Apple already gave Intel an ultimatum over 3 years ago, after which it launched a joint project that would lead to ARM-based SoCs that surprised locals and outsiders alike. It is true that Intel was late, but Apple was not patient and preferred to make its own SoC which would destroy Intel’s hopes of keeping them as a privileged partner. Now, and after 18 months since the presentation of the first M1, Apple will launch the new M2 to the world, without a specific date.
Announced at CES 2022?
There are a few baseless rumors that claim that Apple could be present at CES 2022, but virtually every possibility assures that they will not appear there and that they will bet again on a private and manufactured event – same.
Mainly because it seems that in 2022 they will go big thanks to the renewal of no less than six main product lines that will energize the company again:
- MacBook
- Macbook Pro
- iMac
- iMac Pro
- Mac Mini
- Mac Pro
But what can they all have in common? Well, a new ARM architecture and a new common SoC suffix, named M2. As at the moment Apple has in the room a series of the most complete SoCs and for the launch, which will be forged gradually and not suddenly to diversify the strategy of those of the bitten apple.
TSMC will be behind all M2
The variants will arrive between the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023 to finally say goodbye to all traces of Intel in the business and look to the future without them, frustrating Pat Gelsinger’s desire in the meantime. The versions that are on the table are M2, M2 Pro and M2 Max, where the former was codenamed Staten, while his older brothers shared the name Rhodes.
All will arrive with the second generation of the EUV process, a derivation of the current 5nm and therefore will not have to modify the main patterns beyond the design, such as the white masks. The 4nm will even reduce the complexity of the process of said masks and there will be better performance and energy cost by getting improved BEOL.
The density will improve a 6% thanks to the optical shrinkage of the new ASML scanners, it is therefore really the only palpable improvement compared to the superior performance of this new Apple M2. Is this the final blow for Intel? Or will Intel convince the giant to come back?
