Thoughts on if the M1 chip will follow the iPhone chip lifecycle?

[motomotomoto]

Apple historically usually updates the chip in the iPhone every two years, while producing an improved version in the off year. This used to be marketed as the S series. Would it make sense that the M1Pro and M1Max are basically the equivalent of the S series of the original M1 chip? Do you think that Apple will release an M2 next year which replaces the lower end chips in the lower end devices, and then an M2Pro and M2Max the year after? What type of improvements would we be likely to see in that M2?

 

[chabig]

Apple historically usually updates the chip in the iPhone every two years

The iPhone names themselves have sometimes alternated between numbered names and S names. But Apple has never gone more than a year between iPhones chips.

Apple A series Silicon

Other than that, because the Pro and Max chips are enhancements to the basic M1, it makes sense that when the M2 is delivered it will be put in the lower end, larger selling products first, with enhanced chips to follow.

 

[jav6454]

In theory it already does. After reading the reviews from Anandtech on both A14 and A15, there is little difference CPU-wise beyond some improvements in the GPU dept. Furthermore, that was the same conclusion in terms of M1 and the Pro/Max versions.

So yes, it's safe to assume the base M2 will be based (or vice-versa) on the A16 and improved for GPU and pro needs.

 

[Tagbert]

I don’t think that we can really know Apple’s plans for update cycles on the M-series chips yet based either on their history or on recent releases. The current situation is part of a big transition and does not yet represent where they want to get to. Add in the supply chain disruptions and their plans are not playing out as they had originally planned. Once we get into the next version of chips things should start to stabilize and then maybe we can tell what their pattern will be.

In the past they only updated the Macs every 2-3 years because their product cycles were not in alignment with Intel’s chip cycles and because it was a lot of extra work to integrate a new Intel chip design each time. Now, with everyting under their control and likely less changes from chip generate to generation, They may decide that is is worthwhile keeping most of their line on regular update cycles.

 

[JPack]

You have to understand that iPhone sells at least an order of magnitude more volume than Mac. There is no way to implement the significant architectural updates seen on the A-series chips for the Mac each year, if economics are considered.

Based on die shots, the M1 Pro/Max are clearly based on M1, but have beefed up resources.

I'd expect M2 in 2022 and then M2 Pro/Max in 2023.