With an Apple event rumored to be on the horizon, there could be big changes to the Mac lineup
Apple has made some big moves over the last couple of years, replacing Intel processors with the first generation of Apple-designed M1 chips using ARM technology. A quick look at any of our Apple MacBook Pro or Mac desktop reviews will make it clear that these new systems have been a huge success. But Apple’s probably not done yet. After more than a year of major releases, seeing the unveiling of the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, as well as a 24-inch iMac desktop, (and the quiet end of the 21-inch iMac and the powerful iMac Pro), expectations are high for additional new Mac products in 2022. And rumors suggest that some big things are coming. From new processors to revamped designs, Apple looks poised to bring several new products to market in 2022, and the first of these announcements could be just a few weeks away. Processor Prognostication: New Apple M2, Upgraded M1 Max Apple routinely holds special events where the company announces new products, and gives executives the opportunity to share details about new products and technology. Well, the next major Apple event is probably happening this spring, traditionally occurring in March or April. A recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman predicts that the not-yet-announced spring event will be happening March 8, with potential announcements ranging from new processors to new MacBooks and Mac desktops. The biggest rumored announcement for the spring 2022 event is the long-anticipated Apple M2 processor. According to news outlet Nikkei Asia, the new chips have been in production for months, fueling speculation that the updated processors could arrive in products as early as this spring. After the successful 2020 launch of the Apple M1 processor, the first processor to use Apple’s own chip design, the M1 line was expanded in 2021. The introduction of the M1 Pro and the M1 Max processors stepped up the ARM-based CPU with additional processing cores and more processing power. Other early leaks suggest that an upgraded version of the Apple M1 Max could be coming, which uses 10 high-performance cores and two low-power cores. The new chip could increase the total core count from the M1 Max’s 10 cores (eight performance, two low-power), adding raw processing power without additional low-power cores. The speculation here is that a stationary desktop doesn’t need as much efficiency focus, since it doesn’t rely on battery power, and can draw as much power as needed for those beefier performance cores. New MacBooks: Mac Laptops Get a Makeover The anticipated M2 processor announcement brings with it plenty of rumored updates to the MacBook lineup, with new M2-equipped versions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro expected this year. MacBook Air The MacBook Air was one of the first to get Apple’s M1 processor, launching in late 2020.
