Apple is reportedly making changes to its Apple Silicon roadmap, abandoning plans for the high-end M6 Pro and M6 Max processors in favour of a faster transition to its next-generation M7 chip family, according to a report by Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman.
The move would mark the first time Apple has skipped the Pro and Max versions of an M-series processor.
The reported overhaul comes as technology companies increasingly prioritise on-device AI processing, allowing laptops and desktops to run complex AI features locally without relying heavily on cloud computing.
According to the report, Apple is continuing to test the standard M6 processor, which is expected to power the entry-level MacBook Pro.
However, instead of releasing the more powerful M6 Pro and M6 Max variants as it has done with previous generations, Apple is reportedly shifting its engineering resources toward developing the M7 family of chips.
The decision would represent a significant departure from Apple's established release cycle, which typically introduces a standard processor followed by Pro, Max and Ultra versions aimed at professional users.
AI becomes the priority
The report suggests Apple's primary motivation is to accelerate the development of processors optimised for artificial intelligence.
Future Macs are expected to rely much more heavily on local AI processing for features such as:
Intelligent writing assistance
Image generation
Voice recognition
Advanced photo and video editing
Coding assistants
Productivity tools powered by generative AI
Rather than sending requests to cloud servers, many of these tasks would be processed directly on the device, improving privacy, reducing latency and enabling faster performance.
Apple has repeatedly emphasised that on-device AI will be central to its long-term strategy.
What the M6 will offer
Although the higher-end versions may be scrapped, the standard M6 processor is still expected to receive notable performance improvements.
According to Bloomberg's report, the chip will feature a redesigned CPU microarchitecture, a faster Neural Processing Unit (NPU) performance for AI tasks, a memory bandwidth increasing from approximately 123 GB/s to around 200 GB/s and lastly a larger integrated graphics processor with 12 GPU cores, compared with 10 cores on the current-generation M5 chip.
Overall, it will feature improved efficiency and performance. The higher memory bandwidth would allow the processor to move data much faster between components, benefiting demanding workloads such as AI models, video editing and software development.
While the M6 is expected to offer incremental improvements, Apple is reportedly saving its biggest innovations for the M7 processor family.
The base M7 chip is expected to launch during the first half of 2027, with memory bandwidth increasing further to around 240 GB/s.
Bloomberg also reports that the M7 could become Apple's first processor manufactured using Intel's advanced 18A-P fabrication process, representing a significant change in Apple's chip manufacturing strategy.
The M7 Pro and M7 Max processors are expected to follow later in 2027, bringing substantially higher CPU and GPU performance alongside improved AI capabilities.
An M7 Ultra chip designed for professional desktop systems such as the Mac Studio is expected to arrive in 2028.
Mac Studio to receive massive upgrade
Apple is also reportedly preparing one of its most powerful desktop processors yet.
According to Bloomberg, the company is testing an M5 Ultra processor for the Mac Studio featuring approximately 36 CPU cores, around 80 GPU cores and up to 768GB of unified memory.
Such specifications would place the Mac Studio among the most powerful consumer computers ever produced.
With up to 768GB of unified memory, the Mac Studio is expected to target professionals working on resource-intensive tasks, including artificial intelligence, 8K video editing, 3D animation, scientific research, machine learning and complex software development.
However, analysts expect the workstation to carry a premium price tag.
Apple's reported roadmap highlights how rapidly artificial intelligence is reshaping the semiconductor industry.
Rather than focusing solely on traditional CPU and graphics performance, chip manufacturers are increasingly designing processors capable of accelerating AI workloads directly on consumer devices.
The move reflects growing competition between Apple, Qualcomm, AMD, Intel and NVIDIA, all of which are investing heavily in AI-optimised silicon.
Apple has not officially confirmed the reported cancellation of the M6 Pro and M6 Max processors.
As with previous product roadmaps reported by Bloomberg, the plans could change before the company formally announces future Mac hardware.
If the report proves accurate, however, the M7 generation could represent one of the biggest architectural leaps in the history of Apple Silicon.
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