Apple Transitioning Macs to Custom Chips With 'Incredible' Performance Starting Later This Year

Monday June 22, 2020 11:50 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple today confirmed its widely rumored plan to switch to custom processors for its Macs, promising "incredible" performance and features.

Building on its industry-leading A-series chips for iPhones and iPads, Apple wants Macs with its custom silicon to have the highest performance with lower power usage. Apple says the vast majority of Mac apps can be quickly updated to be "universal" with support for both Intel-based Macs and those with Apple's custom silicon.

Starting today, developers will be able to apply for a special Mac mini with an A12Z chip inside to help prepare their apps for Apple's custom silicon. This custom Mac mini will be running the macOS Big Sur beta and the latest version of Xcode.

Apple said that it expects its first Mac with custom silicon to launch by the end of 2020, and it expects to transition its entire lineup within the next two years.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2021

Top Rated Comments

Martius

11 months ago

Well, I was right about 2 weeks ago ?

For the first time in my life, just let me enjoy it please.

Have a nice WWDC!

I think we will see a Mac Mini special dev edition with ARM processor this year. It's a really big change and the only way to make it happen is to give developers a test device. Selling a laptop / iMac as test device is non-sense (all-in-one is not good for testing purposes), Mac Pro is too expensive. So Mac Mini is the choice IMO.

Score: 77 Votes (Like | Disagree)

plexdk

11 months ago

You guys will be fine - Us who were in the PowerPC to Intel transition feared the same thing, but survived :p

Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)

kinless

11 months ago

I like how during the Virtualization feature demo, they only mention Linux and not Windows. As a full stack web developer, I need all environments, so it makes me nervous. Need more info before deciding if I'm going to make the jump to their silicon or begrudgingly transition my primary machine to a PC. Here's hoping...

Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)

macbwizard

11 months ago

They didn't really share any benchmarks or comparisons beyond that vague graph.

Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)

venom600

11 months ago

Well, this is my last Mac. It's been a long time coming, but this is the final straw for me.

Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)

redheeler

11 months ago

It took Apple less than four years to obsolete the last G5s after the switch to Intel. So another full-on architecture change. For this of us with 2019 MBPs or Mac Pros this’ll be fun.

And it also means goodby Hackintosh users or unsupported Macs. Been fun having you.

Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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