Last Updated on May 14, 2023 by Rashid Hassan
Apple Introduces Next-Generation M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips for a New Level of Workflows
MacBook Pro and Mac mini now come with the superpowers of the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, delivering more CPU and GPU power, up to 96GB of unified memory, and industry-leading power efficiency.
Apple today announced the launch of the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, two new next-generation system-on-chips (SoCs) that take the breakthrough power-efficient performance of Apple chips to a new level. The M2 Pro chip perfects the M2 chip architecture, with up to 12-core CPU and up to 19-core GPU, all with up to 32GB of fast unified memory. The M2 Max chip takes the capabilities of the M2 Pro even further, with up to a 38-core GPU, twice the unified memory bandwidth, and up to 96GB of unified memory. Its industry-leading performance per watt makes it the most powerful and energy efficient chip in a pro laptop.
Both chips also come with better exclusive technologies, such as a faster 16-core Neural Engine and Apple’s powerful multimedia engine. For the first time, the M2 Pro chip delivers pro performance in Mac mini, while the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips take the revolutionary capabilities and performance of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro even further.
“Only Apple is creating SoCs like the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips – they deliver incredible pro performance coupled with industry-leading power efficiency,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies. “With an even more powerful CPU and GPU, support for a higher-capacity unified memory system, and an advanced multimedia engine, the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips represent an astonishing leap in Apple’s chip history.”
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M2 Pro Chip: next-generation performance for pro workflows
Manufactured using second-generation 5-nanometer process technology, the M2 Pro chip has 40 billion transistors—almost 20% more than the M1 Pro chip and twice as many as the M2 chip. In addition, it comes with 200 GB/s of unified memory bandwidth, double that of the M2 chip, and up to 32 GB of low-latency unified memory. The next-generation 10 or 12-core CPU has up to eight high-performance and four high-efficiency cores, delivering up to 20% faster multi-threaded task performance than the 10-core CPU in the M1 Pro chip. In apps like Adobe Photoshop, heavy workloads run faster than ever, and build tasks in Xcode run 2.5 times faster than on MacBook Pro with the fastest Intel chip.
The M2 Pro chip’s GPU can be configured with up to 19 cores, three times more than the M1 Pro chip’s GPU, and comes with a larger L2 cache. Graphics are up to 30% faster than the M1 Pro chip, which represents a huge leap in image processing performance and allows for console-quality gaming.
M2 Max Chip: The world’s most powerful and efficient chip in a pro notebook
With 67 billion transistors, that’s 10 billion more than the M1 Max chip and more than triple that of the M2, the M2 Max chip pushes the boundaries of Apple chip performance and capabilities. It comes with 400GB/s unified memory bandwidth, double that of the M2 Pro chip and four times that of the M2 chip, and supports up to 96GB of fast unified memory. This makes it possible to open huge files instantly and work with multiple pro apps at the same time incredibly quickly and smoothly.
The M2 Max chip comes with the same next-generation 12-core CPU as the M2 Pro chip. The GPU is even more powerful, with up to 38 cores, plus a larger L2 cache. Graphics are up to 30% faster than on the M1 Max chip. With 96 GB of memory, the new MacBook Pro with the M2 Max chip lets you work on graphics-intensive projects that the competition can’t even run.2 In a variety of tasks, including running visual effects, training computer models, machine learning and gigapixel image processing, MacBook Pro with the M2 Max chip delivers incredible performance whether plugged in or running on battery. The M2 Max chip is the world’s most powerful and efficient in a pro notebook.
More capabilities with exclusive technologies
The M2 Pro and M2 Max chips come with better exclusive technologies:
- Both the M2 Pro chip and the M2 Max chip include a next-generation 16-core Apple Neural Engine capable of processing 15.8 trillion operations per second; Plus, it’s up to 40% faster than the previous generation.
- The M2 Pro chip incorporates a powerful and efficient media engine, hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, and ProRes video encoding and decoding, and supports multi-instance playback of 4K and 8K ProRes video with very low power consumption. The M2 Max chip has two video encoding engines and two ProRes engines to encode video up to 2 times faster than the M2 Pro chip.
- Apple’s latest image signal processor extends noise reduction and, in conjunction with the Neural Engine, leverages computational video to improve image quality.
- Next-generation Secure Enclave is an essential part of Apple’s unique security in the market.
macOS Ventura with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips
macOS was specially designed for Apple chips, and the combination of macOS Ventura and new industry-leading chips enables users to achieve unsurpassed levels of performance and productivity. Mac computers powered by Apple chips give you access to more than 15,000 native apps and plug-ins that unleash the full power of M-series chips.
macOS Ventura comes with new features like Visual Organizer and new capabilities like Continuity Camera and FaceTime Handoff. Plus, macOS Ventura brings big updates to apps like Safari, Mail, Messages, Spotlight, and more, which are now more responsive and run efficiently with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.
Apple chips and the environment
The M2 Pro and M2 Max chips help meet Apple’s strict energy efficiency standards in the new MacBook Pro and Mac mini. The energy-efficient performance of Apple chips enables the new MacBook Pro to achieve the longest battery life in a Mac—up to 22 hours.3 This reduces the need to run from a plug socket and reduces power consumption over time. throughout its useful life.
Today, Apple’s global corporate operations are carbon neutral. The 2030 goal is to achieve net-zero climate impact across the entire company, including supply chains and all product life cycles. This also implies that all chips created by Apple will be 100% carbon neutral, from design to manufacturing.