Apple will reportedly launch its next-generation Apple Silicon chip, the M6, later this year. Here’s everything we know so far, including why this generation will be unprecedented in the Apple Silicon era.
M6 specs and performance #
According to Bloomberg, Apple’s M6 chip will feature several major upgrades compared to the current M5 generation.
First, the M6 chip will have an updated memory architecture that offers faster memory bandwidth. The M5 chip currently maxes out at 153 gigabytes per second for memory bandwidth.
The M6 will reportedly boost memory bandwidth to 200 gigabytes per second. Most notably, the M6 chip’s higher memory bandwidth will improve on-device AI performance.
The M6 chip will also deliver faster performance across all its cores, along with improvements in video encoding and decoding.
Bloomberg also reports that the M6 chip will have a redesigned GPU. Currently, the base M5 chip supports up to 10 GPU cores. The M6, however, will reportedly have up to 12 graphics cores. This will translate to smoother gaming, faster video rendering, and better performance in GPU-accelerated apps.
Why the M6 will be different #
The M6 chip, however, will be different from all previous Apple Silicon chips in one big way.
Since the M1, Apple has always released higher-end “Pro” and “Max” configurations. It has also released two “Ultra” chips in the M1 and M3 generations.
That will change with the M6 generation. According to Mark Gurman, Apple will only release the base-model M6 processor. It will not release any higher-end Pro, Max, or Ultra variants.
Apple reportedly determined that the M7 improvements are notable enough to skip most of the M6 lineup entirely. The M7 chip will reportedly offer bigger upgrades to on-device AI processing, including support for up to 240 gigabytes per second of memory bandwidth.
M6 release date and products #
The M6 chip is reportedly coming as soon as later this year. Apple has tested it in an updated version of the base model MacBook Pro, which is currently powered by the M5 chip.
Whether or not the M6 chip comes to any other Apple products remains to be seen. The base M7 chip is expected in the first half of 2027, so there’s a good chance most products skip the M6 generation altogether.
What do you think about Apple’s upcoming M6 chip and change in strategy? Do you think it’s making the right decision? Let us know down in the comments.
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