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Mac Studio Speculation [Merged]
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"iPad M4 now makes even less sense."
1. They wanted to refresh it early 2024, but M3 didn't have a Dual-OLED capable display engine.
2. They want it to be on sale for ~18 months (as usual) and the next revision is scheduled for Oct 2025.
3. They want to use up all the binned 3P core M4 chips they are accumulating during the early run of M4 fabrication.
All sounds perfectly sensible.
We must hope they are stockpiling lots of M4 and M4+++ chips for release later in the autumn. 😀
1. They wanted to refresh it early 2024, but M3 didn't have a Dual-OLED capable display engine.
2. They want it to be on sale for ~18 months (as usual) and the next revision is scheduled for Oct 2025.
3. They want to use up all the binned 3P core M4 chips they are accumulating during the early run of M4 fabrication.
All sounds perfectly sensible.
We must hope they are stockpiling lots of M4 and M4+++ chips for release later in the autumn. 😀
Well,
that aspect is given but why put such powerful chip in an iPad when you can't use the power.
The iPad is now faster than a lot of Apple's offering and yet its not usable in a way that would make sense.
Mac Studio and Mac Pro needs the power, not an iPad.
And if you do give the iPad such power then tweak the software so people can utilise it.
Simple as that otherwise its just a waste
that aspect is given but why put such powerful chip in an iPad when you can't use the power.
The iPad is now faster than a lot of Apple's offering and yet its not usable in a way that would make sense.
Mac Studio and Mac Pro needs the power, not an iPad.
And if you do give the iPad such power then tweak the software so people can utilise it.
Simple as that otherwise its just a waste
My thoughts only but Apple will not release an M3 Studio but will release an M4 Studio sometime next year.
In any case, I doubt that Apple will upgrade the Studio unless it's upgraded in conjunction with a Mac Pro upgrade.
Would be a valid point if if the iPad wasn’t gimped by iPadOS
True but that’s why I said ‘if’ you can get away with using one lol. Still a hell of a nice tablet. And now with a funky calculator app with pencil support!
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Guess Mark Gurman was right. Another 12 months it is.
" iMac, low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, high-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini machines will be updated with M4 chips first, followed by the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models in spring 2025, the Mac Studio in mid-2025, and the Mac Pro later in 2025."
" iMac, low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, high-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini machines will be updated with M4 chips first, followed by the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models in spring 2025, the Mac Studio in mid-2025, and the Mac Pro later in 2025."
He also stated no new Mac hardware would be announced at last years WWDC and Apple announced the new MacBook Air at the event. Gurman has been wrong more times than he's been right, he stated the Apple Watch Series 7 would get a complete redesign, and that the current iPad Mini would not be announced on the very same day Apple announced it.
So don't hold what he says as gospel. It most certainly is not, plus how stupid is it for Apple to have M4 chips across its entire line up and then wait at least half a year to to put those same chips in its Studio and Pro desktop computers? This isn't the Intel days these chips are entirely designed by Apple.
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In fact, until a few days before WWDC 2023, he was saying Mac Studio would skip M2 altogether and an M3 would be released in 2024. So yeah, I take anything he says with a massive grain of salt. It's possible this is a rare instance of him being right, since we didn't see new M4 devices at WWDC, but somehow I just don't see Apple holding off for that long.
N3E needs a few more months of production to be able to fulfill this fall’s A series (and to a lesser extent M series) orders. There simply hasn’t been enough time on the production lines to introduce it. The iPad Pro doesn’t move nearly that quantity so it’s the perfect ramp up for that node production.
Anyone who was telling you there was even a remote chance of M4 Mac’s at WWDC doesn’t understand the foundry production processes.
It's not about stupidity but whether or not Apple can deliver the chips Intel or not. Sounds like from post above from NT1440 this is not a simple task with A series orders using N3E.
Also historically speaking for 10 years now Apple's desktop's are not given priority ever. Apple had no issue leaving the Mac Pro just sit for many years or Mac Mini. I don't have the sales numbers in front of me but the Studio/Mac Pro account for a fraction of their revenue in hardware.
Its totally different now. You can't even compare the past to the presence.
In the past, the Pro was very niche and expensive - most people couldn't afford it hence why iMac was so popular. Mac mini was underpowered so it was useless for most people.
This was the reason why people kept asking for Mac Pro mini (the cube).
Apple gave it to us in form of studio and as a result - a lot of people got it. Apple unlocked a product for people who wouldn't get the Mac Pro especially now that iMac is dead (talking about the 27" one and not the underpowered toy that 24" is)
The Mac studio (especially the Max version) is amazing product/value for tons of prosumers that need the power but don't need the craziness (and pricetag) of Mac Pro.
Its essentially the perfect product for a lot of people.
Mac Mini?
Well, that product got unlocked too with the M Pro AS version. Again, another amazing product for tons of people that need a bit more GPU than the base mini but not so much to justify the Studio (specific conditions apply).
So, can we please stop with this Mac Pro argument from the past that is NO LONGER relevant?
In the past, the Pro was very niche and expensive - most people couldn't afford it hence why iMac was so popular. Mac mini was underpowered so it was useless for most people.
This was the reason why people kept asking for Mac Pro mini (the cube).
Apple gave it to us in form of studio and as a result - a lot of people got it. Apple unlocked a product for people who wouldn't get the Mac Pro especially now that iMac is dead (talking about the 27" one and not the underpowered toy that 24" is)
The Mac studio (especially the Max version) is amazing product/value for tons of prosumers that need the power but don't need the craziness (and pricetag) of Mac Pro.
Its essentially the perfect product for a lot of people.
Mac Mini?
Well, that product got unlocked too with the M Pro AS version. Again, another amazing product for tons of people that need a bit more GPU than the base mini but not so much to justify the Studio (specific conditions apply).
So, can we please stop with this Mac Pro argument from the past that is NO LONGER relevant?
Well I won’t go by what a random person in a forum says, as they will not be an Apple employee or anyone involved in Apples chips.
Your first sentence makes no sense either? Apple can deliver the chips Intel or not?
And I am thinking business, they are not going to take that long to bring the chips to the desktops, if they do not hold the desktops as a priority at all, why did they release new iMacs and a totally new desktop platform in the Studio then, AND update them too well apart from the Studio currently?
As stated above this is NOT the old Apple, these are not them Intel days. I expect an updated Studio and Pro to be launched this year. Not literally in 12 months plus time as Gurman claims.
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N3B is a dead end node that is not long for this world. N3E is in the middle of full scale production ramping. These are easily verifiable facts if that industry interests you.
Logistically, Apple has to produce tens of millions of A series prior to launch, and millions of M series prior to launch.
You don’t need an insider to understand timeframes when these chips take weeks to months to produce….
Right, so you think that will take Apple a year plus to do like Gurman thinks? For your claim to hold any value Apple would have to use the same industrial lines for all its chips.
I have no idea what Gurman thinks on the subject, never brought him up.
“The same industrial lines”…just how many 3nm production lines do you think are up and running? Apple needs literally tens of millions of these chips for the the iPhone launches alone.
So how long do you think it will take for the Mac Studio to be updated with the M4 chip then? You have provided reasons why but not a guess as to when. I still believe it will be this year because they have the M2.
My take is they will likely be released in the fall with another event like the “Spooky Fast” one. If I was in the market for a new Mac I’d expect at least the Air (maybe the mini?) to get updated in October.
Side note, I have a bunch the next *iPad* mini is going to get an M1. That would pique my interest personally.
A computer pro friend of mine said the reason production was slow in Taiwan was due to a drought. Which is over now. Evidently they need a special kind of water which is rare?
Another reason for holding new chips in the Studio could also be Thunderbolt 5? The Studio would benefit a huge amount with that tech - well, Studio customers would benefit.
Another reason for holding new chips in the Studio could also be Thunderbolt 5? The Studio would benefit a huge amount with that tech - well, Studio customers would benefit.
I said "It's not about stupidity but whether or not Apple can deliver the chips Intel or not."
It just means Apple may not be able to produce the chips and it doesn't matter if they are designing the chips these days. I'm referencing your Intel comment since your the one who brought up Intel first "This isn't the Intel days these chips are entirely designed by Apple."
Just because something isn't a priority doesn't mean they don't update them at all or serve that niche. iMac skipped M2 completely(again not a priority). Mac Mini still has M2 chip and now 1.5 years old. Mac Studio and Mac Pro still has M2.
Let me ask you the opposite question then. I say Apple does not consider their desktops as a priority. Are you saying Apple does consider them a priority? Which is it?
You are stating Apple does not consider its desktops as a priority, I’m stating then why does it spend millions if not more on them.
Your first comment kinda contradicts your opinion, Apple purposely designed the M chip with an interconnect to join 2 together specifically for its desktop class computers, that is not what a company that doesn’t hold its desktops as important.
They are not a ‘priority‘ but in the context you are using it seemingly, as in they won’t update them as often as its laptops, they are just as much a priority as the laptops.
That sounds pretty plausible. I’ll decide what to do as I go personally, weather to wait till the end of the year or not. It does seem to be quite an upgrade to the M2 though especially in graphics.