Apple’s ambitious plans for its Mac Pro lineup appear to be facing significant challenges, particularly concerning the development of a new superchip. Recent reports suggest that the tech giant has shelved its plans for an Extreme version of its M-chip, raising questions about the future of the Mac Pro.
In June 2023, Apple unveiled a new Mac Pro, marking the first time the device featured Apple Silicon chips. However, this launch fell short of the high expectations set by industry insiders and enthusiasts. The anticipation surrounding a new computer design and a powerful variant of Apple’s chips, which were expected to surpass the capabilities of the existing M2 Ultra, ultimately fizzled out. As a result, speculation emerged that Apple had merely postponed its plans rather than abandoned them altogether.
However, a recent report from The Information has cast doubt on the prospects of an Extreme chip making its debut in the near future. According to sources cited in the report, Apple has redirected its chip engineers in Israel from developing a four-chip M-series processor to focus instead on creating an AI chip for the company’s data centers. This shift in priorities raises concerns about the fate of the anticipated M chip, which many believed was intended as a superchip for future Mac Pro models.
Currently, the M2 Ultra serves as Apple’s top processor, comprised of two M2 Max chips interconnected through the company’s UltraFusion technology. While the possibility of an M4 Extreme chip has not been entirely ruled out, industry experts suggest that the timeline for its development may be longer than previously thought. Notably, Apple has not released an M3 Ultra, leading to speculation that any future Mac Pro models could be equipped with the M4 Extreme chip, potentially set for a 2025 release.
Prominent Apple blogger John Gruber has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that if the report from The Information is accurate, it cannot be referring to an Extreme chip for 2025, as the cancellation reportedly occurred during the summer. Given Apple’s lengthy development cycles, an M4 Extreme would have likely been well into development by now. Additionally, the report indicated that TSMC’s N3P process was slated for the chip’s manufacturing, while the M4 generation is currently being produced using the earlier N3E process.
This uncertainty raises further questions: Is there no M4 Extreme in the pipeline whatsoever? If that’s the case, it would leave the Mac Pro’s differentiation from the more compact Mac Studio in question, aside from the added flexibility offered by PCIe slots. At present, both models are available with the M2 Ultra chip.
Moreover, Apple’s focus on other priorities in Cupertino may also be influencing the development timeline for the Mac Pro. As the company continues to innovate and expand its product offerings, the future of its high-performance desktop line remains uncertain. The implications of these decisions could have lasting effects on Apple’s professional user base, who rely on the Mac Pro for demanding tasks.
As the tech landscape evolves, it will be fascinating to see how Apple navigates these challenges and what this means for the future of its Mac Pro lineup. With a potential gap in the timeline for the introduction of an Extreme variant, users and industry analysts alike will be keeping a close watch on Apple’s next moves.
