Apple is reportedly accelerating its silicon development by introducing the M6 chip for entry-level Macs later this year, while skipping the high-end M6 Pro and M6 Max variants. Instead, the company plans to fast-track the M7 series, emphasizing enhanced on-device AI capabilities.
The base M6 chip, codenamed “Komodo,” is expected to debut in late 2026, targeting devices like the 14-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac. This chip offers improvements over its predecessor, including increased memory bandwidth and a more powerful GPU.
In early 2027, Apple aims to launch the M7 base chip, codenamed “Delos,” boasting approximately 240 GB/s memory bandwidth. High-end M7 variants, grouped under the codename “Andros,” are anticipated to follow later in 2027 and 2028. This strategic shift underscores Apple’s commitment to advancing AI and graphics performance in its hardware lineup.
Additionally, Apple plans to release an M5 Ultra chip, codenamed “Sotra,” before the end of 2026. This chip is expected to feature 36 CPU cores, 80 GPU cores, and support up to 768GB of unified memory, significantly enhancing performance for professional workloads.
Apple’s decision to bypass the high-end M6 variants in favor of the M7 series reflects the growing demand for AI-optimized hardware. By accelerating the development of AI-focused chips, Apple positions itself to better compete in the rapidly evolving tech landscape, where on-device intelligence and advanced graphics capabilities are increasingly crucial.
