Reports suggest Apple is planning to skip the higher-end M6 chip and launch the M7 series in 2027 to enhance AI capabilities on its devices.



Apple is preparing to begin development of a new generation of chips specifically for AI, and is planning the biggest change in its silicon strategy for Macs to date, according to sources close to the matter. Apple has been rolling out Mac products with the ' M5 ' chip since the second half of 2025, and is expected to announce products with the next-generation 'M6' chip as early as 2026. However, according to Apple sources, they plan to skip the high-end 'Pro' and 'Max' class chips that have been introduced in each generation with the M6, and instead move forward to the M7 generation, which will prioritize AI performance.

M6 MacBook Pro Expected This Year With Apple's First 2nm Chip - MacRumors
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/25/m6-macbook-pro-2026/

Apple Skips M6 Pro and M6 Max, Accelerating M7 Chips for AI
https://www.ithinkdiff.com/apple-skips-m6-pro-max-m7-chips-ai-2026-2027-2/

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, known for leaking Apple product information, who obtained information from anonymous sources, Apple will release the entry-level 'M6' in the second half of 2026, while canceling plans for higher-end chips such as the 'M6 Pro,' 'M6 Max,' and 'M6 Ultra.' Instead, the sources say Apple is taking an unprecedented step by 'accelerating technology development.'




The M6 chip, codenamed 'Komodo' or 'H18G,' will feature numerous improvements aimed at achieving the industry's best performance in its class, including faster processing of tasks such as AI, video editing, model training, and high-resolution graphics rendering by increasing memory bandwidth. The M6 is expected to have a memory bandwidth of approximately 200GB per second, significantly exceeding the M5's approximately 153GB per second.

Another change planned for the M6 is a redesigned graphics processing unit (GPU). Apple has tested a version with up to 12 graphics cores, an increase from the M5's maximum of 10. The new GPU is designed to better handle simultaneous rendering demands for AI, graphics, and other tasks.

MacBook Pros equipped with the M6 chip are scheduled to arrive in 2026, but according to sources, the M7 series is planned to be released not long after. The M7 is codenamed 'Delos' or 'H19G' and is primarily designed to significantly improve AI processing capabilities on devices. Related products are expected to be released as early as the first half of 2027. In addition, high-end chips called 'Andros' internally, 'M7 Pro,' 'M7 Max,' and 'M7 Ultra,' are also planned, with the 'M7 Pro' and 'M7 Max' scheduled for release as early as the end of 2027, and the M7 Ultra in 2028.




Since the M1 in 2020, Apple has offered higher-end models such as Pro, Max, and Ultra with each generation. Even with the current generation 'M5' at the time of writing, an 'M5 Ultra,' also known as 'Sotra D' or 'H17D,' is expected to be released sometime in 2026. The M5 Ultra chip is expected to feature up to approximately 36 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores.

However, if this plan comes to fruition, the M6 will be the first generation of Apple Silicon without a higher-end variant, and the next generation of Pro/Max chips used in high-performance MacBook Pros and Mac Studios will likely skip the M6 generation and wait until the M7 generation.

It should be noted that this report is based on information obtained by Mr. Gurman from sources close to the company, and Apple has not officially commented.

iThinkDifferent, a news outlet that publishes Apple-related news, commented on reports that Apple is skipping the higher-end M6 chips and moving directly to the M7, stating: 'The decision to consolidate all professional features into the M7 generation reflects a shift in Apple's priorities. By skipping the M6 Pro and M6 Max, Apple can accelerate the timeline to the AI-focused M7 family and avoid distributing TSMC's limited manufacturing capacity across multiple M6 tiers. The M6 is rumored to be the first Apple silicon manufactured using a 2nm process that fits current node constraints. iOS 27's Siri AI demonstrates that Apple is tiering AI capabilities based on hardware capabilities, a model that is now expanding to the Mac lineup. For entry-level buyers, the M6 processor-equipped Mac mini, iMac, iPad Pro, and iPad Air will refresh the traditional lineup, but for those considering purchasing a professional Mac, it's either wait until the M7 Pro arrives in late 2027 or accept that M6-based machines will become obsolete within a few months.'

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in AI,   Hardware, Posted by log1e_dh