Is the new Mac Pro launching only after the release of M2?

[skaertus]

The transition to M-series Macs is almost complete, and Apple noticed, in the event earlier this week, that the only product left to go is the Mac Pro. Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac, it simply ignored the existence of an Intel Mac Mini, and left some price gaps in the Mac line-up. But the Mac Pro is basically the only one left out now.

We are already in March and the M1 was released in November 2021. Intel is still playing catch-up, but Apple will have to update the M1 soon. I thought Apple might launch a Mac Pro with an even more powerful M1 processor (even more than the M1 Ultra), but then I read this on Apple's website:

The incredible M1 Ultra chip actually starts with M1 Max. From its inception, M1 Max has held the ability to connect to another M1 Max die using a custom-built packaging architecture called UltraFusion. With twice the connection density of any technology available, UltraFusion provides a massive 2.5TB/s of low-latency interprocessor bandwidth between the two dies using very little power.

The final member of the M1 family, M1 Ultra joins two M1 Max dies — yet it looks like a single piece of silicon to software, so apps benefit from its extraordinary capabilities without requiring any additional work from developers. The result is the most powerful chip ever in a personal computer.

I noticed that Apple refers to the M1 Ultra as the FINAL member of the M1 family. Should this mean that the processors meant to equip the Mac Pro will be members of the M2 family?

 

[appltech]

Could be. But I'm certainly sure that Mac Pro will skip M1 and its nuggets, as well as M2 (maybe M2 Ultra or kind of)
Mac Pro is the top one so it should inherit the toughest CPU.

Meanwhile, Apple discontinued iMac 27. And there will be M2 and its derivatives. iMac Pro?)

 

[satcomer]

I believe so that's why Apple is waiting to update the last Mac to Silicon! I almost believe it will be release with M2 or two (like the old days) with M2 and WWDC or Late Fall date!

 

[skaertus]

Could be. But I'm certainly sure that Mac Pro will skip M1 and its nuggets, as well as M2 (maybe M2 Ultra or kind of)
Mac Pro is the top one so it should inherit the toughest CPU.

Meanwhile, Apple discontinued iMac 27. And there will be M2 and its derivatives. iMac Pro?)

Perhaps the M2 family introduces a chip above the M2 Ultra. But it seems like the M1 series stops at M1 Ultra.

 

[jasoncarle]

Hold on, let me ask my crystal ball that tells me the future.

 

[Pugly]

I wonder if Apple will create a new chip line parallel to the M series for the Mac Pro. It seems like the M series is pretty set, and all they'll need to do is update to the M2, M3 is increase clock speeds, more battery efficient and faster/more gpu cores. The M derived cpus is a generalist, but the Mac Pro will be a specialist.

It just seems like the very nature of the Mac Pro tower is counter to the system on a chip world of the M series. If you just need a ton of cores, the Studio in the right choice. But if you have specialized use cases with esoteric add on hardware... that's what the Mac Pro is for.

 

[southerndoc]

I have mixed thoughts about this. Part of me thinks the Mac Pro will launch with the M2, but I also have a lot of doubt that the M2 Pro/Max/Ultra will launch at the same time as the base M2.

 

[darngooddesign]

I noticed that Apple refers to the M1 Ultra as the FINAL member of the M1 family. Should this mean that the processors meant to equip the Mac Pro will be members of the M2 family?

That's a fair assumption unless Apple considers its Ultra*2 or Ultra*4 to be part of the M1-Ultra family. It would be silly for Apple to tell Intel what its exact plans are.