A disclaimer in advance: None of the following information is confirmed in any way by Apple. These are without exception rumours from the proverbially “well-informed circles”, somewhat seasoned with our own forecasts. But even with that in mind we say: Take a look at the glass ball with us, it’s worth it!
Monster CPUs M1 Duo and Quadra
Before we go into more detail about what we can expect from the still to transition Macs, we should take a look at the current status of Apple Silicon. So far, three chips are a reality: M1, M1 Pro and M1 Max. All are manufactured by TSMC using the 5-nanometer process. The microarchitecture of the ARM cores is based on the A14, which Apple introduced with the iPhone 12 at the end of 2020.
Rumour has it that Apple’s M1 series will be expanded by duo and quad model in 2022. Maybe Apple will revive the old brand name “Quadra”. That would be a nice reminder of the Quadra Macs, which were equipped with Motorola’s 68040 chips and launched in 1991.
The theory is that two or four M1 Max chips could be packed into the housing almost unchanged. The result being CPUs with 20 to 40 cores and 64 to 128 GPU cores. The Quadra version would be able to support up to 256GB of shared memory. A monster! However, it is questionable whether the performance doubles or quadruples, because the individual chips cannot communicate with each other as quickly as the cores of each individual chip. You need an ultra-fast bus system to shovel data back and forth between CPUs with the lowest possible latency.
But that’s exactly what’s almost on the doorstep, because TSCM has announced “3Dfabric” a technology with which you can stack individual chips on top of each other in the third dimension. https://www.tsmc.com/english/news-events/blog-article-20200803 A so-called silicone interposer, a layer between the chips, establishes the connecting lines between the CPUs. If this actually works, it would be exactly the solution that Apple needs to combine several M1 Max chips.
M2 the next generation of Apple Silicon
The next generation of M-chips is likely to be called M2 and they are expected to be used in new entry-level Macs such as the MacBook Air. There are several options here:
On the one hand, Apple could upgrade the microarchitecture of the M2 CPU cores to that of the A15. They already exist, are a little faster and more efficient than the A14. According to various measurements, this would bring up to 15 percent more performance.
TSMC will also produce the M2 in an improved 5-nanometer process “N4P”, which should allow a transistor density about six percent higher. Apple could use this to integrate up to 10 CPU cores into the M2 base model, two more than in the current M1. This should lead to further leaps in performance. More GPU cores would also be conceivable.
A 3-nanometer process, which means an even clearer leap towards higher transistor density, is not expected to become reality until 2023.
However, Apple could also use the ARM V9 architecture announced by chip designer ARM for 2022, which is intended to bring up to 30 percent more performance. ARM also wants to implement improvements in machine learning and faster Vector commands (SVE2).
However, it is more likely that Apple will only take the step towards ARM V9 with the A16, which will appear in the iPhone 14. This isn’t likely to happen until September 2022, so it’s unlikely to feature in Macs until after that date.
M2 Pro and M2 Max models will also come, but probably not until 2023.
Read more: New Apple M2 Chip – What you need to know.
27in iMac with Duo M1 Max
Everything indicates that the first new Mac in 2022 will be an iMac. After the 24in model that Apple launched in the spring of 2021, we are still missing an update to the large iMac.
Recent rumours claim that Apple will still give the new iMac a 27in display, which is disappointing. However, the display is expected to be equipped with 120Hz pro motion technology and mini LED backlighting, which would still be a huge leap forward. Notch? Well, probably not, even the display edges in the 24in iMac are wide enough to hide a camera, why should that be different with the 27in model?
As with the 24in model, there will be a Touch ID sensor built into the keyboard. A Face ID via camera does not seem to be destined for the new iMac, which we think is a pity.
Visually, the larger iMac is expected to resemble the 24in model, with the traditional ‘chin’ below the display. Unlike the 24in, however, the display edge is expected to be black (rather than white) and the housing colour dark grey, aka “Space Grey”. This would also give a clear distinction visually from the 24in iMac, which is not available in grey or black.
What everyone really wants to know is which chip configurations will Apple offer. Entry-level models with M1, M1 Pro and M1 Max are likely. Those chips are more than fast enough for normal office tasks and even for demanding applications such as Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro, as you can see from the current MacBook Pro models. However, until March 2021, there was also the iMac Pro, which Apple offered with Intel chips and up to 18 CPU cores, 128GB RAM and a fast AMD Vega graphics card.
Although Apple has now removed the iMac Pro from the program, this machine beats the M1 Max chip in the MacBook Pro in many areas. Apple sill surely aim to offer an iMac with Apple Silicon that surpasses the Intel iMac Pro. The solution: The M1 Duo (see above). It comes with up to 20 CPU cores, 64 GPU cores and can be equipped with up to 128GB of RAM. Such a machine would certainly compete with the old Intel iMac Pro.
However, a Quadra model with four M1 Max chips may not come into the 27in iMac immediately. The reason: Hector Martin, a Linux developer who is currently working on the Linux port for Apple’s M1 Macs, has found hints in macOS 12 Monterey that there will be a chip that connects two M1 SoCs. However, four chips are not possible with this, suggesting that this will only come to macOS 13 later in 2022. So it seems that the Duo version will be what we see in the iMac model that will replace the iMac Pro.
However, CPU binning would also make finer gradations, for example with 16 CPU and/or 48 GPU cores. In addition, such an iMac should offer significantly more Thunderbolt ports. At least four, but possibly even six ports would be conceivable.
Trend check iMac
- Q1/2022: iMac with M1 Pro/Max
- Q1/2022: iMac Pro with M1 Duo chip (2x M1 Max)
More information: 2022 iMac
MacBook Air with a new design
Apple’s bread and butter Mac is the MacBook Air. Even if Apple does not break down sales figures to the individual models, the cheapest notebook should by far be the best-selling Mac. This is precisely why there will be a completely new MacBook Air in 2022. New insides and a completely new design are imminent. Maybe Apple even changes the name and simply calls it “MacBook” without the addition “Air”. This rumour is also circulating.
But most leakers are sure: A new design that is based on that of the current 24in iMac is coming. For the first time since the original iBook of 1999, colour comes back into play. There will also be a white keyboard and white screen borders.
There were discussions about a notch like the current 14in and 16in MacBook Pro. However, the notch is much easier to hide on a black screen edge than with a white one. We cannot therefore imagine that Apple will introduce a notch on the MacBook Air. Especially since the display size should remain at 13in and the mini LED and pro motion technology (120Hz) is too expensive for the entry-level MacBook. The edges around the display remain slightly thicker than with the MacBook Pro, a notch is then simply not necessary.
The good news: The housing itself should become thinner. Renders show that it is just thick enough to feature a normal 3.5 mm jack for headphones. That would be extremely thin! Two USB 4 ports are to be available and Apple’s MagSafe magnetic charging is also to migrate to MacBook Air.
The MacBook Air will also continue to do without a fan and is likely to be equipped with the basic version of the new M2 chip. There will also be an improved FaceTime camera capable of delivering 1080p quality, as with the MacBook Pro models.
There is some uncertainty about the ports. It is certain is that there will not be an HDMI port or SD card slot. These are reserved for the Pro models. Some leakers continue to claim that there will only be a single Thunderbolt port in the MacBook Air, others talk of two USB-C ports that do not support the Thunderbolt protocol at all. However, the latter seems unlikely to us, because Thunderbolt controllers are integrated directly into all previous M-chips so we can’t see Apple retiring them from the lineup.
The question remains: When will it arrive? Early rumours indicated a launch of the M2 MacBook Air in mid-2022, i.e. around the time of WWDC. But there are now indications that the launch is likely to be delayed. A date in the fourth quarter of 2022 seems probable. Perhaps at a special event in October.
One more thing: The previous MacBook Air with M1 chip could remain unchanged and remain in the lineup as an entry-level model that costs less than £1,000/$1,000.
Trend check MacBook Air
- Q4/2022: 13-inch MacBook Air in a new design with M2
- Q4/2022: M1 MacBook Air remains in the program
More information: MacBook Air 2022.
Two new Mac mini
There will also be changes to the Mac mini series in 2022. At least one model needs to be added, because the most expensive Mac mini that Apple currently sells is still based on an Intel chip with six cores.
Hence a high-end model with M1 Pro chip should be considered secure. Maybe even a version with an M1 Max processor could arrive, although some experts question if there could be problems with cooling here.
In any case, it is certain that even the M1 Pro will already significantly exceed the previous Intel Mac mini. However, there are also downsides, because you will no longer be able to upgrade the RAM yourself with the new Mac mini. This is still possible with the Intel version.
In addition, Apple will apparently return to an external power supplies for the Mac mini, as with the 24-inch iMac, and the Ethernet port may similarly be moved to the power supply, just as with the iMac. If that is the case we would expect Apple to offer a version with 10 Gigabit Ethernet here, because the Intel Mac can already do that (optionally).
Otherwise, there will probably be Thunderbolt and four USB sockets, two of which are in USC-C and two in USB-A format. HDMI will certainly feature again, as will the 3.5mm headphone jack, which will probably have automatic impedance detection, as with the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro models.
There is some disagreement over the price. Some commentators claim that the high-end Mac mini could be $200 to $300 more expensive, so around $1,299 or $1,399. Even if this was the case it would still be the cheapest Mac with M1 Pro chip.
The new high-end Mac mini will probably come together with the 27-inch iMac in the first quarter of 2022. Maybe it will even be presented a little earlier and without a special event.
A new Mac mini with a new flatter design and a plexiglass top, possibly in different colours, is also said to be coming. Expect that one to arrive alongside the other M2 Macs mentioned above.
Trend check Mac mini:
- Q1/2022: new high-end Mac mini ‘Pro’ with M1 Pro and possibly M1 Max
- Q4/2022: new redesigned Mac mini with M2
More information: Mac mini 2022.
MacBook Pro with M2
If you look at Apple’s current notebook product line, you will notice quite a significant price gap between the 13in MacBook Pro with M1 chip and the 14in MacBook Pro. With the 13in model starting at £1,299/$1,299 and the entry-level 14in priced at £1,899/$1,999, that’s a whopping £600/$700 difference (almost enough to buy a Mac mini!)
With that in mind there could still be room for another model and in fact there are rumours that indicate a new, cheaper 14in model with slimmed-down features. This Mac would theoretically get a M2 chip with eight CPU and nine GPU cores and be equipped with a mini LED display including 120Hz pro motion. And yes, it would also feature a Notch!
It wouldn’t feature all the ports that feature on the 14in models. It is likely to lack the HDMI port and one of the Thunderbolt ports. In terms of price, this 14in model should be around £1,699/$1,699 and thus close the gap between the 14in and 13in model.
We are sorry to say we find this whole idea unlikely though. Those who want to improve the specs of the 13in MacBook Pro can already do so by tweaking the build to order options such as 16GB unified memory and 1TB SSD, bringing the price to £1,899/$1,899.
What we think is more likely is that the 13in MacBook Pro will remain and it will gain the M2 chips. We think that this model could even lose the Pro part of its name and be known as the 13in MacBook.
The new M2 MacBook Pro is expected to launch at the end of 2022, based on the anticipated delays for the M2 chips, perhaps Apple will present it at the same time as the new MacBook Air models.
Trend check MacBook Pro:
- Q4/2022: New MacBook Pro with M2 chip, but will it be 13in or 14in?
High flying Mac Pro
Apple’s fastest and most expensive Mac, the Mac Pro will be the last link in the chain of transitions to Apple silicon chips, the reason is not difficult to guess, because the current Intel-based Mac Pro offers extreme performance. 28 CPU cores, two powerful AMD graphics cards, special accelerator boards for Apple’s ProRes video encoder and last but not least up to 1.5TB of RAM must be surpassed. It won’t be easy!
But with the possibility of connecting several M1 Max chips, the goal seems achievable. In this case, however, only one M1-Max quadra, i.e. four SoCs in one housing, helps. That would be a maximum of 40 ARM CPU cores and no less than 128 GPU cores. A computing monster par excellence.
Nevertheless, such a Mac Pro should consume significantly less power, generate less waste heat and thus require smaller or fewer fans. As a results Apple could put the whole system in a smaller housing – with initial rumours indicating a cube-shaped design based on the Power Mac G4 Cube. But surely not after the fiasco of the 2013 Mac Pro. We expect that the design won’t change much from the current Mac Pro, just shrink a little.
There will be no dedicated graphics cards, because the many GPUs in the M1 Max are already fast enough to achieve higher performance than the previous AMD cards. The unified memory architecture of the M1 chips is largely responsible for this, because the GPUs can access all memory on an equal footing with the CPU.
PCI slots should still exist, four or even six would be conceivable. However, they will only support special audio and IO cards so that professional users can continue to work with their usual hardware in the recording studio or at the video editing station. PCI cards with double width, on the other hand, will no longer fit and this mainly affects high-end graphics cards.
You will also no longer be able to swap out the CPUs. So you will have to decide when you buy how much power you will need. A basic model with 20 CPU cores and 48 GPU cores would be achievable through chip binning.
Memory: Four times 64GB RAM results in a maximum of 256GB RAM. This is already an enormous amount, but still far from the 1.5TB that the current Mac Pro has been offering in its highest expansion stage for several years. Admittedly, there are very few use cases that really require this amount of memory, but if Apple wants to surpass the previous Mac Pro in all areas, this also applies to memory.
Rumours suggest that Apple will offer external storage banks on the Mac Pro in addition to the chip-internal Unified Memory, which can be filled with up to 1TB of RAM. Although this storage would be significantly slower than unified memory, it would still be faster than if applications had to outsource storage to the SSD.
With Apple making all the components, the new Mac Pro could be cheaper than the current model, but we expect it will still cost from £5,499/$5,999, depending on the specs.
The new Mac Pro will probably be announced at the end of 2022, but may not be in stores until 2023.
Trend check Mac Pro
- Q4/2022: Mac Pro with M1 Mac Quadra, up to 40 CPU cores, 128 GPU cores, outsourced RAM connection 1TB, smaller housing
More information: Apple’s plans for the new Mac Pro
New external display
Finally, Apple may also launch a new external display in 2022. The Pro Display XDR with 32in diagonal and 6k resolution could be joined by a 27in brother with mini LED backlight and 120Hz Pro Motion technology. This could feature the same 5k display that will be used in the new 27in iMac.
In terms of price, it should be well below the £4,599/$4,999 that the Pro Display XDR costs. We assume £1,000/$1,000, including stand.
Trend check display
- New 27-inch 5k display with mini LED technology and 120 Hz pro motion
More information: New Apple display.
Conclusion
2022 will be the year of decisions. Will Apple manage to achieve the self-imposed goal and complete the conversion of all Macs to Apple silicone chips? Chances are good, at least a large iMac, a high-end Mac mini and a new MacBook Air will be seen.
Apple seems to be adapting overall to a two-year strategy in the “tick-tock” style. First comes a new CPU architecture for the entry-level Macs (2020: M1) and the following year the professional variants of it (2021: M1 Pro/Max etc.). Accordingly, it would definitely be the turn of the M2 architecture in 2022. The future is exciting!
This article originally appeared on Macwelt. Translation by Karen Haslam.