Apple is expected to launch new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple Silicon chips by the end of 2021, which will put more pressure on Intel, and increase growth in the market share for laptops.
Taiwan-based research firm TrendForce says although the Apple M1 chip was officially released in November 2020, the market share only reached 0.8% by the end of that year. The first M1 Macs included a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a MacBook Air and a Mac mini.
TrendForce estimates that the few MacBook Pro models equipped with their own Apple CPU may have up to 7% of the CPU’s market share. This, coupled with a rise in AMD’s share, could put increasing pressure on Intel.
TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously predicted that new 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with an Apple chip could arrive by the second or third quarter of 2021.
Apple itself has said that the transition to Apple Silicon, which was first announced in June 2020, will take about two years. Other Apple Silicon Mac models that are reportedly underway include new iMac, Mac Pro and iMac Pro variants.
The M1 chip has been well received since its launch in 2020 and delivers performance that beats even the best Intel chips. For example, the M1 in the 13-inch MacBook Pro is almost as fast as a 16-inch MacBook Pro model with an Intel processor.
At the end of 2020, Intel was asked to make major changes or explore strategic options in light of increasing competition for disk makers