Apple's 'M2' Next-Gen Mac Chip Enters Mass Production, Expected to Debut in Redesigned MacBooks Later This Year

[MacRumors]

Apple's custom next-generation Mac processor entered mass production this month, claims a new report today from Nikkei Asia. Tentatively dubbed the "M2" after Apple's M1 chip, the processors take at least three months to produce and could begin shipping as early as July in time for incorporation in Apple's next line of MacBooks, according to the paper's sources.

The next generation of Mac processors designed by Apple entered mass production this month, sources familiar with the matter told Nikkei Asia, bringing the U.S. tech giant one step closer to its goal of replacing Intel-designed central processing units with its own.

Shipments of the new chipset -- tentatively known as the M2, after Apple's current M1 processor -- could begin as early as July for use in MacBooks that are scheduled to go on sale in the second half of this year, the people said.

Produced by Apple supplier TSMC, Apple's custom M1 silicon made its debut late last year with the introduction of the Mac mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro, bringing considerable performance improvements and battery efficiency over the Intel chips it replaced.

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Just last week, Apple unveiled redesigned 24-inch iMacs and a new iPad Pro lineup, and to underscore the hardware capabilities of the devices, Apple kitted them out with the same 5nm-based M1 processor found in its other Apple silicon Macs.

With an 8-core CPU, up to an 8-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, unified memory architecture, and more, Apple says the M1 chip delivers up to 3.5x faster system performance, up to 6x faster graphics performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning, while enabling battery life up to 2x longer than previous-generation Macs.

Apple said in 2020 that it would take the company two years to fully transition from Intel chipsets to Apple silicon. Rumors suggest that future Apple silicon Macs will include new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with an all-new form factor as early as Q2 2021, in addition to a redesigned 27-inch iMac later this year and a smaller version of the Mac Pro, likely in 2022.


Article Link: Apple's 'M2' Next-Gen Mac Chip Enters Mass Production, Expected to Debut in Redesigned MacBooks Later This Year

 

[joecomo]

MacBook Pro arriving for End Summer ....

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This is great news. I can’t wait to order brand new MacBook Pro 💻

The beast is about to get unleashed…

 

[farewelwilliams]

Oh great

-sent from my M1 machine

 

[LeeW]

So many people will be disappointed they 'didn't wait' when this appears.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

Bring it on. I am ready for a similar experience I got when buying the 2012 13" Macbook Pro.

 

[zombierunner]

I hope the bigger imac will have more ports. I mean a desktop shouldn't have to compromise on ports. sd card atleast?

 

[amack]

That was quick, I was expecting M2 next year and the M1X this year? I wonder what the core count and GPU will be?

MacBook Pro for Oct then and maybe the fabled 30+" iMac.

 

[HeavenDynamic]

14-inch MacBook Pro LFG!

 

[Freeangel1]

I suspect the M1 will stay in the Mac mini for a few years before APPLE decides to update it.
I can see anything that uses the M2 will be pretty much money. MacBook Pro's in the $2500 range and UP.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

That was quick, I was expecting M2 next year and the M1X this year? I wonder what the core count and GPU will be?

MacBook Pro for Oct then and maybe the fabled 30+" iMac.

If the processors are ready in sufficient amounts in July, why do you think they would sit on them until October? This is not a rhetorical question, maybe there's something here I haven't thought about.

 

[Realityck]

M2 is what we want in the 27” iMac replacement and 16” MacBook Pro laptops.

 

[jinnyman]

Can't wait!
I want to replace my 16"!!

 

[matrix07]

Whatever the new generation of Apple Silicon is it will be launched on iPhone first, before any other devices including Mac.
There is no way it will be launched in July.

 

[4087258]

This is super early! Btw, I don’t believe it’s a M2, it’s just like a M1X for the MBP 16”, 14” and maybe iMac pro. Maybe 12 cores? This chip must support more than 16gb of ram and more than one 6k monitor.

 

[kk200]

This makes Mac Mini more attractive than iMac.
If the desktop can be updated like on mobile platform from now on, Mac Mini is much more invest friendly.

 

[HerbertDerb]

Maybe we shouldn't order M1 iPad Pro and wait for M2-variant?
Just kidding, lmao.

 

[Frantisekj]

That was quick, I was expecting M2 next year and the M1X this year? I wonder what the core count and GPU will be?

MacBook Pro for Oct then and maybe the fabled 30+" iMac.

Are they gonna skip M1X altogether? With this news it seems like that. It can be result of silicon shortages and decision to wait a bit and go forward with M2 right away. Let see at WWDC.

But they would leak a lot about A15 this way I guess on other side.

 

[Spike1999]

I hope the bigger imac will have more ports. I mean a desktop shouldn't have to compromise on ports. sd card atleast?

Hmm I wonder if Apple are waiting on UFS to replace SD cards.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

Whatever the new generation of Apple Silicon is it will be launched on iPhone first, before any other devices including Mac.
There is no way it will be launched in July.

It makes little sense that they would make those chips to just sit in warehouses for 2–4 months?

 

[jeremiah256]

Not for me, but for those still in the hunt for a new computer, choo choo you lucky scamps!

 

[haruhiko]

Can’t wait to have my M5 competition.

 

[J.Dillinger]

I took a new job and my new employer has strict security standards so I’m unable to use my work laptop for personal use. I’m looking forward to seeing the 14” MBP be released. I’d love to see a surprise 14” Macbook be released too. I don’t need a Pro level laptop but would like a brighter screen than the Macbook Air.

 

[DUNKonDUNKS]

LETSSSSS GOOOOOO 🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾🕺🏾

 

[Serban55]

I suspect the M1 will stay in the Mac mini for a few years before APPLE decides to update it.
I can see anything that uses the M2 will be pretty much money. MacBook Pro's in the $2500 range and UP.

Expect the 14" mbp and the bigger imac pro..to start from M1, and CTO with M2 to cost 200-400$ more