Apple Plans to Launch ARM-Based Macs by 2021
Apple is developing its own ARM-based processors for Mac computers, with the first models expected to arrive in 2021. These new chips boast 12 cores and promise significant performance and efficiency gains over current Intel hardware.
Apple is preparing to launch Mac computers powered by its own ARM-based chips as early as 2021, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The company is currently developing at least three Mac processors based on the A14 system-on-a-chip design that powers the latest iPhones. These new Mac-specific processors greatly exceed the speed and performance of current mobile chips, already surpassing the Intel processors used in today's Mac lineup.
The first of these custom Mac chips features a 12-core design, with eight high-performance cores for demanding tasks and four energy-efficient cores for battery preservation. By comparison, current Intel processors in devices like the MacBook Air only utilize two or four cores. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a longtime Apple partner, handles the manufacturing of these advanced components.
Apple initially plans to introduce these ARM-based chips in a new, lower-end Mac design while keeping Intel processors in higher-end professional models. The new machines run standard macOS and maintain software compatibility with existing Intel-based applications, echoing the company's historical transition from PowerPC to Intel processors in 2006.