Apple has not updated the Mac Pro since 2023 and is unlikely to do so in 2026, favoring the Mac Studio with its newer M3 Ultra chip and expanded capabilities. The Mac Studio is increasingly replacing the Mac Pro for most users, with only high-end professionals needing the expansion slots offered by the Mac Pro. Apple seems to be shifting focus away from the Mac Pro line, possibly discontinuing it in the future, while continuing to sell the current M2 Ultra version.
Apple's upcoming Mac Pro is expected to feature the new M4 Ultra chip, which is still in development, potentially offering a significant upgrade over current models and differentiating it from the Mac Studio. The delay in its release is linked to the chip's development process.
Apple is reportedly developing an M4 Ultra chip for a new high-end Mac Pro, with internal code references confirming its existence, though no official release date has been announced. The chip is expected to be a successor to the M2 Ultra, featuring significant performance improvements, and could be released during the M5 cycle.
A new leak reveals Apple's entire Mac lineup through 2026, including upcoming MacBook Pros, Airs, Mac minis, Mac Pros, and iMacs, with expected releases of M5 and M6 chip models, redesigns, and new features like OLED displays, alongside the end of support for Intel Macs in 2026.
Apple is reportedly planning to launch the M4 Ultra chipset to power its Mac Studio and Mac Pro, with one of the models expected to debut in mid-2025. While there are conflicting reports about the launch of the M3 Ultra, it is speculated that the M4 Ultra will feature significant improvements in CPU and GPU core count to support AI-related functions and features. The exact launch timeline for the M3 Ultra remains uncertain, with predictions ranging from the end of 2024 to mid-2024.
Apple is preparing to launch upgraded Mac Pro and Mac Studio models with a new, unannounced variant of the M3 chip at WWDC 2024, potentially featuring up to 32 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores. The company is also expected to upgrade the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip, aiming to boost sales for the larger variant. Analysts believe the design of the new machines will likely remain the same, and the M3 Ultra chip is anticipated to bring significant improvements over the M3 Max.
Apple is reportedly working on a new Mac Studio with a fourth variant of the M3 chip, likely to launch in the second half of 2024. The company is also expected to refresh the Mac Pro with this high-end chip, contrary to earlier suggestions. The Mac roadmap for 2024 is anticipated to be "otherwise muted," with skepticism about Apple's ability to boost Mac sales. Additionally, Apple has started sending out payments to iPhone users as part of the "batterygate" settlement.
Apple is reportedly planning to release the M3 MacBook Air in a few months, signaling the end of the M1 version. The M2 MacBook Air would become the entry-level option, potentially priced at $999. However, the M2 MacBook Air still suffers from slow SSD performance in its cheapest model. Additionally, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman suggests that the Mac Studio and Mac Pro may not transition to the M3 generation until 2025, causing a significant wait for users looking to upgrade.
Apple's highly anticipated Mac Studio and Mac Pro, featuring the powerful M3 Ultra chip, are not expected to launch until the end of 2024, with a possibility of further delays. The M3 Ultra has not yet undergone broader testing, and Apple may be taking its time to recoup the investment made in the expensive 3nm process. The development cost for the M3 Ultra is expected to be lower, thanks to TSMC's improved 3nm 'N3E' process, which offers higher yields and more appropriate pricing. With impressive performance numbers, including outperforming the 24-core M2 Ultra in multi-core tests, Apple can afford to choose its own timeline for the launch.
Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable supply chain analyst, predicts that Apple will not refresh the 24-inch iMac line in 2023 but will do so in 2024. He also expects Apple to release a 32-inch iMac with a mini LED display in 2025. Kuo's predictions align with previous reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who stated that the iMac would skip the M2 chip and instead use the M3.
The future of the Mac Pro is uncertain after Apple's fumbled launch of the Apple Silicon version. Reports suggest that Apple may give up on the model or put it on hold due to its underwhelming reception and competition from the more affordable Mac Studio. The limited PCIe expansion options and reduced memory capacity of the Apple Silicon version have also been criticized. Apple would need to address these shortcomings for the Mac Pro to regain its status as a powerful and flexible workstation.
This week's Apple Loop includes the latest iPhone 15 Pro leaks, problems with the Mac Pro, a review of the Mac Studio, why the MacBook Air is running slow, DirectX support for macOS gaming, the future of Apple Vision Pro, and more App Store woes. The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to have a big increase in price, while the Mac Pro is facing issues with PCI-E expansion cards. The Mac Studio is a more affordable option for those who don't need the peak performance of the Mac Pro. The newest MacBook Air has a slower read/write speed than the M1 MacBook Air models. DirectX 12 support for macOS could offer a cost-effective path to macOS gaming. Apple's future plans for the Apple Vision Pro family involve patents and trademarks, including the ability to record from its headsets. App developers must go through Apple's inspection process if they want their apps to run on any iPhone.
This week's Apple Loop includes the latest iPhone 15 Pro leaks, problems with the Mac Pro, a review of the Mac Studio, why the MacBook Air is running slow, DirectX support for macOS gaming, the future of Apple Vision Pro, and more App Store woes.
The unboxing of the 2023 Mac Pro shows that while the design is impressive, there is a lot of empty space inside the casing, even with all PCIe card slots filled. The Mac Studio, which is more compact, could benefit from inheriting this case design. While engineering a new case would add cost, some suggest that a future Mac Pro could take better advantage of the available space. The article also suggests that the 2013 cylindrical Mac Pro design could be revived for a flagship Mac.
Apple has acknowledged a hard drive issue with its 2023 Mac Pro, which runs on the M2 Ultra chip, and has said it will fix the problem in a future macOS update. The issue affects certain SATA hard drives that may unexpectedly disconnect from the computer after it wakes from sleep. Early adopters with internal SATA drives are advised to toggle the desktop equivalent of an advanced display preference on in System Settings. The Mac Pro is the only Apple silicon Mac capable of interfacing with PCI cards for ultra-fast storage and networking.
