Last year, Apple introduced the ARM M2 processor, which was a relatively minor change from the first generation Apple Silicon in the form of the M1 chip. Initially, we thought that we would wait for the more powerful M2 Pro and M2 Max processors, and therefore for the latest MacBook Pros, until autumn 2022. Finally, the manufacturer did not show anything in the fall, instead without much announcement today there was an official premiere of both processors and refreshed MacBook Pro. In addition, the Apple M2 and M2 Pro chipsets will appear in the new version of the Mac mini. What have we learned about the specifications and prices of the devices?
Apple officially presented the ARM M2 Pro and M2 Max processors, which will be used in the new Apple MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 laptops. In addition, the Mac mini has been updated, which will be available with M2 and M2 Pro processors.
Test of the Apple M2 ARM processor in the MacBook Pro 13 laptop. We confront the second generation of ARM with the Apple M1, M1 Pro and M1 Max
Apple M2 Pro and M2 Max will use the same technological process as the existing Apple Silicon systems. We are talking about TSMC N5 lithography – the basic M2 contained 20 billion transistors, while the M2 Pro and M2 Max will have 40 billion and 67 billion transistors, respectively. The manufacturer has doubled the number of Performance cores, thanks to which the M2 Pro and M2 Max systems will offer a total of 12 cores and 12 threads (8 Performance cores and 4 Efficiency cores). The graphics systems have been further expanded – now the M2 Pro will receive a maximum of 19 GPU cores with a power of 6.8 TFLOPS (FP32), while the M2 Max will offer up to 38 GPU cores with a power of 13.6 TFLOPS (FP32). Apple M2 series chips will still be paired with LPDDR5 RAM. The M2 Pro has a maximum of 32 GB of RAM with a bandwidth of 200 GB / s, while the M2 Max – up to 96 GB of unified LPDDR5 memory and a bandwidth of up to 400 GB / s. Depending on the software, the new M2 Pro and M2 Max systems are to be from several to several dozen percent more efficient than their predecessors.
Apple M2 | Apple M2 Pro | Apple M2 Max | |
Architecture | ARMv8.5-A | ARMv8.5-A | ARMv8.5-A |
Lithography | TSMC N5 | TSMC N5 | TSMC N5 |
Number of transistors | 20 billion | 40 billion | 67 billion |
CPU cores | 8C/8T (4x Performance + 4x Efficiency) | 12C/12T (8x Performance + 4x Efficiency) | 12C/12T (8x Performance + 4x Efficiency) |
GPU cores | 10 GPU cores | 19 GPU cores | 38 GPU cores |
GPU power (FP32) | 3.6 TFLOPS | 6.8 TFLOPS | 13.6 TFLOPS |
GPU compute units | 1024 | 2432 | 4864 |
L2 cache | 20 MB | 36 MB | 36 MB |
Memory | Up to 24GB LPDDR5 Up to 100GB/s |
Up to 32GB LPDDR5 Up to 200GB/s |
Up to 96GB LPDDR5 Up to 400GB/s |
Neural Engine | 16 cores, 15.8 billion ops/s | 16 cores, 15.8 billion ops/s | 16 cores, 15.8 billion ops/s |
Test of the Apple MacBook Air 2022 laptop with an ARM Apple M2 processor and a new screen enriched with a beautiful notch
With the premiere of the Apple M2 Pro and M2 Max processors, they have also been refreshed laptops MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16. Visually, they have not been changed in any way. The main change is the introduction of more powerful ARM processors and further modifications related to it. Laptops now have the newer HDMI 2.1 instead of HDMI 2.0, as well as faster WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Two sizes are still offered – 14.2 “and 16.2”, in both cases Liquid Retina XDR screens offer, among others Mini LED backlight and brightness up to 1600 nits in HDR. More detailed specification is in the table below. Availability of notebooks is expected on January 24-25, so in a week.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) | Apple Mac mini (2023) | |
Processor | Apple M2 Pro Apple M2 Max |
Apple M2 Pro Apple M2 Max |
Apple M2 Apple M2 Pro |
Possible CPU configurations | M2 Pro: 10 cores (6/4) M2 Pro: 12 cores (8/4) M2 Max: 12 cores (8/4) |
M2 Pro: 12 cores (8/4) M2 Max: 12 cores (8/4) |
M2: 8 cores (4/4) M2 Pro: 10 cores (6/4) M2 Pro: 12 cores (8/4) |
Layout | Apple M2 Pro GPU Apple M2 Max GPU |
Apple M2 GPU Apple M2 Pro GPU |
|
Possible GPU configurations | M2 Pro GPU: 16 cores M2 Pro GPU: 19 cores M2 Max GPU: 30 cores M2 Max GPU: 38 cores |
M2 Pro GPU: 19 cores M2 Max GPU: 30 cores M2 Max GPU: 38 cores |
M2 GPU: 10 cores M2 Pro GPU: 16 cores M2 Pro GPU: 19 cores |
RAM | 16/32/64GB LPDDR5 96 GB (M2 Max GPU version: 38 cores) |
16/32GB LPDDR5 (only with M2 Pro) 32/64/96GB LPDDR5 (with M2 Max) |
8/16GB LPDDR5 (only for M2) 16/32GB LPDDR5 (for M2 Pro) |
Data warehouse | Up to 8TB PCIe 4.0 SSD | ||
Screen | 14.2″ 3024 x 1964 16:10, Liquid Retina XDR (Mini LED backlight) Adaptive refresh up to 120Hz (ProMotion) 500 nits (SDR), 1000 nits (HDR), 1600 nits (HDR, slice of screen) HDR support: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
16.2″ 3456 x 2234 16:10, Liquid Retina XDR (Mini LED backlight) Adaptive refresh up to 120Hz (ProMotion) 500 nits (SDR), 1000 nits (HDR), 1600 nits (HDR, slice of screen) HDR support: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
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Connectors | 3x Thunderbolt 4 1 x HDMI 2.1 1x SDXC card reader 1x 3.5mm audio jack 1x MagSafe 3 |
M2 version: 2x Thunderbolt 4 1x HDMI 2.0 2x USB 3.2 Type A Gen.1 1x Ethernet RJ-45 Gigabit 1x 3.5mm audio jack M2 Pro version: |
|
Communication | WiFi 6E (802.11ax) + Bluetooth 5.3 | WiFi 6E + Ethernet RJ-45 + Bluetooth 5.3 | |
webcam | Full HD | – | |
Libra | 1.6kg (M2 Pro) 1.63kg (M2Max) |
2.15kg (M2 Pro) 2.16kg (M2Max) |
1.18kg (M2) 1.28kg (M2 Pro) |
System | macOS Ventura | ||
Price | From PLN 11,999 | From PLN 14,999 | From PLN 3,499 |
Apple M1 Pro and Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900H and AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS – Test of top ARM and x86 processors
In addition to the MacBook Pros, Apple has also unveiled two versions of the miniature Mac mini. One version operates on the Apple M2 processor and has e.g. two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a digital HDMI 2.0 connector. The second version uses the newer Apple M2 Pro chip, in a configuration with both 10 CPU cores (and 16 GPU cores) and 12 CPU cores (and 19 GPU cores). The variant with a newer processor is also richer in ports: it has four Thunderbolt 4 connectors and digital HDMI 2.1. Availability of new computers mini is also expected from January 24/25, and prices start at PLN 3,499. The exact variants with prices for individual configurations can be found on the manufacturer’s website – links to MacBooks and Mac mini have also been added to the text.
Source: Apple