Apple Inc is making one of the biggest-ever changes to its Mac silicon strategy, preparing to jump ahead to a new artificial intelligence-focused chip generation for its next top-end processors.
The company, currently on its M5 series, plans to debut a base M6 processor as early as this year for entry-level Macs, according to people with knowledge of the matter. But in a first, the company will skip higher-end versions of that chip, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private.
Apple instead aims to introduce its next Pro and Max chips with more advanced computing and graphics power in 2027 as part of a new M7 generation, according to the people.
The company is taking this unusual step in order to fast-track technologies that it originally planned to release later. The change should help meet growing demand for on-device AI capabilities and more graphics-intensive software.
Apple’s Pro and Max chips are aimed at high-end Mac minis, Mac Studios and MacBook Pros, while the base chips typically power entry-level MacBook Pro models, entry-level Mac minis and iMac desktops. Apple also uses those lower-end chips in some iPad Pro and iPad Air models.
A spokesperson for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment on the company’s plans. Apple raised prices of all of its current Mac and iPad models on June 25.
The move will mark the first time that Apple rolls out only the base chip as part of a new generation. With every chip family from M1 through M5, it has introduced Pro and Max variants. The company also released even higher-end configurations – called the Ultra – for the M1, M2 and M3.
Apple’s chip-making efforts have become one of its top differentiators, allowing it to tie in-house technologies directly to its hardware designs and software to create more distinctive products. Apple’s hardware competitors mostly use parts from suppliers like Intel Corp and Qualcomm Inc.
The unit is run by Johny Srouji, who was promoted to chief hardware officer this year as part of John Ternus’s transition to chief executive officer. As part of the changes, Srouji is taking over all hardware engineering for Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and other devices.
Still, like other companies, Apple’s silicon efforts have been strained by an industrywide chip and memory shortage that has driven up costs, squeezed margins, led to supply constraints and shipment delays, and forced the company to reevaluate product road maps and its operations planning.
M6 debut
Apple has tested the M6 chip as part of a refreshed entry-level MacBook Pro, code-named J804, which has been planned for this year. The M6 will include several improvements aimed at making it the most powerful in the industry for its class, said the people with knowledge of its development.
Code-named Komodo or H18G, the M6 chip will improve memory bandwidth to speed up tasks across AI, video editing, model training and the rendering of high-resolution graphics.
The M6 is slated to reach around 200 gigabytes per second of memory bandwidth, versus about 153 gigabytes per second with the M5. Memory bandwidth has become a key specification in assessing a computer’s ability to handle AI work, which requires the fast movement of large amounts of data.
The M6 chip will include an updated memory architecture and an upgraded neural engine, the company’s dedicated component for AI processing. Performance will also improve across all of the cores, the processing units within chips. There are enhancements coming for video encoding and decoding as well.
Another change planned for the M6 is a redesigned graphics processing unit, with Apple having tested versions with up to 12 graphics cores. That’s up from a maximum of 10 in the M5. The new GPU is intended to better handle the concurrent rendering demands of AI, graphics and other tasks.
M7 lineup
In relatively quick succession after the base M6, Apple will begin rolling out the M7 line.
The company plans to introduce the base M7, code-named Delos or H19G, as early as the first half of next year. Apple is also planning higher-end M7 Pro, M7 Max and M7 Ultra chips, all dubbed Andros internally. Those are alternatively known as H19S, H19C and H19D.
The M7 Pro and M7 Max are scheduled for as early as the end of 2027, while the M7 Ultra is on track for 2028. The Ultra chip – which typically includes double the performance of the company’s Max processors – is usually found in the highest-end variants of the Mac Studio desktop.
The M7 line is designed primarily around major advancements to on-device AI processing. The base version is slated to support about 240 gigabytes per second of memory bandwidth.
M5 Ultra
Apple still plans to release one more chip for the current generation: the M5 Ultra. It’s scheduled to arrive as early as this year as part of a new Mac Studio, code-named J775, that has been postponed due to the supply and cost challenges.
The M5 Ultra chip – code-named Sotra D or H17D – will have around 36 central processing unit cores and 80 GPU cores. Those specifications would make it one of the most powerful chips available in a mainstream computer.
Apple has also tested support for up to 768 gigabytes of memory in the M5 Ultra Mac Studio, though the component constraints could complicate its debut. The company originally launched the M3 Ultra Mac Studio in 2025 with support for 512 gigabytes of memory, but it has since limited new orders to 96 gigabytes of memory due to the supply crunch.
The company is also preparing a slew of new iPhone chips, Bloomberg News has reported, including a shift to a 2-nanometer production process. In addition, there will be new silicon designed for the company’s upcoming foldable phone – set to debut this year – and 20th anniversary iPhones due in 2027. – Bloomberg
