Home / Technology / Apple's M7 Chip: AI Demands Skip M6, Drive Price Hikes
Apple's M7 Chip: AI Demands Skip M6, Drive Price Hikes
13 Jul
Summary
- Apple is reportedly skipping M6 chip variants for accelerated M7 production.
- The M7 Ultra chip, designed for AI, could support 1.5TB memory.
- M7 Ultra Macs in 2028 may have real-estate level price points.
Apple is reportedly disrupting its traditional chip roadmap, accelerating the M7 chip's development while largely skipping the M6 generation. This strategic pivot is driven by the increasing demands of artificial intelligence, which is now a primary factor in chip design and shipment timelines, surpassing traditional concerns like processing speed and battery life.
The M6 generation, expected later this year, will see a very brief market presence before being superseded. The M7 chip family is slated for an earlier-than-expected rollout, with initial M7 products anticipated at the beginning of next year. M7 Pro and Max variants are projected for late 2027, culminating in the M7 Ultra in 2028.
The M7 Ultra is poised to be a powerhouse, reportedly designed to support as much as 1.5 terabytes of memory. This capacity, double that of planned M5 Ultra specifications, will be influenced by industry availability and cost of memory chips. Given recent significant price increases on Apple's Mac Studio models, the M7 Ultra is anticipated to carry a premium price tag, potentially reaching astronomical figures comparable to real estate.
