Apple’s M2: Next-Generation SoCs for the New MacBook Pro and Mac mini
Apple has recently announced its next-generation SoCs (systems on a chip), the M2 Pro and M2 Max, which will feature in the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini computers. These new SoCs are designed to deliver even more powerful performance and efficiency than their predecessors.
The M2 Pro:
The new M2 Pro chip from Apple is an incredibly powerful and energy–efficient processor manufactured using second–generation 5–nanometer process technology. This state–of–the–art chip consists of a staggering 40 billion transistors, nearly 20% more than the M1 Pro, and double the amount of transistors of the M2. Furthermore, the M2 Pro has a remarkable 200GB/s of unified memory bandwidth, giving it lightning–fast performance, and the capability to support up to 32GB of low–latency unified memory. The M2 Pro is featured in both the 14–inch and 16–inch MacBook Pro and the Mac mini.
The M2 Pro is equipped with a 10- or 12-core CPU that is made up of eight high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. This results in a 20% faster-multithreaded CPU performance compared to the 10-core CPU in the M1 Pro.
Additionally, the GPU in the M2 Pro has been upgraded to 19 cores, which is an increase of three cores from the M1 Pro GPU and includes a larger L2 cache for improved performance.
This chip promises to deliver faster processing for content creation apps like Adobe Photoshop and compiling in Xcode up to 2.5x faster than on the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro.
Furthermore, the speeds of the graphics in the M2 Pro are up to 30% faster than the M1 Pro. It also has advanced custom technologies, including an improved 16-core Neural Engine, a powerful and energy-efficient media engine, the latest image signal processor from Apple and a next-generation Secure Enclave for superior security.
The M2 Max:
The M2 Max, which is only available in the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, is constructed with 67 billion transistors, 10 billion more than the M1 Max and three times more than the M2. It also has 400GB/s of unified memory bandwidth, which is twice that of the M2 Pro, four times that of the M2, and can support up to 96GB of unified memory. According to Apple, the M2 Max, with its high memory capacity, allows the new MacBook Pro to handle graphics-intensive projects that other systems can’t handle.
The M2 Max is equipped with the next-generation 12-core CPU like the M2 Pro, but it has an even more powerful GPU with up to 38 cores and a larger L2 cache. The graphics speeds are also 30% faster than the M1 Max. Apple claims that M2 Max is the most powerful and efficient chip for a professional laptop in the world.
“We are the only company to design and develop SoCs like the M2 Pro and M2 Max, they provide incredible professional performance and energy efficiency,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies. “With a more powerful CPU and GPU, the ability to support larger unified memory systems, and advanced media engine, the M2 Pro and M2 Max represent a significant advancement in Apple silicon technology.”
In conclusion, these new SoCs are designed to deliver even more powerful performance and efficiency than their predecessors, which will provide a significant upgrade in the performance and capabilities of the new MacBook Pro and Mac mini. The M2 Pro and M2 Max are a testament to Apple’s commitment to innovation and technology advancement, and they will undoubtedly set a new standard in the industry.
