As powerful and efficient as the Apple M1 – powered MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini, some Mac fans have decided to skip the first Apple Silicone – powered laptops in the hope that everything that follows come, can be better.
This is a reasonable strategy if you do not live at the forefront of the computer. Apple is almost certain to update its two most popular laptops with even faster M-series processors. These chips are also likely to reach more Apple desktops and laptops in the coming months.
So what new features and performance enhancements can you expect if you decide to wait? Rumors are flying and they are sketching a rough sketch of what the future of Apple silicon-powered computers might look like. The rumors also tell us when the new models are likely to be announced. Like many other new technology products introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, there can be significant delays.
Let’s break down the latest suspicions and trained guesses from the Mac-o-sphere.
What will Apple call its next Mac Chip?
The Apple M1 is the first modern processor for computers that Apple designed internally. This efficient yet powerful on-disk (SoC) system is the best performance that rival Intel Core and AMD Ryzen laptops offer.
Laptops and desktops are evolving rapidly, with new Intel silicone being refreshed about once a year lately. If Apple keeps pace with all this innovation, the next Mac-centric processor could be a refinement of the current M1, rather than a big leap forward. So it goes without saying that it will probably take the ‘M1X’ moniker instead of jumping all the way to ‘M2’. This is according to some leaked standards of CPU Monkey and other rumors, which appear to be that the next chip will be a faster version of the same basic chip design.
There may be some more CPU cores in the next disk; the leaked criteria indicate 12 CPU core points and eight graphics. It is higher than eight of each type of core in the current design. The M1 has four cores and four high-efficiency cores, so that the appropriate amount of power can be routed to computer tasks with different requirements.
Apple does not share too much detail about the processors it uses in its products, whether it is internally designed or even if it is manufactured by Intel. So we do not know what the official top clock speed of the M1 is, although the results of the CPU Monkey benchmark indicate that it and its successor will have the same speed limit of 3.2 GHz. In theory, however, there will be more power consumption with more cores, and the leaked metrics suggest that the rumored M1X needs more than 45 watts at the highest point.
What will the following Mac desktops look like?
Reliable rumors suggest that Apple is likely to make significant updates to its PC and laptop settings in 2021.
Desktops are perhaps most in need of a makeover, with the iconic iMac all-in-one (AIO) receiving few cosmetic changes since its current design language more than a decade ago. While the 27-inch iMac was updated last summer with Intel’s 10th generation core processors, the 21.5-inch entry-level version is starting to look strong.
According to Bloomberg, Apple can replace both sizes of its iMac with a brand new design inspired by the Pro Display XDR external monitor. The new models will probably have the thick black edges around the screen demolished and the metal strip underneath eliminated. They will also likely do away with the curved back in favor of a flat surface similar to the Pro Display XDR, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with Apple’s plans.
Apple Pro Display XDR
The new iMac is likely to use next-generation versions of Apple’s own processors instead of the Intel versions in the current series. Whether it’s the rumored M1X or another chip remains to be seen.
In addition to a revamp of the iMac, Apple also plans to launch new versions of the Mac Pro desktop, according to Bloomberg. Unlike iMacs designed without a built-in screen, this traditional-sized tower is aimed at professionals with serious computing needs. It currently offers greasy Intel Xeon processors and can be set up with multiple GPUs. Bloomberg suggests that Apple will offer Intel versions of the Mac Pro, while also introducing an Apple Silicon version that will be about half the size of the current desktop.
Meanwhile, the iMac Pro is likely to get Apple silicone at least in the near future. Apple has confirmed that it plans to discontinue this top-of-the-line AIO once the existing inventory is depleted.
Are new MacBooks on the horizon?
The MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 chips came to great acclaim last fall. Apart from new silicone, however, it is virtually unchanged from their predecessors. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to launch a brand new Mac laptop in a 14-inch screen size at some point this year.
In a research note obtained by MacRumors, Kuo writes that Apple is going to announce two new MacBook models, with a refreshing 16-inch that debuts next to the 14-inch laptop. In addition to the next generation Apple silicone that is likely to drive it, they will also include revived design elements such as HDMI ports and SD card readers, Kuo claims. (Current MacBook Air and Pro models use only USB Type-C / Thunderbolt ports for video output.)
Apple MacBook Air
Apple removed these features from its Pro notebooks in 2016, partly motivated by what CEO Phil Schiller described as the cumbersome process of using a notebook with an SD card on it. “You put this thing out halfway,” Schiller said on SD cards at the time.
Bloomberg also reports that the new Mac laptops will bring down the Touch Bar, the narrow, touch-enabled screen above the keyboard, which has long been criticized by some users.
Release Rumors: When Will New Macs Be Launched?
While exciting Macs are clearly on the horizon, they are unlikely to hit the Apple Store anytime soon. Although Apple will be launching a new product launch later this month, it’s likely to be focused on new mobile devices and accessories, not new Macs.
In fact, we may have to wait until the second half of the year to see if many of the rumored Macs are mentioned above. According to Nikkei Asia, two new MacBook laptops scheduled for mass production in May or June were pushed back until late 2021. It’s unclear what models these are, but a 16-inch MacBook Pro using Apple silicone seems to be one of them.
If you chose to skip the M1-powered Macs while waiting for everything to come, you can just hang on a little longer. However, it’s not quiet on the Apple front, as the rumored launch event this month is likely to be chock-full of notable designs. AirTags, a new iPad Pro, refreshed AirPods and an Apple TV are claimed to be on the tap.