Is an A-series chip destined for a future model of the 12-inch MacBook Air?
A KGI report predicts that Apple will begin using its own processors for Macs “in the next 1-2 years,” with a specific prediction of a Samsung-fabbed A10X chip powering at least one Mac made in 2016. The wording appears to suggest an entry-level machine–possibly a future model of the 12-inch MacBook Air.
Apple may launch Mac products that use own AP [Application Processor] in next 1-2 years. This prediction is based on the assumption that Apple’s self-developed AP performs at a level between Intel’s Atom and Core i3 and is good enough for Mac. Using self developed AP can help Apple better control the timing of Mac launches and Mac product features.
With performance between an Atom and Core i3, the chip would not be suitable for mid- to high-end Macs.
An accompanying table (below) shows an A10X chip made with a 10-nanometer process to be made by Samsung at some point during 2016 …
The report also suggests that Apple will be mixing-and-matching its chip suppliers as part of its drive toward a more diversified supply-chain, with Global Foundry and Intel added into the mix as new suppliers.
The suggestion, then, is that orders for the A9 chip for what is likely to be the iPhone 6s will be split between Samsung and new supplier Global Foundry, with Samsung picking up the bulk of the business. It had earlier been suggested that Samsung would be making all of the A9 chips. The A9X for the next iPad model would be made by Taiwanese TSMC, while Samsung would make all of the S1 chips for this year’s Apple Watch.
Next year, KGI predicts that Apple will make significant changes. The A10 chip for the nominal iPhone 7, together with the S2 chip for the Apple Watch 2, would be made by TSMC–while Samsung makes the A10X for the iPad and new ARM-powered Mac.
Finally, Apple is shown as diversifying its baseband chip suppliers–the chipset that handles LTE, WiFi and Bluetooth–by adding Intel into the mix, initially as a minority supplier.
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Pretty cool, but I’ll stick with an x86 based Mac any day of the week over an A proc.
I see Apple trying a arm Mac this year not next.
It’s not a completely ridiculous notion as long as they keep x64 on higher end systems. However, Apple wouldn’t release an actual ARM-based Mac until Mac developers have had time to update their apps to target the new platform. We wouldn’t hear anything until WWDC at the earliest.
Personally, I think Apple is designing their own x64-based CPU and dropping all legacy x86 logic that Intel is forced to continue dragging due to backwards compatibility within the Windows platform. This could make the CPU more cost effective.
Seriously doubt this will happen any time soon. People don’t associate the Apple processors with desktop computing power. They associate it with mobile power. When people want speed, they think Intel, and until Apple changes that perception, it will need to stick with Intel CPUs to keep their products moving.
Are you serious? Apple was on Power Processors at one point. IBM Power series and Oracle/Sun Sparc procs are still light years ahead of Intel. Intel is the commodity player not the processing power player.
Intel had to retrofit EFI onto their platform in order for Apple to move to Intel because Power and Sparc have a more advanced boot mechanism than the antiquated BIOS
The U.S. Governments Super Computers have IBM all over them.
Oak Ridge, Livermore, DOE all are Power 9 not Intel.
Real power is not Intel
I’m willing to bet the new MacBook Air is going to have an ARM processor. Fanless design, no ports except one. It’s essentially an iPad with a keyboard.
iPad with a keyboard and OS X
Atom to i3 speeds is NOT Mid-High end.. that’s like Air/Mac Mini performance.
“With performance between an Atom and Core i3, the chip would not be suitable for mid- to high-end Macs.”
I know they are focusing on a consumer market and keeping everything in house keeps with their seamless experience but hate they don’t cater more to professionals. Bring the Pro down a grand or put a non-mobile graphics card in the imac.
NO! I had a surface rt and we all know where windows RT went…. Why in the hell would apple make an ARM Mac! Who would buy something with limitied applications! If this is what apple meant by ios and OS X converging I don’t want any part of it.
Microsoft is just a horrible platform and can’t run on anything other than Intel. Back in the 90’s with the CHRP intiative that Apple was also apart of we had FX32 translation to run NT on DEC Alpha chips horribly. Unlike Microsoft BSDs like OSX and Linux can run anywhere with little problem.
The only way I see Apple moving to another processor is to not give up performance but reduce cost.
If the control/dictate the pricing the foundry will build the chips for we may be getting Apple machines that are cheaper than Intel and have longer battery life and faster performance.
I’m surprise all you experts on here can’t think outside the box. Apple is going after the business side of market, the enterprise sector. Companies are not willing to pay the premium Macs commands. Businesses do not need all that power. Secretaries, clerks, and other office types access data from a server. They are not processing videos or audio.
Have any of you taken into account the money Apple is spending on planning and research. None of you know the products and software Apple has in the pipeline that might be specifically designed for a lesser powered Mac that can be used in an office setting. Apple didn’t partner with IBM for no reason.
Well, good luck in there… Most companies, which are based on Windows servers, I’m pretty sure will be happy to switch to Mac OS pcs for the sake of it… (given the awesome compatibility between Mac and Office, right?)
The move Apple could be making has been rather obvious for ages: an iOS Book.
An iPad with a keyboard AND mouse. I stress the MOUSE part there (and here again). With a mouse an iPad becomes a very usable ‘basic’ laptop. Something Apple desperately needs in lieu of Chromebooks.
For the folks promising not to buy one these… umm… you’re not it’s customer. Or can’t you manage to figure that out?
You can buy a windows 8 asus t100 chi for $400 with keyboard and mouse.
The first asus transformer pad was released in 2011,it had keyboard and mouse plus battery in dock.