While Apple has been long rumored to be working on transitioning its Intel-powered Mac Pro to its own ARM-based silicon, as well as an updated Mac mini with more powerful internals that could debut as early as March 8 at its Peek Performance event, there are now rumors that a third, unannounced desktop may be showing up in the near future.
Speculated to be called the Mac Studio, it is believed that this new desktop will more closely resemble the form factor of Apple’s compact Mac mini than that of the cheese grater-inspired Mac Pro, and it could bring more performance to Apple’s Mac lineup.
It is rumored, according to a report from 9to5 Mac, that Apple is working on two new variants of the Mac Studio, one featuring the same M1 Max processor that’s found on the latest MacBook Pro model and a second one with yet to be announced silicon that takes performance even further. Whether this will be a new processor series in the M1 family or a new upgrade to an M2 chipset isn’t clear at this time.
Prior to the latest Mac Studio rumors, it was reported that Apple is working on a new desktop with boosted performance that’s handled by an M-series processor configured with up to 40 processing cores and 128 graphics core. That processor could go into the Mac Studio, which would mean that this new model will be the most powerful M-series desktop in the company’s lineup. Professionals who need Intel power would still have access to the Mac Pro until Apple creates silicon powerful enough for a pro-class successor.
The Mac Studio is said to go by the code name of J375 internally according to the same report. It is believed that Apple’s forthcoming Mac Studio, if the rumor are true, won’t be replacing the Mac Pro nor the Mac mini. Instead, this will be a new desktop that augments Apple’s current Mac lineup, which also includes the all-in-one iMac. If this is the case, the Mac Studio, with its Mac mini-like form factor, could be similar to a Mac mini Pro, akin to how Apple used to offer an iMac and a more elevated iMac Pro in that series.
It’s still unclear if the Mac Studio will launch during Apple’s March 8 event, but Bloomberg speculates that new Mac models could arrive later this year. The publication noted that Apple’s developer-centric Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June could be a likely venue for the company to introduce new models. The WWDC launch could help Apple complete its transition away from Intel, a process that began in 2020, according to Bloomberg.
In addition to the Mac Studio, Apple is also believed to be working on a new display. According to a report on AppleInsider, Apple is said to be testing a 7K display, though it’s unclear if the new Studio Display will replace the pricey Apple Pro Display XDR or if the new panel will augment Apple’s first-party lineup of monitors. There were no additional details for the new Studio Display at this time.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.