Apple Skips M6 Pro and Max to Prioritize AI-Focused M7 Chips
Apple's decision to skip the high-end M6 generation signals that AI performance now dictates chip design and release timing, a shift that will reshape its product lineup.
Reporting from 1 source: ASCII.jp.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will release the standard M6 chip but has no plans for M6 Pro, M6 Max, or M6 Ultra. The company is instead prioritizing the M7 generation, which will feature significant AI processing improvements. A new 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 is expected later this year, followed by the M7 series from early 2027 through 2028. The M7 Ultra chip is said to dramatically improve AI performance and could be used in Apple Intelligence servers starting in 2029.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple will not release the M6 Pro, M6 Max, or M6 Ultra chips. The company is instead focusing its resources on the M7 generation, which will bring major AI processing improvements. "AI is no longer just a feature that Apple's chips should support," Gurman wrote. "It is now an element that determines how chips are designed and when they are shipped." The standard M6 chip will still appear in a new 14-inch MacBook Pro later this year. The M7 series is expected to roll out from early 2027 through 2028, with the M7 Ultra chip designed for servers running Apple Intelligence by 2029. The M5 Ultra chip is still on track for the Mac Studio this year.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- ASCII.jp アップル、M6 Pro/Max見送りか AI強化のM7優先に？