Apple skips M6 Pro and M6 Max Apfelpatient

Apple is apparently revamping its chip roadmap: According to a report, the company is foregoing the powerful Pro and Max variants for the first time in the M6 generation, opting instead for the M7 series. The reason lies in artificial intelligence – the new chips are said to be specifically designed for AI and graphics workloads.

Since the first Apple Silicon chip, Apple has followed a consistent pattern: a base chip, followed by Pro and Max variants, occasionally supplemented by an Ultra model. A new report now suggests the first real break with this pattern. The reason is the growing importance of AI computing power – a field in which Apple recently even lost its leading position as TSMC's largest customer to Nvidia. The chip strategy is now more strongly focused on accelerating on-device AI and graphics-intensive software.

For the first time, there is no Pro and no Max chip

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple plans to launch the M6 chip for its entry-level Macs later this year – but without the usual variants. Apple has reportedly scrapped plans for an M6 Pro and an M6 Max. Instead, the next Pro and Max chips will be part of the M7 series. Since the launch of Apple Silicon, there have always been at least three variants per generation; with the M6, it would be the first time Apple has dispensed with Pro and Max versions.

The new timetable until 2028

The report outlines a phased timetable extending to 2028:

Chip	Expected market launch
M5 Ultra	End of 2026
M6	End of 2026
M7	First half of 2027
M7 Pro	End of 2027
M7 Max	End of 2027
M7 Ultra	2028

It is noteworthy that two chips are expected to be released this year: the M6 for the entry-level class and an M5 Ultra for the most powerful desktop Macs.

What makes the M6 stand out

According to the report, Apple has already tested the M6 in a new entry-level MacBook Pro, which could also be released this year. The focus is on significantly higher memory bandwidth: up to 200 gigabytes per second, compared to 153 gigabytes per second for the current M5. This would benefit graphics performance, AI processing, and video editing. Additional features include a redesigned memory architecture, an improved Neural Engine, performance increases across all processor cores, and a redesigned GPU with up to twelve cores. Technically, the M6 also marks a leap in manufacturing: it would be Apple's first Mac chip manufactured using TSMC's 2-nanometer process, following the 3-nanometer process used for the M5.

Why Apple prefers the M7 series

The report attributes the change to the M7 chips' focus on AI. They are expected to incorporate technologies that accelerate on-device AI and, in particular, graphics-intensive applications. Instead of expanding the existing M6 line with Pro and Max models, Apple is apparently concentrating its development efforts on bringing these AI capabilities to the high-performance chips more quickly. The base M7 is expected to achieve a memory bandwidth of up to 240 gigabytes per second.

What this means for the high-end MacBook

For those waiting for a particularly powerful MacBook, this shifts the outlook. Since the Pro and Max chips aren't expected until the end of 2027 with the M7 series, the high-end MacBook Pro segment is also likely to follow this timeline. The role of a top-of-the-line model rumored to be the MacBook Ultra remains one of the most intriguing open questions surrounding Apple's future Mac strategy. The entry-level MacBook Pro with the M6 would remain unaffected and would arrive earlier.

Apple's chip strategy is geared towards AI

If the report is accurate, skipping an entire Pro and Max tier would be an unusual move for Apple – and a clear indication of how much AI now dictates its roadmap. Instead of expanding each generation at a consistent pace, Apple is apparently prioritizing the speed of the chips most crucial for machine learning and graphics. The reliability of this timeline will become apparent once the first M6 Macs are released this year. (Image: Shutterstock / Asef2425)