It’s been nearly two years since Apple announced its transition from Intel to Apple Silicon, and there are still two Macs in the lineup with Intel chips. However, citing technology media 9to5Mac, it was learned from people familiar with the matter that Apple will launch a new MacBook with an M2 chip this year.
MacBook Air
Although Mr. Ming-Chi Kuo said in his latest tweet that the new MacBook Air will use the upgraded M1 chip, 9to5Mac’s latest report said that the machine will use the M2 chip. Internally codenamed “J413”, the next-generation MacBook Air will use the M2 chip.
The internal code name of the M2 chip is “Staten”, which is based on the new A15 Bionic. Although it has the same 8-core CPU as the M1 chip, it will be equipped with a more powerful 10-core GPU. It’s worth noting that the new M2 chip replaces the current entry-level M1, not the high-end M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra versions — so it’s not necessarily better than those high-end chips.
Of course, Apple will eventually launch a higher-end version of the new M2 chip, like the M2 Pro (which will power one of the new Mac mini models). Apple currently has the M2 Pro, Max, and Ultra in development, the latter being a 24-core CPU.
13-inch MacBook Pro
Rumors also suggest that Apple will keep the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro for longer. 9to5Mac sources have confirmed that the 13-inch MacBook Pro will also get a new model with an M2 chip. Under the codename J493, the machine is based on the current 13-inch MacBook Pro, which means it should retain the current design rather than get a new one from the high-end version.
Interestingly, Apple has internally been considering dropping the “Pro” name from this machine, which would become just “MacBook”. As such, it’ll be rebranded as the entry-level MacBook, which would make sense as a report last year claimed the redesigned MacBook Air would be “slightly more expensive.”
However, this year’s 13-inch MacBook may still be branded “Pro”. Similar to the MacBook Air, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro won’t have a version with the M2 Pro or other high-end chips. While a release date is currently unknown, sources say both machines are in the final stages of development, so they are likely to be announced later this year.