New today, Apple has officially launched the dynamic M2 Pro and M2 Max chips and has added it to the newest generation Mac products. This includes a refresh of its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops and update to its Mac mini computer. This officially concludes Apple’s use of Intel in their Mac minis and makes the MacBook Pro the last computer that can be configured with an Intel processor.
M2 Pro Chip
These SoCs (systems on a chip) are said to offer a 10- or 12-core CPU that is 20 percent faster than the 10-core CPU in M1 Pro. This is thanks to its eight high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. What does this mean for creators? Well, you can run apps, such as Photoshop, with lightning speed. A MacBook Pro with M2 Pro is supposedly able to run a Photoshop workload 40 percent faster than with M1 Pro. This is as much as 80 percent faster than MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i9 processor. So, you can certainly expect increases in image processing performance and gaming quality. The M2 Pro also has 200GB/s of unified memory bandwidth — twice as much as the M2 — and up to 32GB of low-latency unified memory.
M2 Max Chip
The M2 Max chip has the same 12-core CPU as the M2 Pro, but will bring that to a whole other level with up to 38-core GPU. Its unified memory bandwidth doubles from the M2 Pro, making it 400GB/s and supports 96GB of unified memory. This option is perfect for those working with extensive visual effects and graphics. The media engine of the M2 Max offers 2x faster video encoding than M2 Pro. This is thanks to its two ProRes engines.
Mac mini
The compact design of the Mac mini has gotten a significant upgrade with the introduction of the M2 Pro chip. At just $599, you can run an extensive workflow from the smallest Apple computer on the market. The mini can support up to three displays on the new M2 Pro chip model. Creators can build an incredible desktop experience when pairing this new mini with other Apple products — such as the Studio Display and Magic accessories. A Mac mini with the M2 Pro chip can support five simultaneous streams of 8K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps, or up to 23 streams of 4K ProRes 422 video at 30 fps. Whether you are using the machine for graphics performance, photo editing, or intense gameplay, the Mac mini and new M2 Pro chip will likely have you working faster than ever before.
Please note the M2 Max is not currently available in the Mac mini.
MacBook Pro
Apple’s 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops can now be found with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. Apple states that effects rendering will be 6x faster than fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro, and color grading will be 2x faster. Along with this, the battery life of the new MacBook Pros are now 18 hours for the 14-inch and 22 hours for the 16-inch.
Connectivity has also been improved, with the new MacBook Pros having advanced HDMI to support 8K displays for the first time. You’ll also find three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, headphone jack, MagSafe charging port. When paired with the M2 Max chip, users will receive 96GB of unified memory and up to 8TB of super-fast SSD storage. And you can still expect the exceptional Liquid Retina XDR display, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID in both sizes.
These new chips can be found in the new Mac mini, 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks Pro. You can also level up the the M2 Max chip in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks Pro for unrivaled memory and speed. These new Apple products are expected to begin preorders on January 24th.
Apple HomePod
Along with the announcements above, Apple has also released its second-generation HomePod on January 18th. This mini, smart speaker is made with 100 percent recycled mesh fabric and has a backlit touch surface. Its custom-engineered high-excursion woofer, built-in bass-EQ mic, and five tweeters around the base will provide an exceptional sound experience.
The new HomePod also packs Siri intelligence in its compact design. Users can control all the usual smart home technology — such as temperature checking or carbon monoxide notifications — with Siri commands through the HomePod. The device can even recognize up to six voices, so everyone in the house can request their favorite song to be played. And when you have two (or more) HomePods, you can utilize multi-room audio with AirPlay to control the speakers in harmony.
The new generation Apple HomePod can be preordered today (starting at $299) and will be made available on Friday, February 3.
