Apple Inc. has began widespread inside testing of a number of new Mac fashions with next-generation M2 chips, in response to developer logs, a part of its push to make extra highly effective computer systems utilizing homegrown processors.
The corporate is testing not less than 9 new Macs with 4 totally different M2-based chips — the successors to the present M1 line — with third-party apps in its App Retailer, in response to the logs, which have been corroborated by individuals accustomed to the matter. The transfer is a key step within the growth course of, suggesting that the brand new machines could also be nearing launch within the coming months.
The M2 chip is Apple’s newest try to push the boundaries of pc processing after a cut up with Intel Corp. lately. Apple has steadily changed Intel chips with its personal silicon, and now appears to make additional good points with a extra superior line.
After years of gradual progress, the Mac pc division loved a resurgence the previous two years, helped partially by house workplace employees shopping for new tools. The enterprise generated $35.2 billion in gross sales the previous fiscal yr, about 10% of Apple’s complete.
Despite the fact that testing is much alongside in some circumstances, there are not any ensures that each one the fashions will in the end be launched. A spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to touch upon the plans.
The brand new machines being examined embody:
- A MacBook Air with an M2 chip, codenamed J413. This Mac may have eight CPU cores, the elements that deal with the principle processing, and 10 cores for graphics. That’s up from eight graphics cores within the present MacBook Air.
- A Mac mini with an M2 chip, codenamed J473. This machine may have the identical specs because the MacBook Air. There’s additionally an “M2 Professional” variation, codenamed J474, in testing.
- An entry-level MacBook Professional with an M2 chip, codenamed J493. This too may have the identical specs because the MacBook Air.
- A 14-inch MacBook Professional with M2 Professional and “M2 Max” chips, codenamed J414. The M2 Max chip has 12 CPU cores and 38 graphics cores, up from 10 CPU cores and 32 graphics cores within the present mannequin, in response to the logs. It should even have 64 gigabytes of reminiscence.
- A 16-inch MacBook Professional with M2 Professional and M2 Max chips, codenamed J416. The 16-inch MacBook Professional’s M2 Max may have the identical specs because the 14-inch MacBook Professional model.
- A Mac Professional, codenamed J180. This machine will embody a successor to the M1 Extremely chip used within the Mac Studio pc.
Apple can be testing a Mac mini with an M1 Professional chip, the identical processor used within the entry-level 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professionals at this time. That machine is codenamed J374. The corporate has examined an M1 Max model of the Mac mini as effectively, however the brand new Mac Studio might make these machines redundant.
The brand new MacBook Air, low-end MacBook Professional and new Mac mini are scheduled to debut as early as this yr, with not less than two Macs deliberate for launch across the center of the yr, Bloomberg has beforehand reported. The brand new MacBook Air is destined to be the product’s largest redesign in its historical past, including a thinner body and MagSafe charging.
Logs maintained by builders have precisely predicted specs of upcoming Macs previously. Final yr, logs revealed that the MacBook Professional chips can be named the M1 Professional and M1 Max.
Apple hasn’t up to date the MacBook Air, Mac mini or the entry-level MacBook Professional because it launched the unique M1 chip in November 2020. Nevertheless, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professionals went on sale extra lately, in October of final yr.
This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content. Solely the headline has been modified.
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