PC (sometimes also needed for work). Lesson learned.
Am I representative of a large group of Mac buyers? I don't know. From reading many rumor posts here since Super Mini rumors have been flying, it looks like a lot of us want to buy a Super Mini. Are we representative of the consumer masses who don't hang out here? Probably not.
But then I still see an Intel Mini in the mix now, positioned and priced as the most powerful Mini ABOVE Silicon offerings. If a more powerful Mini didn't sell, it seems that would have been retired on launch of M1 Minis. Thus, I expect something more than only an M2 Mini filling that one's shoes. IMO, a new M2 Mini will simply replace the M1 Mini at the "entry level" pricing & power end. Something else retires that remaining Intel Mini from the mix.
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When they release the new MBA, I would like to see Apple offer a "MacBook SE", which would basically be the current MBA with traditional color options (space grey, silver, & gold) and an updated M2 chip.
If Apple could offer an MB SE for $899 retail, they would dominate the education, home, and office market. I suspect that Apple's production and supply chain for the current MBA is pretty mature and efficient at this point. This would nicely complete the "SE" line-up.
iPhone SE
iPad
Apple Watch SE
AirPods
Mac mini
MacBook SE
If Apple could offer an MB SE for $899 retail, they would dominate the education, home, and office market. I suspect that Apple's production and supply chain for the current MBA is pretty mature and efficient at this point. This would nicely complete the "SE" line-up.
iPhone SE
iPad
Apple Watch SE
AirPods
Mac mini
MacBook SE
I get it, I do. A super powered Mac Mini would be awesome. A complete validation of the small form factor. I would love it if they did, but I really don't see it being a big focus of their product line. Essentially, from a profit angle, it's a dead end. Most people likely won't use an Apple monitor, keyboard, or mouse. It's a dead end. You buy one, and that's it.
AND don't forget that Apple doesn't 'half butt' their products as much as people think. The Mini is not an Intel empty box. It's a well engineered 'system', and they spent a lot of time working out the angles for that 'box'. And look at an Apple TV! Engineered to an extreme.
Apple *might* come out with a turbocharged Mini, but I just can't believe they would.
But a larger iMac? 30"? I'd believe that before the former. And they would very likely make a larger monitor equipped iMac a supercharged beast. Heck, even a 32" would be 'too big', until people actually use it. (But maybe a 30" would sell better)
But whatever... There are a lot of things that 'make sense' for Apple to do as a product, and yet they just can't go too extreme as well. Someone honestly suggested a 48" iMac. WOW! Um, that would be a no holds barred MONSTER, and would likely sell well for video and other functions, but wow... Apple would sooner be bought by Dell than do that. It's unrealistic.
Whatever Apple releases, many people will be disappointed, some will be overjoyed, and life will go on...
Anything other than a high end mini would be a joke.
It would make complete sense, as it would end up the cycle for the current M1 Pro/Max.
We'd then have a 12-core M1 Max in the iMac Pro (or an M1 Max Duo) and the first M2s from this summer.
Would be pretty weird to come up with an M2 before the last M1 Pro/Max machines.
Of course that's what I think, apple can be unpredictable, some times.
It would make complete sense, as it would end up the cycle for the current M1 Pro/Max.
We'd then have a 12-core M1 Max in the iMac Pro (or an M1 Max Duo) and the first M2s from this summer.
Would be pretty weird to come up with an M2 before the last M1 Pro/Max machines.
Of course that's what I think, apple can be unpredictable, some times.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
For whom is it a "dead end?" If it is priced equiv to MBpro sans laptop-specific parts, Apple makes just as much profit as they do by selling a MBpro. Besides, Apple doesn't even have a consumer-priced monitor to sell right now anyway. And admittedly, if me, I use the Apple keyboard and Apple mouse I already own. But when either conk, I probably replace them with another from Apple.
Apple's big "loss"- if it is one- is their brand is not on the monitor for Mac Mini buyers. But that's pretty much been the case since they exited the consumer market a long time ago for this line of Macs and situations where people use MBs as desktops (lids closed).
If someone buys iMac instead, that's just as "dead end" because monitor, keyboard and mouse are "thrown in." So any concept of accessory add-ons from Apple is just as dead-ended with an "all in one" sale... perhaps more so since at least some Mini buyers probably will ADD a keyboard and mouse at purchase, probably from Apple if they don't already have one... or perhaps if they think they NEED one from Apple for full compatibility, etc.
On "half butt," I fully agree. However, perhaps this is just wishful observation, but it seems there have been many more and more-consistent rumors for this Super Mini than there have been for a new iMac. Knowledgable rumor-mongers seem pretty convinced that iMac "bigger" is not hitting in MAR. Even the exact screen size seems not yet fully pinned down. Yes, they could be wrong.
So I'll hold to expectations of Super Mini announcement at this MAR event... more so than iMac. If priced as modern Apple prices things, Super Mini may be their most profitable Mac until maybe iMac Bigger or even Mac Pro (Jr) are for sale.
I would say the high end Mac mini and new Apple monitors will show-up at the spring event.
The new Apple Pencil will join the stage and receive a standing ovation.
AirPods Pro 2?..true wireless for lossless
A teaser for the coming rugged Watch...
The new Apple Pencil will join the stage and receive a standing ovation.
AirPods Pro 2?..true wireless for lossless
A teaser for the coming rugged Watch...
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Bug-Creator, would you please, please, please buy a high end, maxed-out Mac Mini before March? Please, please, please! 
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It’d make no sense to launch the M2 into the basic MBP. Actually that model should be retired completely given the Air, but it’s tradition to have one at this point.
My guess is the 13 is qUiEtLy refreshed so it loses the revolutionary Touch Bar but keeps the M1. The only way they put an M2 in it is if they announce several products that will have it.
My guess is the 13 is qUiEtLy refreshed so it loses the revolutionary Touch Bar but keeps the M1. The only way they put an M2 in it is if they announce several products that will have it.
There's no reason to expect the M2 to support more ports than a M1 - which seems to max out at 2xTB3, 2xUSB3.1 and 10GB Ethernet (which, quite frankly, isn't bad apart from needing hubs/docks to make the most of the TB3 ports).
The M2 (regular) as rumoured is not a new superpowered monster that will leave the M1 Pro/Max - it's the replacement for the M1 chip and is intended for low/mid-range laptops and entry-level desktops. It will be a bit faster (50% would be really impressive) than the M1 and a bit more power efficient - and that's a trade-off, so Apple might decide to major on battery life. The M1 Pro has (roughly) twice as many CPU and GPU cores which - on multi-threaded workloads as found in (e.g.) pro video prodiction - will count for more than the M2's modest increase in the speed of individual cores. For some tasks that parallalise well, doubling the cores will nearly double the speed.
An M2 Pro and M2 Max may very well follow (unless Apple changes course) - and will be modestly faster than the M1 Pro and M2 Max - but they're extended, harder/more expensive-to-make versions of the M2, so that will come first.
Meanwhile, even the M2 Max won't have enough legs to match the higher Intel Mac Pro configurations - the speculation is that it is going to use SoCs with, effectively, 2 or 4 M1 Max dies in a single package. Maybe, by the time it actually comes out, it will be using dual/quad versions of M2 Max or suchlike but it's pretty unlikely to be the debut for M2 tech. Frankly, a M2 Air or 13" MBP with better battery life would be a more important product for Apple.
Why not?
But since the M2 die would still sit on an extra PCB next to the RAM to form the SoC there is no reason why they couldn't design that to be 1:1 drop in for any M1 platform and give the iMac an annual specbump.
So to be clear, Apple is probably going to have an event on March 08, where they may or may not introduce 1 or more new macs that are either based on existing silicon or the next generation of silicon. If they do, the new macs are expected to be faster than the old ones, and will replace other macs currently in the lineup.
Yeah, I can believe that.
I know it’s a rumor site, but speculation that the sun is going to rise in the East shouldn’t make headlines.
Whatever they release, I just hope it’s really cool.
Yeah, I can believe that.
I know it’s a rumor site, but speculation that the sun is going to rise in the East shouldn’t make headlines.
Whatever they release, I just hope it’s really cool.
I would be surprised if they announced a new system that was slower than their current models, but they have done that in their distant past. At least many people at the time thought the 'new and improved' was a mess, and a miss...
EDIT: On 'really cool': I was serious about a ring shaped Mac Mini. They have done almost every other shape. Well, sphere and triangle are not past products, so maybe a Mac Mini 'Power Triangle'? With an LED on the top? Oh, I guess sphere was nearly there with the earlier iMac with the stalk mounted screen. I still like that design. Went to order one and got the new, then, all-in-one 'big foot' design instead. He who hesitates...
If apples so desperate to get the m2 they will re release the 2016 MBP with an M2….no way we dont see an m2 mini also
The M1 and M1 Pro/Max are the same chip in that they use the same core microarchitecture design - Firestorm (performance) and Icestorm (efficiency). Core counts have been increased, specialized media engines have been added, but the core microarchitecture is the same, hence why the M1 and M1 Pro/Max have the same single core scores in Geekbench.
The M2 will utilize either the Blizzard and Avalanche core designs from the A15 or whatever weather phenomenon codename cores Apple creates for the A16. They will offer faster single-core performance and likely a boost in graphics performance per core as well, but will trail the M1 Pro/Max in multicore performance and in turn heavily threaded workloads.
Apple's strategy on this is fairly clear. M# chips go in consumer machines like the MacBook Air, low-end Mac mini and smaller iMac. The M# Pro/Max chips go in higher end machines like the larger MBP, upcoming larger iMac, and the higher end Mac mini. If apple makes any changes it may be to put the binned 8 core version of the M1 Pro in the 13" MBP, but I doubt that. I also doubt Apple will make a specialized die just for lower end machines, they like to use standardized components as much as possible to save money.
I do agree it's unlikely we'll see the M2 debut at this event but it is most definitely coming sometime this year.
Dodecahedron for the win!
Imagine a d20 Mac mini. It would be the ultimate gaming computer! /s
several times.
January 2005
February 2006
October 2012
October 2014
October 2018
November 2020
A: because the pro and max chips take much longer to create and produce on a massive scale. Especially when moving to a new NM process, Apple always announces it on their consumer end chips before they’re more professional chips.
IE: A10 was introduced on the iPhone in September 2016, but A10X wasn’t introduced until June 2017.
B: I don’t think most customers will care. It’s been this way with the iPad for years, in 2020 the iPad Pro got the A12Z while the iPad Air was already on the A14.
Yeah, I seriously doubt that a new SOC like an M2 would pop up in an iMac so soon. Well, unless it's just a minor tweak of the current M1.
But who knows...
Apple could declare that the M1 is for mobile, and the M2 is for the rest (except the mini and pow end Imac?). Stay tuned. I'll be waiting with baited breath...