[Rumour] M2 chip exclusive to Mac Pro and iMac coming in the 2nd half of 2021

[ArPe]

I don’t think that the naming makes sense like that.

For the iPhone chips, they have the family (A) followed by the generation (14) and then sometimes a performance edition (X/Z). This allows them to increment the generation and use the suffix to indicate performance levels.

I could see them doing something like this

M1
Air, Mini, low end MBP

M1t - more RAM, more perf cores, more GPU cores, more ports
MBP, low end iMac

then when then A15 chip is ready, they can do an M version

M2
Air, Mini, low end MBP
(may not ship until 2022)

M2t
MBP, low end iMac

M2s - even more memory, even more cores, discrete GPUs?
Mac Pro, high end iMac

All those letters are just as confusing for non techie consumers as the Intel and AMD model numbers.

To make it simply just use generation and core number.

M1-8
M1-12

M2-12
M2-16
M2-24

etc

 

[thenewperson]

All those letters are just as confusing for non techie consumers as the Intel and AMD model numbers.

To make it simply just use generation and core number.

M1-8
M1-12

M2-12
M2-16
M2-24

etc

If they can mange A12X and A12Z they can definitely manage extra letters on Mac SoCs.

 

[theSeb]

All those letters are just as confusing for non techie consumers as the Intel and AMD model numbers.

To make it simply just use generation and core number.

M1-8
M1-12

M2-12
M2-16
M2-24

etc

It's clear that the number will be generation and a letter will show performance tier. It's also unfortunate that Apple have decided to simply brand it as M1 and then still differentiate between 7 core and 8 core GPU in the description without it being obviously from just the chip name.

 

[Jouls]

we would be on 11.1.2 right now instead of 11.2.

Actually, we would be on 11.0.2.
First OS X was 10.0.

 

[ArPe]

Actually, we would be on 11.0.2.
First OS X was 10.0.

First OS X was OS X Server in 1999 just to be more accurate ? it was a hybrid of Rhapsody and OS 8.5

 

[ArPe]

If they can mange A12X and A12Z they can definitely manage extra letters on Mac SoCs.

I don’t like the comparison. When you buy an iPhone Pro there are no CPU options to choose from. Consumers just look at the model name and don’t care about the CPU name.

With a Mac things become more complicated for consumers due to the options available. So if a consumer goes in a store for an iMac and they see these options:

M2T
M2V
M2X

They will be what the hell is that? Then they have to read more and memorize this stuff or a sales person has to waste their time all day explaining. But if it’s clear as day

M2-8
M2-12
M2-16

There’s nothing to memorize what letters mean. There no need to read details. No need to waste time asking what does an X mean what does a T mean.

 

[thenewperson]

I don’t like the comparison. When you buy an iPhone Pro there are no CPU options to choose from. Consumers just look at the model name and don’t care about the CPU name.

On the iPad there is, which is where things are more similar to Macs.

With a Mac things become more complicated for consumers due to the options available. So if a consumer goes in a store for an iMac and they see these options:

M2T
M2V
M2X

I don't think anyone's theorising things being this way though. It's more like:

M1 - MBA, 2 port MBP, lower Mac mini
M1X - 14/16 MBP, higher Mac mini, 24" iMac
M1Z, 30" iMac, MP

The core counts can change within them (say 8, 12, and 16 core M1X variants) but they're still called the same thing.

Having written all that I'm not sure I see much of a difference with M2X vas M2-12. Someone has to keep something in mind, whether it's a letter or a number.