Photo Credit: Bruno /Germany from Pixabay
Fifteen years ago on the 6th of June 2005, Steve Jobs announced that Apple will move away from IBM’s PowerPC to Intel CPUs and now, we may see Apple again changing its CPUs. So what’s next?
Apple’s In-House ARM Processor
Rumour has it, Apple is developing its own ARM processor to power the Mac range, as they have been doing with the A-series mobile chips for iPhone and iPad as well as the S-series found in the Apple Watch.
History
The first PowerPC-powered Mac was released in 1994, and Apple ended it after a twelve-year relationship. The first Intel-powered Mac released in 2006 and now we may see Apple again moving away from a long-standing alliance.
Reason for the Switch
It seems that Apple aims to switch from Intel to its own ARM processor to smooth out differences between their computers and mobile ranges. The processors in the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch are designed based on the ARM architecture. The idea is to have the same architecture running on computers and mobile devices to use the same software backbone on both to, in turn, enable the same apps to run on both platforms with the same coding structure.
Another reason is to diminish their dependence on third-party suppliers for hardware. Furthermore, will it give Apple the flexibility to design the CPU to better integrate with its custom software and hardware for more efficiency in the system as a whole. It will also free Apple from release schedules of these other suppliers and give them the ability to design and release on their own schedule.
Strong Possibility
The reason we think Apple will make the switch to its own ARM processor is because of the types of vacancies Apple posted during the past few years as well as the appointment of certain personnel to work in the research and development department, responsible for the 5nm chips that will likely be the ARM Processor to be used in the Mac lineup.
Possible Release
Our trusted analyst and predictor Ming-Chi Kuo anticipates the first Macs will roll out with the new Apple ARM processor as soon as the first half of 2021.
Closing
What will it be called? Will Mac prices rise significantly? Will we still be able to run all software ran on the Intel CPUs as well as Bootcamp? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned for answers on some of these questions in the near future.
If you want to know more about ARM and two other architecture types used in CPU design, keep visiting techTography for more info.
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Photo Credit: david latorre romero
