Which Macs will skip M5 and wait for M6?

[hoorayforhollywood]

I've got a feeling the Mini and iMac will wait over 2 years for an update from M4 to M6. Which I'm fine with. Perhaps the Studio and Pro too?

 

[GoetzPhil]

I have the 2022 iMac M1 - cant afford the M4 now - so I will better wait for M7 or M8

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Based on history (which isn’t always accurate); laptops get yearly updates & desktop are less likely to. I don’t think any desktop Mac got M3 at all, did they?

 

[Realityck]

I've got a feeling the Mini and iMac will wait over 2 years for an update from M4 to M6. Which I'm fine with. Perhaps the Studio and Pro too?

The Mini and iMac might have had a skip of their AS sequences but it's not like it will repeat. The iMac went M1 -> M3 - > M4. The Mac mini went M1 -> M2/Pro -> M4/Pro. The M1 to M2 was the longest period, M2 to M3 faster, and the M4 faster yet. So both the iMac and Mini are more likely to be almost yearly as long as Apple doesn't extend the M4 to M5 period too much.

Now Apple needs to accelerate the Mac Studio to M4 Max/Ultra next in first half of 2025, and also the Mac Pro with M4 Ultra's before WWDC 2025. Wouldn't want the M5 to come out before thats accomplished.

 

[EugW]

I think there is a strong possibility both the Mac mini and iMac will skip M5.

 

[streetfunk]

i expect the Mini and studio to skip M5. New models in two years post their now/soon release.

smaller market.
MBP, bigger market. Enough folks around to switch to a newer one.
It´s not just the revenue. It´s also about the security that you can produce so and so much, and they´ll get sold.
That´s how i see the logic.

 

[Realityck]

i expect the Mini and studio to skip M5. New models in two years post their now/soon release.

smaller market.
MBP, bigger market. Enough folks around to switch to a newer one.
It´s not just the revenue. It´s also about the security that you can produce so and so much, and they´ll get sold.
That´s how i see the logic.

In the future if a iMac can simply have a M5 instead of a M4 like the M4 replaced the M3 then it's likely to occur for two reasons. First because it's a trivial update to implement, second because the Macs now play a more important growth role then before as Apple wants to increase sales broadly while promoting Apple Intelligence. The next step would be Mac studio being updated by March/April time frame, along with Mac Pro. Both are using M2 SoC's still.

Also take note that their Servers will go from M2 Ultra to M4 Ultra in 2025 also. Time will tell if this is the direction Apple is finally changing to after the last three years.

Apple Intelligence Servers Expected to Start Using M4 Chips Next Year After M2 Ultra This Year

Apple plans to start using the M4 chip in its Apple Intelligence servers next year, according to a Nikkei Asia report this week, citing TrendForce...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Realityck]

Also this perspective

Apple’s Future Hinges on Smaller Bets, Rather Than Next Big Thing

Apple may never find another product with as much revenue potential as the iPhone, but it can still thrive with several new Apple Watch- or iPad-level businesses. Also: The company launches an internal project to evaluate the smart glasses market and names a new vice president of design. Plus, a...

www.bloomberg.com

Apple still needs to find new sources of growth, of course. The iPhone isn’t going anywhere, but it’s also not fueling the sales gains that it used to. So, what’s the solution? To grow, the company can’t just wait for one big new opportunity — it needs several new device categories on the level of an iPad, Mac or Apple Watch.

In the nearer term, Apple will be focused on gradual improvements to its existing products. That means making Macs with faster chips, thinner designs and touch screens. Its iPads will become more versatile, with larger displays and foldable models. Apple Watches will get blood pressure and glucose monitoring. And the company will try to make its iPhones even more indispensable, with new designs, cameras and AI features.

That means continue to market everything as useful to iPhones owners. Products with older AS SoC's aren't going to cut it now.

 

[MacPoulet]

Based on history (which isn’t always accurate); laptops get yearly updates & desktop are less likely to. I don’t think any desktop Mac got M3 at all, did they?

The iMac got an M3 release.

 

[novagamer]

This all depends if Hidra is real and/or something Apple will release as a consumer product.

If so I would expect a probably 18-24 month cadence, assuming it is not a derivative design. Latest rumors seem to be that we’re going to have a repeat of M2 with M4 which isn’t bad but not what I was looking for.

If Apple does do an M4 Ultra and also is working on a desktop focused design then I could see that shipping in 2026, but who knows what will happen.

The time is right for Apple to take some of the high-end marketshare, a lot of people don’t like Windows 11 very much and I doubt Microsoft is going to radically change tact to cater to the enthusiast niche since it’s a small portion of their market.

It’s exactly the opposite in Apple’s case with the low volume highest-tier desktops, and it’s the perfect opportunity to capture new users and the media’s attention with something world-class. If it was Steve Jobs’ Apple we may have already seen it, but I think it’s probably coming within the next few years regardless.