A questionable report claims that Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro models will feature an "M1X" chip and the "MacBook Pro" logo below the display will be removed.
The report from 9to5Mac states that "a source with a decent track record" made these claims. According to the source, "Apple's planned name for the MacBook Pro chips" is the "M1X."
The M1X is an extension of the M1 that will include more Thunderbolt channels, CPU cores, GPU cores, support for multiple external monitors, and higher power consumption. These devices will both have a 1080p webcam, an SD card reader, three Thunderbolt USB-C ports, an updated MagSafe connector, and an HDMI port.
MacBook Pro 2021: Gurman left chip branding open
9to5Mac explains that this rumor from their source matches the recent report from reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman about the new MacBook Pro models. But that doesn't seem to be the case upon closer inspection. Earlier this week, Gurman explained that the upcoming 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will feature a new Apple Silicon chip that includes a 10-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, 16-core or 32-core GPU options, support for up to 64GB of memory, and support for additional Thunderbolt ports. Gurman hasn't commented on how the MacBook Pro's new chip will be branded, but given what he explained in the report, it seems very unlikely that it will be an "M1X."
Gurman: “New chips differ from the design of the M1”
The key detail Gurman mentioned was that the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro and a high-end version of the MacBook Air will also get a new Apple Silicon chip. This chip "will contain the same number of processing cores as the M1 but will run faster. In addition, the number of graphics cores will increase from seven or eight to nine or 10." This means that two next-generation Apple Silicon chips are in the works for MacBooks, one for the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro and high-end MacBook Air, and one for the redesigned 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. According to Gurman, the high-end chip for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models is significantly different from the M1, which is why it doesn't seem right that it would be an "M1X." Gurman himself finally said that the "new chips are different from the design of the M1." The report is further questioned by speculation about the “M2” chip:
Apple is said to have reserved the M2 name for next year's chips and that it will likely debut in a new MacBook Air.
The whole thing should be viewed very skeptically
It seems unlikely that Apple would refer to its high-end chip, which differs from the M1's design, as the "M1X" while another chip, which is less powerful, a direct successor to the M1 and based on its design, would be called the "M2." Given these two questionable claims, the seriousness of the rest of the report is called into question. The claim that the MacBook Pro will drop the logo on the front has been circulating on Twitter for the past few days, including a hint from leaker Jon Prosser, so it may simply be an echo of that speculation. All other claims about the processor and the redesigned MacBook Pro devices in the report, such as additional Thunderbolt ports, SD card reader, and HDMI port, have been made before by reliable sources like Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Accordingly, the current report should definitely be viewed with great skepticism. (Photo by Ekaterina79 / Bigstockphoto)
