Apple is reportedly preparing a major change to its Mac silicon roadmap. According to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman, the company, currently on its M5 chip family, plans to introduce only the base M6 processor for entry-level Macs while skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max variants. Apple is instead expected to debut its next Pro and Max processors as part of an AI-focused M7 generation with more advanced computing and graphics capabilities.
The reported roadmap would mark the first time Apple introduces only the base chip in a new M-series generation after releasing Pro and Max variants with every family from M1 through M5. The company also introduced Ultra variants with the M1, M2 and M3 generations.
Apple changes Mac silicon roadmap
Gurman reports that Apple is changing its roadmap to fast-track technologies originally planned for a later release. The revised strategy is also expected to help meet growing demand for on-device AI capabilities and increasingly graphics-intensive software.
Apple’s Pro and Max processors typically power higher-end Macs, while the standard chips are used in entry-level Mac models as well as selected iPad Pro and iPad Air devices.
M6 chip: Expected upgrades
Apple has reportedly been testing the M6 processor in a refreshed entry-level MacBook Pro, internally codenamed J804. The chip, internally known as Komodo (H18G), is expected to feature improvements to CPU performance, graphics, AI processing and memory architecture.
The reported M6 upgrades include:
- Updated memory architecture
- Faster CPU performance across all cores
- Upgraded Neural Engine for AI processing
- Enhanced video encoding and decoding
- Redesigned GPU with up to 12 graphics cores, compared with up to 10 on the M5
The M6 is also expected to increase memory bandwidth to around 200GB/s, up from approximately 153GB/s on the M5. The higher bandwidth is expected to improve AI workloads, video editing, model training and high-resolution graphics rendering, while the redesigned GPU is intended to better handle concurrent AI, graphics and other demanding workloads.
AI-focused M7 lineup
Following the launch of the base M6, Apple is reportedly planning a rapid transition to the M7 generation, which is designed around more advanced on-device AI processing while also improving computing and graphics performance.
The reported M7 lineup includes:
- M7 (Delos/H19G)
- M7 Pro (H19S)
- M7 Max (H19C)
- M7 Ultra (H19D)
The higher-end M7 Pro, M7 Max and M7 Ultra chips are internally referred to as the Andros family. The base M7 could debut as early as the first half of next year, followed by the M7 Pro and M7 Max by the end of 2027. The M7 Ultra, which typically delivers roughly double the performance of Apple’s Max processors, is expected in 2028 for the highest-end Mac Studio models. The base M7 processor is also expected to support approximately 240GB/s of memory bandwidth.
M5 Ultra still planned
Apple is also reportedly planning to introduce the M5 Ultra, internally codenamed Sotra D (H17D), in a new Mac Studio, codenamed J775, that was postponed because of supply and cost challenges. The chip is expected to feature around 36 CPU cores, 80 GPU cores and support for up to 768GB of unified memory during testing.
The report notes that component shortages could affect final memory configurations. While the M3 Ultra Mac Studio originally launched with support for up to 512GB of unified memory, Apple has reportedly since limited new orders to 96GB because of continuing supply constraints.
Leadership and industry challenges
Apple’s custom silicon strategy enables closer integration between its chips, hardware and software. The chip division is led by Johny Srouji, who was promoted to Chief Hardware Officer as part of John Ternus’ transition to Chief Executive Officer and now oversees hardware engineering for Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch and other Apple devices.
Bloomberg reports that industry-wide chip and memory shortages have increased costs, squeezed margins, affected supply, caused shipment delays and prompted Apple to reassess parts of its product roadmap and operations planning.
Outlook
Beyond its Mac roadmap, Apple is reportedly preparing next-generation iPhone processors based on a 2-nanometer manufacturing process, new silicon for its foldable iPhone expected this year, and processors planned for the company’s 20th anniversary iPhone models in 2027.
If the reported roadmap moves forward, Apple would introduce only the base M6 processor before transitioning its premium Mac lineup to the AI-focused M7 generation, marking the first time the company skips Pro and Max variants within an M-series chip family.