Several new Macs featuring an M2 chip are expected to be released later this year, according to reports.
Mark Gurman said in his “Power On” email that Apple will unveil a 13-inch MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, 24-inch iMac, and a revamped MacBook Air, all of which will be powered by the rumoured M2 CPU.
Apple hasn’t said much about the M2 chip, but Gurman believes it will have a CPU that is somewhat quicker than the M1’s and will use the same eight-core design. Its graphics cores, on the other hand, may increase from seven or eight to nine or ten. Apple may offer Pro and Max versions of the M2 chip in 2023, much as it did with the M1 chip, as well as reveal an M3 chip, according to Gurman.
It is believed to contain more GPU cores, with 9 and 10-core GPU possibilities, up from the original M1 chip’s 7 and 8-core GPU options.
Meanwhile, TSMC will ship its first 3nm circuits in 2023, while Nikkei Asia reports that Apple would use them first in new iPads.
Apple’s first in-house M1 chip was unveiled in November 2020, and it’s been several months since the M1 Pro and M1 Max were introduced. Apple has a couple more Macs on the way as it continues to distance itself from Intel chips. These are presumably aimed to push any remaining Intel-powered devices out of its lineup.
Gurman anticipates a larger iMac Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max chip possibilities, as well as a smaller Mac Pro with “the equivalent of either two or four M1 Max processors,” to replace the existing 27-inch iMac Pro. While the Mac Mini already has an M1 chip, Gurman anticipates an enhanced M1 Pro option (in addition to the M1 chip).
Apple will unveil new Macs in March, then again in May or June, according to Gurman. At a rumoured March 8 event, Apple is likely to unveil a 5G iPhone SE, 5G iPad Air, and possibly one new Mac.
In March, it will also release iOS 15.4, which includes Face ID support for face masks. Apple Watch Series 8 and iPhone 14 aren’t expected until later this year.