According to recent sources, Apple is preparing its more powerful next-generation "M2" microprocessor for revamped MacBook Pro models.
The M2 processor is likely to increase the performance of future MacBook Pro models significantly. The proprietary silicon M1 processor, built by Apple supplier TSMC, debuted late last year in the Mac mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro, providing significant performance and energy efficiency gains over the Intel CPUs it replaced.
Apple claims that the M1 processor promises up to 3.5x faster system performance, up to 6x faster graphics performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning than previous-generation Macs, thanks to an 8-core CPU, up to an 8-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, a unified memory architecture, and more. The next release is likely to have similar speed improvements.
Apple is working on higher-end Apple silicon processors that are projected to "much outperform" the performance of the latest Macs that still use Intel chips, and Apple's next two M-series chips will be even "more ambitious" than predicted, according to the company. The new chips will be "several times faster" than the ones used by Apple in high-end Intel laptops right now.
Apple's next-generation microprocessor will be based on the M1 processor, and will include a 10-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, as well as a 16-core or 32-core GPU.
According to reports, the next-generation Apple silicon chip would allow up to 64GB of memory, up from the existing maximum of 16GB. This would be comparable to the current Intel-based 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has up to 64GB of RAM. Additional Thunderbolt connections are believed to be supported by the new chip, allowing for greater connectivity.
Next designs, brighter panels with increased contrast, function buttons without the Touch Bar, more ports, and a MagSafe connector for charging are said to be included in the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
The next MacBook Pro models with Apple's next-generation silicon processor are expected to be released in the second half of 2021, possibly as early as this summer.
