Skip to main content

New Apple M2 chip could come sooner than expected, says new rumor

Apple’s next laptops are a hot topic in rumor circles after the impressive performance of its latest MacBook Pro. Now, a new Chinese-language rumor from Commercial Times suggests that Apple’s next-generation M2 processors could come on a bit of a different schedule from what we’ve been expecting.

According to the publication, Apple could possibly end up launching its M2 processors in new Macs by the second half of 2022. Citing supply chain industry sources, it’s believed that the Apple M2 chip is currently code-named Staten, and a higher-end M2 Pro and M2 Max chip are code-named Rhodes.

Board concept of Apple M2.

Though the M2 chip is the one that’s rumored to come in the second half of the year, the more high-end M2 Pro and M2 Max could also be coming in 2023. Both chips could have an 18-month support cycle, which is similar to what Apple has done with the SoC in the iPad Pro.

Apple is also apparently targeting using the 4-nanometer fabrication process with these chips, for higher efficiency. That’d be a change from the current 5-nanometer technology onboard the M1 and the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips released back in October.

Though Commercial Times doesn’t have the best track record with rumors, and Digital Trends can’t verify the original report, there are some additional doubts. This is because the release schedule goes against Apple’s own projected product cycle. In 2020, Apple previously committed to transitioning all Macs to its own custom silicon within two years.

The 2023 period falls outside of that time frame and leaves questions on what will happen to higher-end Intel Macs like the iMac and Mac Pro. These have yet to be updated to Apple’s own silicon chips but are expected to make the transition by the end of 2022, which goes against the timing in the Commercial Times report. As for more consumer-focused devices, Apple is expected to launch new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with M2 processors, potentially as soon as 2022. A previous report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman supported this idea.

Apple is already fresh off the launch of  M1 Pro and M1 Max processors. These both came towards the end of this year, in October. Of course, with the pandemic still impacting the supply of critical components needed for processors, it’s truly unknown what might happen with the M2 processor. There’s always the chance Apple could simply not end up launching the chip at all, and rather refresh the design of Macs without a new chip.

Editors' Recommendations

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Apple’s next MacBooks and iPads could be in serious trouble
The MacBook Pro open on a wooden table.

Hype has been growing for Apple’s upcoming M3 chips, which are expected to splash down in a slate of Macs and iPads later this year. Yet one leaker has come along to spoil the party and has claimed that we won’t see anything of the sort until 2024.

That idea comes from Twitter leaker Revegnus, who tweeted that there would be “No M3 Mac or iPad for this year.” That will be disappointing news to anyone looking forward to laying their hands on the latest and greatest Apple silicon chips in the coming months.

Read more
Apple may be struggling with its next Mac chips — here’s why that matters
Apple's Tim Millet presents the Apple silicon A14 Bionic chip.

Apple’s chip manufacturer is “straining to meet demand” for the chips that will power future Macs, according to a report from EE Times. If these difficulties continue, it could have worrying implications for Apple with just months to go before the 3-nanometer M3 chip is set to debut.

TSMC is currently manufacturing Apple’s 3nm chips (which TSMC calls N3), and the EE Times report notes that TSMC’s “tool and yield struggles have impeded the ramp to volume production.” Aside from Samsung, TSMC is the only company that has the ability to make these chips, so any kind of delay could be of grave concern for Apple execs.

Read more
The next MacBook Air could come with a major disappointment
A MacBook Air on a desk with an open book in front of it.

It’s something of an open secret that Apple is working on a couple of fresh MacBook Air models, including an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air. Many details about these devices have been shrouded in mystery, but a prominent analyst has just shed some much-needed light on them -- and it’s not all good news.

Posting on Twitter, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo updated his previous predictions for Apple’s lightweight laptop. In the new post, Kuo outlined a slate of ideas for what could be coming next.

Read more