Mike Wuerthele
The supply chain appears to be prepping itself for a September debut of new Apple Silicon computers, with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro expected to debut in the third quarter of 2021.
According to sources within the supply chain, Apple has validated two new suppliers for mini-LED components. As part of a paywalled report, DigiTimes claims that the backlight components from the new suppliers are intended for a "third quarter" release of new Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models, and not the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Suppliers Zhen Ding and Tripod have reportedly completed validation and yield checks, and will start ramping up production to meed production needs to meet Apple's timetable. Given that the checks are said to have just completed, it isn't precisely clear when in the third quarter the products will launch, but given historical lead times on component shipments intended for a sub-assembly like a screen that will be used for a finished product, a release of the new MacBook Pro at an Apple September event seems probable, versus one in July or August.
Apple reportedly plans to offer both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with two different processor options. Reportedly codenamed "Jade C-Chop" and "Jade C-Die," they both feature eight high-performance cores, and two energy-efficient ones.
These 10-core processor versions will vary by having either 16, or 32 graphics cores. The new processors are also said to feature an improved Neural Engine.
Both new MacBook Pro models will come with a redesigned chassis that, as previously predicted, includes a MagSafe charger port, HDMI, and SD card support.
The two models are also said to support up to 64GB of Unified RAM, up from the present maximum limit of 16GB. They will offer more Thunderbolt ports than present Apple Silicon computers do.
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24 Comments
I don’t need a new MBP right now, but I’m hoping these are absolute beasts!
looks good so far!
These machines will be bonkers. A 16” with mini LED and 64GB unified RAM. A Beast indeed.
I am excited about this! Both models too. With AS, the 14-inch and 16-inch may start to have similar or same power. Size would be the only difference. Makes me wonder if I’d go for the 14 inch as the sweet spot of portability. Perhaps not, as larger screen benefits my work, but still excited to see the 14-inch.
Quoting a recent article, "According to a popular benchmark site, CpuMonkey, there is an M1x in production that will be used in the upcoming 14 and 16 inches Macbook pros. According to this leak, the M1x has a 12 core CPU and a 16 core GPU."
So which is it? 10-cores or 12?