In 2020, with the arrival of the M1 chip, Apple started using its own processors in part of its computer line, such as the 24-inch iMac, Mac mini, 13-inch MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air.
Then, in October 2021, the brand moved to Pro versions with the launch of the M1 Max and the M1 Pro, available on the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
Wishing to go even further, the brand is already working on the second generation of its Silicon. We've rounded up all the rumors floating around about it to give you an idea of what to expect from this M2 processor.
When will the M2 chip be released?
There is no date or even official confirmation from Apple regarding the M2 chip. On the other hand, knowing the brand, it should not take too long to offer it on the market.
According to journalist Gurman, Apple would launch no less than 4 new Macs with M2 chip this year.
Most of the rumors we've seen regarding a possible M2 release date seem to be related to the next version of the MacBook Air.
As a reminder, this model was one of the first to move to the M1 series, launched in November 2020. The leaker @Dylandkt also confirmed these comments on Twitter, before being deleted from the platform, even mentioning that it would be released in the first half of 2022.
Conversely, the Apple specialist, Ming Chi-Kuo, thinks that this new device will not be presented before the third quarter.
For now, therefore, it seems that the new MacBook Air, potentially equipped with the M2 chip, will most likely be unveiled between June and September 2022.
Another reason not to expect to see the M2 until the fall is that Apple wants to beef up the manufacturing process.
Apple would use TSMC's next-generation N4P, which is an upgraded version of the 5-nanometer process. It is supposed to offer around 11 additional performance points and almost 22 efficiency points compared to its predecessor, which was used for the production of the A15 and M1, M1 Pro and Max.
However, TSMC says production of these processors won't begin until the second half of 2022.
The potential technical characteristics of the Apple M2
The creation of the M1 Pro and M1 Max processors, or SoCs to be more precise, doubled and quadrupled the graphics speed of the M1 respectively.
This improvement was possible thanks to the addition of additional cores and the integration of more powerful GPUs. In addition, Apple has managed to include nearly 32 billion transistors, twice as many as those of the M1.
You will appreciate such a configuration if you work in the field of video or graphic design, among others. If you are an average user, keep in mind that this kind of speed is prohibitively expensive, which seems useless to spend on surfing the Internet, watching movies in streaming or even working on spreadsheets, for example.
As for the M2 processor, it is expected to be aimed at consumers rather than professionals. As such, it should focus more on its efficiency and the general performance of your device.
M2 processor
According to some reports, Apple will keep the same 8 CPU cores as on the M1, but may add GPU cores to boost the capabilities of the M2.
In May 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman even suggested that the M2, codenamed Staten, will feature the same eight cores as the M1 chip, but run faster.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max both have 10 cores, however, while the M1 has four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, it has twice as many high-performance cores (eight) but fewer efficiency cores ( of them).
The next generation of the M2 could then increase the number of high-efficiency cores.
But by the full GPU acceleration tech
In the report mentioned above, Gurman added that the M2 will see an increase in the number of graphics cores from seven or eight to nine or 10.
RAM
Do you hope that the M2 chip can support more RAM than the M1, namely 16 GB?
In our opinion, it is unlikely to support 32 GB of RAM, it would even seem unnecessary for a MacBook Air.
Autonomy
As with any iterative update, it's not impossible that the M2 processor will offer better battery life and power efficiency than its predecessor.
Which Macs will integrate the M2 processor?
Reporter Gurman claimed that the M2 chip will be for the next MacBook Air and will also be used for an update to the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro.
After the latest MacBook Pros received the M1 Pro and M1 Max, we think it makes sense that the M2 would be the processor that appears in mainstream Macs. Thus, we therefore expect to enjoy it also on the Mac mini and the 24-inch Mac during the year 2022.
In addition, the iPad Pro is currently equipped with the M1 chip, it could be that its successor adopts the M2 rather than the M1 Pro or M1 Max.
What about the M2 Pro and M2 Max?
The M1 Pro and M1 Max have already proven to be very capable, so expectations are high for the next generation of these devices.
However, even better Apple chips may come before that. Indeed, one theory claims that replacing the 27-inch iMac and the Intel variant of the Mac mini could double the M1 Pro or M1 Max, to get even more CPU cores, GPUs, and RAM.
So we might soon see the M1 Pro Duo or M1 Max Duo in a pro-oriented iMac and an updated Mac Pro.
And the M3 chip...
According to Digitimes, the TSMC company is in the process of testing chips manufactured using the 3nm process and which could be intended for the M3 and A17 chips.
The first devices with a 3nm configuration are expected to be released in the first quarter of 2023, with production starting in late 2022.
This new chip will definitely bring better performance, offering up to 40 CPU cores.
The Information reported that they are currently codenamed Ibiza, Lobos and Palma.
