Apple Silicon Timeline July Update | MacBook Pro M1X, iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook Air M2



It’s time to take another look at the Apple Silicon Roadmap, updated based on the latest information we have!

We have pretty stuff to look at, all courtesy of the resident RenderBoi @Apple_Tomorrow, who you should go follow on twitter. And follow me too while you’re there. @iCave_Dave.

So let’s get started. Last November as you’re probably aware, we got a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini, all with Apple’s M1 inside, which was followed in the spring by the iMac with the same chip, and the iPad Pro, with also the same chip. The M1 for context consists of 4 IceStorm efficiency cores, 4 FireStorm performance cores and an 8 core GPU, with options for 8 or 16GB of unified memory, which means a single memory pool that the CPU and GPU can access at the same time, eliminating latency from copying data between discreet memory pools.

So in terms of what we don’t have yet from Apple on the Mac front, we have the larger iMac, Mac Pro and our 14” and 16” MacBook Pros. iMac and MacBook Pros are expected to feature the M1X chip, with 10 CPU cores total but split as 2 Icestorm cores and 8 firestorm cores, basically doubling the CPU performance of M1. On the GPU front, the latest rumours have pointed to 16 and 32 core graphics options too, though its not clear if it will be a choice within the systems or if the 16 core graphics will come on the smaller MacBook and maybe a 24” M1X iMac too, and the 32 core option being reserved for the 16” MacBook Pro and 30-32” iMac (though I’m thinking we may get 31.5”). I’d hope we’ll also see a Mac mini with M1X then too.

But when? Well, I’m now coming to terms with the M1X powered Macs not coming in June, and although I’ve been hearing about a July 20th possible event, the latest information I’ve heard speaks of a September introduction, at least for the MacBooks Pros. I was always skeptical that Apple would introduce the M1X and M2 close together, but the idea of M2 now not arriving until Spring 2022 means September makes more sense.

So come the Spring we’ll likely see the redesigned MacBook Air with M2, quite possibly a Mac mini and an M2 powered iPad Pro too, as in the past the AX chips have typically come at this time of year, and M1 is the successor to this line. The new MacBook Air is expected to have the new flatter design language, dropping the tapered wedge shape its had since 2008. But what is M2? Our best assumption is the same CPU core layout as M1, 4 each efficiency and performance cores, along with a new 10 core GPU, but also with 9 core versions available at the entry level price.

I’d expect the rest of the M1 line to be updated too, so a new Mac mini, new 24” iMac but whether the 13” MacBook Pro gets an M2, or they move up to the new 14” chassis or just skip M2 for the pro all together I don’t know just yet. I’d expect the current M1 MacBook Air and possibly Mac mini to stay on sale though too but potentially with a lower price point, which I’ve called the SE Macs before. They could also get smaller drives, maybe dropping to 128GB along with the price cut. I’d love to see Mac mini getting closer to $500 where it once started, and maybe a $749 MacBook Air M1.

Then at WWDC, where Apple Silicon and its 2 year rollout was first announced, I’d expect that the Mac Pro would be unveiled, and I do think that it will feature multiple M1X SOCs as we’ve heard about a 20 and 40 core version with 4/16 and 8/32 efficiency and performance core options. There’s a decent posibility that this could actually come with M2X, but regardless I expect multiple SOCs working together in these, and I also expect that their reveal at the event may still not ship until later in the year.

So before we get to answering your questions, let me know what you think of my roadmap in the comments – which do you think we have right and what’s miles off?

Sander Hoogeland
#ICaveAnswers: could you explain what people mean when they say that love to dream has retired? Because for as far as I know, he or she still does the exact same thing as they did before. What am I missing?

The weird channel Amazement
What is this thing about audio OS?

Team Kinetix
#iCaveAnswers
If the M1X and rumoured Mac Pro SOCs are as powerful as suggested, do you think there’s any risk of crypto miners buying up bulk loads of units?

With a significant shortage of next generation consoles and graphics cards at present, would Apples new processors be attractive to miners?
Can you mine using Apple silicon? ?‍♂️

The_Golden_S • 10 hours ago (edited)
#iCaveAnswers what if apple made 3 versions of the mac pro, apple silicon, ryzen threadripper and intel xeon
Why threadripper cuz why not .

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