New MacBook Pros With M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips Now 'Well Into Development'

Apple's next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are "well into development and testing," and there is still a chance the notebooks will be released later this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

14 vs 16 inch mbp m2 pro and max feature 1
In his "Power On" newsletter today, Gurman said Apple plans to release the new MacBook Pro models "as early as this fall," but as usual, he said there is a chance the timeframe is pushed back due to supply chain disruptions or other factors. Mass production of the notebooks will begin in the fourth quarter, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

While some reports suggested that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips may be Apple's first 3nm chips, it looks increasingly likely that the chips will remain 5nm. The chips would still have performance improvements over the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips in the current 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, as Apple is expected to move from TSMC's standard 5nm process "N5" to its more advanced 5nm process known as "N5P."

Like the standard M2 chip, the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips would likely also have increased GPU core counts and RAM compared to their M1 equivalents.

No major design changes have been rumored for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is unsurprising given that the notebooks launched with an all-new design in October 2021. The redesigned included the return of ports like MagSafe and HDMI, while a notch was added to the display for an upgraded 1080p camera and thinner bezels.

Rumors suggest a new Mac mini with an M2 Pro chip might be released this year as well, along with a new Mac Pro tower with M2 Ultra and "M2 Extreme" chips.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro 14 & 16"
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Top Rated Comments

Nicole1980 Avatar
22 months ago
And yet still no imminent sign of an M2/M2Pro mac mini. I would have thought that would have come out by now for sure.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacBird Avatar
22 months ago
My 16'' MBP M1 Max is so fast that I can easily wait for a substantial upgrade. Running AI software for a particular task on my 2017 MBP took 5 minutes, with the M1 it takes 12 seconds.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MayaUser Avatar
22 months ago

Excited to see the design I will ignore because I have an awesome Midnight M2 Air.
what design? It will be the same design until 2024 at least
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ScooterComputer Avatar
22 months ago
Two things…
First, you don't need to be Kreskin to grok that Apple is working on the successor to the M1 MBP Pros. They've been doing that since about, oh, 4 months before the M1 shipped. Or more. It kinda amazes me how folks don't seem to understand how computer engineering works. Apple makes these things… entirely… they have the ability, in house, to fab prototype boards AND prototype wafers… they've been running M2 since before the M1 shipped. (At least some of their folks have been, "secrecy" and all.) And, there really shouldn't be a need to mod the chassis yet. Even with M3/3nm, I don't see any great change to be made in chassis, there just isn't much necessary left.
Second, I think—"IMHO"—it is fairly important for Apple to keep a cadence in releasing these M- chips. They need to show that they're keeping out ahead of Intel/AMD, or the entire thing becomes a farce. Yes, the M1 was a HUGE leap forward in performance… but it also shipped 18+ months/a year ago (for the Pro/Max)… Intel/AMD have not been standing still. Apple cannot fall behind… they can't even stand still! If they fall behind Intel/AMD (like they did after the PowerPC switch), it won't be good. And the viewpoint that "well, speed is less important than power consumption/heat" I don't think entirely holds water, and is pretty much directly contradicted by Apple's PR messaging (which is that Apple is providing BOTH). If Apple sits on releasing the M2 Pro/Max, and doesn't show that they've gotten their legs under them—are able to revise these chips quickly, on a similar cycle as Intel—it would effectively look like Apple is admitting that the "complaint" against Intel not being able to deliver in a timely manner, as needed by Apple for their product line ambition, was somewhat wrong… because Apple isn't delivering on a year-over-year cycle either.

I've stated it before, but I think Apple is working internally to get the "cart" back behind the "horse"; the M1 was effectively a muscled up A- series chip, that then got subsequently bulked up for the M1 Pro/Max/Ultra. That's not how you want to design your chips… you want to design your "leaps" first, and then back-port. That's the way to make money, because you're always skating to where the puck is going… rather than just expecting (read: praying) you're going to end up where the puck ends up. (And that's exactly what Intel got lazy and did… and it cost them.) I think Apple is really working on the M3 Max/Pro/Ultra core and fab'ing right now… that's where they're focused internally. The M2 Pro/Max/Ultra is still a 5nm afterthought. And it is possible that they are doing the business calculation of "can we just stretch the M1 Pro/Max out until 3nm is ready and then jump directly to that??", but I hope not. Again, IMHO, cadence is important here: showing everyone you're on a cycle, that you can meet your schedule, and that consumers can rightly expect performance improvement on a rational timeframe. 18 months to 24 months per bump is just a bit too long, we've been so Pavlov-trained for a 1-year cycle… and Apple holds much of the blame for that!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
22 months ago
If there is not going to be a re-design ? at least bring back the 17” MacBook Pro in Mid-Night, please ?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MayaUser Avatar
22 months ago
If 3nm is ready by summer next year...please Apple stop...we dont want a new 5nm Mbp , we can wait for 6 months instead of waiting for more than a year
But i guess if the new Mbp are already in development and testing is too late....so we get 5nm in the fall/winter and next 3nm change in late 2023 or spring 2024....
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

ChatGPT for Mac

OpenAI Announces ChatGPT App for Mac, GPT-4 for Free, and More

Monday May 13, 2024 10:43 am PDT by
At its Spring Update event, OpenAI announced that it will be releasing a desktop app for the Mac, as seen in the screenshot below. The app will be rolling out to ChatGPT Plus subscribers starting today, ahead of a wider launch "in the coming weeks." "With a simple keyboard shortcut (Option + Space), you can instantly ask ChatGPT a question," OpenAI's press release says. In addition, Voice...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.5 With Cross-Platform Tracking Detection, EU App Downloads From Websites and More

Monday May 13, 2024 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5, major updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating system updates that came out last September. The 17.5 updates come more than two months after the launch of iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4. iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. In the European Union, ...
apple tv 4k red image

Apple Releases tvOS 17.5

Monday May 13, 2024 10:01 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 17.5, the fifth update update to the tvOS 17 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 17.5 comes two months after the release of tvOS 17.4. tvOS 17.5 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌Apple TV‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to ...
iOS 17

Troubling iOS 17.5 Bug Reportedly Resurfacing Old Deleted Photos

Wednesday May 15, 2024 5:29 am PDT by
There are concerning reports on Reddit that Apple's latest iOS 17.5 update has introduced a bug that causes old photos that were deleted – in some cases years ago – to reappear in users' photo libraries. After updating their iPhone, one user said they were shocked to find old NSFW photos that they deleted in 2021 suddenly showing up in photos marked as recently uploaded to iCloud. Other...
CarPlay Sound Recognition

Apple Previews Three New CarPlay Features Coming With iOS 18

Wednesday May 15, 2024 9:18 am PDT by
Apple today previewed new accessibility features coming with iOS 18 later this year, and this includes some new options for CarPlay. Apple highlighted three new features coming to CarPlay: Voice Control: This feature will allow users to navigate CarPlay and control apps with just their voice. Color Filters: This feature will make the CarPlay interface visually easier to use for...
macos sonoma 4

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.5 With Apple News+ Improvements

Monday May 13, 2024 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.5, the fifth update to the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.5 comes more than two months after the launch of macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌‌ 14.5 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.7...