Apple will have its new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks with its next-generation M2 processors head to mass production in the coming weeks, a respected Apple analyst said.
Apple is set to mass produce 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks with its new M2 processor in the fourth quarter of this year, claims respected Apple analyst Min Chi-Kuo.
Ming Chi-Kuo tweeted that the new M2 laptops will enter mass production in the fourth quarter this year. He further said in his tweet that with key chip supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) guidance that the three-nanometer chip technology will contribute to company revenue beginning the first half of next year, the processors in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks will still adopt the five-nanometer advanced node. He however failed to mention if he was referring to the calendar fourth quarter, which TSMC follows, that ends in December or Apple's fiscal fourth quarter, which ends in September.
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.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 22, 2022
Benefits of M2 Over M1 Chips
Apple adopting TSMC's five-nanometer process would result in faster performance and enhanced power efficiency for newer Macs and iPhones, while contributing to longer battery life. The high-end Mac mini and the Mac Pro tower are the only current Apple products that have not transitioned to Apple silicon chips. The M2 processor, which TSMC manufactures for Apple, is 18 percent speedier than its predecessor M1 chip, even as it doesn't affect battery power, with a huge boost in memory, which is now up to 24GB, from 16GB.
Read Also: New Apple Leak Suggests an iPhone 14 Mini, Two New iPad Pros are on the Way
Apple has released 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with the M2 chip but has not provided any details on when it will roll out the larger versions of the laptop with the newest chip. Previous reports hinted that Apple will unveil its new M2 laptops in the fall this year or spring next year.
Apple's next grand launch event is slated on September 7, which is the date the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 14, the new iPads, and Apple Watches, among other products, which may include the larger MacBooks with the M2 chip.
TSMC to Start Mass Producing 3-nm Chips Later This Year, Says Report
A separate report from a Taiwanese news outlet claims that TSMC is set to mass produce the 3-nm M2 chip beginning in September.
Citing reliable industry sources, the report says the M2 Pro chip could be the first to use TSMC's advanced 3nm process. Popular Bloomberg Apple columnist Mark Gurman stated that Apple sees using the M2 Pro chip in its upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and a higher end Mac mini that are expected to be unveiled later this year or in the first half of next year.
Apple's forthcoming three-nanometer based A17 Bionic chip that will be made for next year's iPhone 15 Pro models and the next-generation M3 processor, swhich will run future MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models, will also be manufactured based on TSMC's 3nm process, which TSMC said will begin contributing to its revenue by the first half of next year.
TSMC was also reported to begin mass production of the 3-nm chips, including the M2 Pro chips, for the Cupertino, California tech giant in the second half of 2022.
Related Article: Apple's M2 Chip to Feature in New MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
