As we approach October and the expected announcements from Apple about the next round of Mac computers, there seems to be some disagreement as to what chips they will have inside them. We investigate…

As we have reported in our article, What You Can Expect From Apple In The Rest Of 2022, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, amongst others, believes that in the expected Apple Event in October, Apple will announce a raft of new Pro macs. In his latest Power On newsletter, Mark says…

“For October, I would expect a revamped iPad Pro with an M2 processor and an updated entry-level iPad with an A14 chip and USB-C port. In terms of computers, Apple has been working on M2-based versions of the Mac mini, Mac Pro and MacBook Pro, so I think we’re likely to see at least a pair of those machines about two months from now. “

This is backed up by reports in a paywalled preview of a report in DigiTimes, a daily newspaper for semiconductor, electronics, computer and communications industries in Taiwan and the Greater China region…

“Backend firms are upbeat about demand for the upcoming MacBook chips, which will be built using TSMC's 3nm process technology, with production set to kick off later this year, according to industry sources”.

However, according to DigiTimes, it is not expected that TSMC will generate substantial revenue from 3nm chip production overall until at least the first quarter of 2023.

This is further reinforced by a report in a recent edition of Taiwan's Commercial Times, which said TSMC would begin production of 3nm chips for Apple by the end of 2022. That report claimed that Apple's first 3nm chip may be the M2 Pro chip for Macs.

But this has been questioned by reliable analyst Ming-chi Kuo, from TF International Securities, a financial services group in the Asia-Pacific region. He gathers intelligence from his contacts in Apple's Asian supply chain, translating the information he gleans into research notes that often provide a solid look at Apple's future plans, and while he is not always correct, he is one of the most reliable sources for Apple rumours. Ming-Chi Kuo recently tweeted…

“New 14" and 16" MacBook Pro with new processors will enter mass production in 4Q22. Given TSMC's guidance that the 3nm will contribute revenue starting in 1H23, processors of 14" and 16" MacBook Pro models may still adopt the 5nm advanced node”

Why Does This Matter?

Simply put, chips manufactured using a 3nm process versus those produced using a 5nm process will use less power and run faster. For example, Samsung say…

“Compared to the 5nm process, the first-generation 3nm process can reduce power consumption by up to 45%, improve performance by 23% and reduce the area by 16% compared to 5nm.”

Could They All Be Right?

As we know with new products, an announcement is very different to a release, with reports of ‘vapourware’ not uncommon, where brands make an announcement and the product does appear for months, if not years in some cases.

In this case, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes that Apple plans to announce multiple new Macs at an October event but that they won’t be released until the first quarter of 2023, giving the supply chain time to get 3nm M2 Pro and Max chips into the next generation of Apple Mac computers.