In November 2020, Apple unveiled the first Mac models with Apple Silicon, which includes the M1 chip. This chip replaced the Intel processor of previous models and is more efficient because they were developed specifically for macOS. Just two years later, Apple thinks it’s time for a successor, the M2 chip. What do you need to know about M2?
The M1 chip can now be found in almost all Mac models, such as the MacBook Air from 2020, the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2021 and the last iMac from last year. For several months, even the iPad Pro has been running on the M1 chip.
Many seem to be talking about the improvements Apple’s own chip brings, so it’s no surprise that the successor is eagerly awaited.
Marginally faster
The general expectation is that M2 will be more powerful than M1, allowing you to play heavy games on the future Mac without difficulty. The latest MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips have already proven themselves as strong gaming laptops, so that’s promising.
Despite this, the M2 is not expected to be all that much more powerful than the M1 Pro and M1-Max chips. These chips were specifically developed for professionals (hence the name, of course), while M2 will mainly be intended for the regular Mac models for wider use. According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, the M2 will be only marginally faster than its predecessor.
Eight CPU cores
The M2 chip, like its predecessor, will have at least eight CPU cores, including four cores for high performance and four cores for high energy efficiency. But it may well be that we get more GPU cores than the seven or eight that we now find in the M1. Think of nine or even ten GPU cores. In comparison, the M1 Pro and M1 Max have 16 and 32 GPU cores, respectively.
According to analysts, it is quite obvious that Apple wants to see the graphics processor in an update, because it does not want to lag behind Intel. With the twelfth generation Intel Core processors, better known as Alder Lake, Intel has developed a processor for the consumer market that can certainly compete with Apple’s chipset. As a result, Apple is expected to increase the number of GPU cores somewhat to keep up with the competition in terms of graphics power.
In which devices will we find the M2 chip? An obvious option will be the next-generation MacBook Air and Mac Mini, which may be unveiled in the coming months. After all, both devices will be two years old by the end of 2022, so an update is certainly not too early.
We may find out more about Apple’s plans on March 8. Then the company organizes its spring event.
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