Reports have surfaced indicating that Apple plans to bypass the anticipated M6 chip variants and instead accelerate the production of the M7 chip. Insider information suggests that we can expect high-end M7 Ultra-equipped desktop Macs to debut in 2028, and the reasoning behind this shift might come as a surprise.
According to anonymous sources speaking with Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple is altering its traditional approach to chip releases. The M6-enabled devices are yet to hit the market, but their arrival is anticipated later this year. However, Apple seems to have already deemed this chip generation nearly outdated, as per Gurman’s insights.
What’s driving this rapid change? The answer lies in artificial intelligence. Gurman notes that AI has evolved from merely being a feature for Apple’s chips to a fundamental aspect influencing design choices and release schedules. This marks a notable departure from previous priorities, which mainly focused on enhancing processing speeds, graphics, battery life, and achieving sleeker designs.
While it’s disheartening for fans of those traditional performance metrics, Gurman indicates that M6 Pro, Max, or Ultra variants will not be coming to market. The timeline for the M7 chip’s development shows that it began just six months after the completion of the M6, implying a peculiar launch schedule. The M6 will make a fleeting appearance later this year, followed by the debut of the first M7 products early next year. The rollout will then continue with the M7 Pro and Max scheduled for late 2027, culminating in the release of M7 Ultra models in 2028.
For those saving up for a premium desktop, the M7 Ultra promises substantial capabilities. According to Gurman, "The new Ultra is designed to support up to 1.5 terabytes of memory," which would be nearly double the expected capacity for the M5 Ultra. However, Apple’s ability to offer this configuration will depend on the industry’s memory chip availability. Current shortages have made these components both scarce and costly.
Considering price implications is prudent, especially as we look back to earlier Mac models. Although M5 Ultras are yet to emerge, speculation hints at the impending Mac Studio launch. Recently, Apple announced price hikes for several products, including a noticeable $500 increase for the base Mac Studio, now priced at $2,500. The premium model with 96GB of RAM saw an even steeper rise of $1,300, bringing its price to $5,299.
Reflecting on historical pricing, the last time Apple offered a Mac with 1.5TB of RAM was back in 2019, when it cost a staggering $25,000 for just the RAM. Given inflation and the current memory pricing crisis, one could feasibly anticipate a total of $53,000 for a fully equipped system today.
Additionally, the M7 Ultra is expected to be designed specifically for AI tasks, with performance approaching that of dedicated AI processors like Nvidia’s Blackwell. Presently, the lowest price for a Blackwell chip I found is a staggering $12,499.99.
While you can’t purchase this futuristic Mac just yet, the consumer market will undoubtedly evolve in familiar and unpredictable manners over the next two years. If we fast-forward to 2028 and you're eyeing a top-tier M7 Ultra-powered Mac Studio, it’s likely you'll need to consider serious financial commitments, perhaps even taking out a second mortgage. At this rate, this computer could resemble the price of real estate.
