The new Apple Mac lineup, powered by ARM processors, could be out as early as the last quarter of 2020, based on the new forecast shared by Ming-chi Kuo. If the prediction will prove accurate, a new iMac and a 13-inch MacBook Pro will debut before December, and none of the machines will have Intel chips inside.
A new iMac will hit the market soon, and the will be the last device from Apple that will bear an Intel processor. Beginning in the last months of the year, the transition to the tech giant's in-house silicon will see the release of new iMac and MacBook models, all redesigned as they will be fired by ARM chips.
In dropping Intel, CNET said Apple engineers will be given the space to design and assemble computers with a smaller footprint and with better durability. Like the iPad, the upcoming Mac releases can be expected to be lighter and slimmer, and the devices will last longer.
Also, the iMac on ARM will certainly see an overhaul. Kuo, who has been fairly accurate in giving out Apple-related updates, has indicated that the macOS desktop will arrive boasting of a 24-inch monitor with the bezels pushed as far as possible to the edge.
Ultimately, Intel will exit from the Mac supply chain as the new releases will start dropping between October 2020 and January 2021. The last of the iMac on Intel will be pushed out between July and September then Apple will trigger the full migration to ARM at the start of the fourth quarter of 2020.
Unsurprisingly, the Mac switching to the ARM platform will lead to the introduction of the new form factors. According to 9to5Mac, the Mac family could see the entry of trimmed down devices such as the 12-inch MacBook.
Kuo said the decision to make the Mac lineup ARM-based will boost in terms of performance and battery life, leading to possible greater demand once the transition has been completed.
The timeline suggested by Kuo on his report appeared to contradict earlier reports that Apple intends to go all-out on ARM starting in 2021. According to Engadget, while most of the claims made by the analyst are likely spot on, the aggressive timing could be problematic.
For one, Kuo overlooked the likelihood of the new Mac lineup encountering development glitches that could push back on the targeted dates - both on assembly and release calendars. Then there is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which already has disrupted Apple's manufacturing plans on the 2020 iPhone release.
In any case, the Mac jumping to ARM is something to watch out for as the move will make the devices more portable and reliable. The MacBook alone sharing the same chips found on the iPad should deliver the same efficiency but with potentially longer operating hours.
