Apple could include Intel in 2021 MacBook redesigns, vague rumor suggests

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in General Discussion edited November 2020
A leaker known for their accuracy has inferred that redesigned MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models said to launch in 2021 could ship with either Intel or Apple Silicon processors.

Redesigned MacBooks with Intel processors could still happen
Redesigned MacBooks with Intel processors could still happen


The leaker known as @L0vetodream on Twitter has shared an especially vague remark regarding a Ming-Chi Kuo report about future MacBook models published late on Monday. The tweet just suggests that the redesigned models destined for late 2021 would not be limited to Apple Silicon.

not only for Silicon https://t.co/mEbI51qg11

This suggests that future models of Apple's popular MacBooks may still offer Intel variants. This is in direct contrast to what Apple's SVP Greg Joswiak said in an interview on M1 processors.

"When we said we would support Intel systems for years to come, that was talking about the operating system." Apple had previously commented that future Intel hardware was coming, but Joswiak said "We still had Intel systems that were in the pipeline" when it was said, "That very next month, we introduced an Intel-based iMac."

These comments suggest that there are no more Intel Macs coming, though Apple also said the transition to Apple Silicon would take two years. In the meantime Apple could continue to release high-end Intel variants to support specific pro workflows, though given the M1's processing power, that may not be necessary.

The person behind the @L0vetodream Twitter account has a good accuracy record.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 20
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,510member
    Wow! I’m so impressed by this insight. So it’s “leaked” that it’s 50/50 as to what Apple may do here?

    honestly, that’s not worth an article.
    muthuk_vanalingamRayz2016GG1
  • Reply 2 of 20
    netroxnetrox Posts: 1,421member
    I can't imagine how it will have Intel given the inefficiency of their chips. 
    williamlondon
  • Reply 3 of 20
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,198member
    Or it could be Apple made the new designs flexible, in case an issue arose with Apple Silicon development/production/sales. Given the performance and reception of the current M1 models, Intel processors seem an unlikely option for new designs.
    longpathcaladanian
  • Reply 4 of 20
    tenthousandthingstenthousandthings Posts: 1,036member
    Joswiak’s comment is to clarify that Apple didn’t mean to say they would be producing Intel Macs for “years to come” (an indefinite phrase that means quite a bit more than two years) — but his comment also doesn’t mean they won’t continue to produce parallel Intel Macs during the transition.

    So, to be clear, the comment doesn’t actually contradict this leaker’s information.
  • Reply 5 of 20
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,510member
    tenthousandthings said:
    Joswiak’s comment is to clarify that Apple didn’t mean to say they would be producing Intel Macs for “years to come” (an indefinite phrase that means quite a bit more than two years) — but his comment also doesn’t mean they won’t continue to produce parallel Intel Macs during the transition.

    So, to be clear, the comment doesn’t actually contradict this leaker’s information.
    The leaker has no information. He just said that they may, or may not do this. A total waste of time.
    GG1taugust04_aiRayz2016
  • Reply 6 of 20
    jdwjdw Posts: 1,334member
    Doesn't make much sense.  In light of how well Rosetta2 works, what would be the point?  It would be like adding back USB-A.  Then again, USB-A is still ubiquitous worldwide and I'd love one of those ports to eliminate a dongle, but that's another discussion altogether. :smile: 
    DogpersonMplsP
  • Reply 7 of 20
    larryjwlarryjw Posts: 1,031member
    melgross said:
    tenthousandthings said:
    Joswiak’s comment is to clarify that Apple didn’t mean to say they would be producing Intel Macs for “years to come” (an indefinite phrase that means quite a bit more than two years) — but his comment also doesn’t mean they won’t continue to produce parallel Intel Macs during the transition.

    So, to be clear, the comment doesn’t actually contradict this leaker’s information.
    The leaker has no information. He just said that they may, or may not do this. A total waste of time.
    All leaker and rumor articles read the same. All these articles can and probably are written by bots. 
  • Reply 8 of 20
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    Apple should have redesigned all Macs for M1.
  • Reply 9 of 20
    frantisekfrantisek Posts: 756member
    They can not treat Intel customers like second tier ones. At least not openly. So some Intel refresh is not that surprising. Question is whether Intel chips can fit to new chassis for cool M2. Or M2 will be warmer  powerhouse.
  • Reply 10 of 20
    taugust04_aitaugust04_ai Posts: 106member
    The only reason you would see “new” Intel Macs is if there’s a minor chip upgrade for an existing model. But it’s highly unlikely Apple would put any new effort into Intel Macs at this point. Apple still sells the legacy MacBook Air to EDU customers with really old Intel CPU’s, so there isn’t a compelling reason to expect Ape to update anything.  Perhaps they will continue to sell 1 SKU each of the MacBook Pro and iMac that have Intel CPU’s after they introduce the next phase of Apple CPU powered systems.
  • Reply 11 of 20
    seanjseanj Posts: 318member
    No they won’t.
  • Reply 12 of 20
    JapheyJaphey Posts: 1,767member
    melgross said:
    tenthousandthings said:
    Joswiak’s comment is to clarify that Apple didn’t mean to say they would be producing Intel Macs for “years to come” (an indefinite phrase that means quite a bit more than two years) — but his comment also doesn’t mean they won’t continue to produce parallel Intel Macs during the transition.

    So, to be clear, the comment doesn’t actually contradict this leaker’s information.
    The leaker has no information. He just said that they may, or may not do this. A total waste of time.
    And yet you came back 3 hours after your original post to comment again. 
  • Reply 13 of 20
    FatmanFatman Posts: 513member
    The M1 chip has proven its got the goods... 1st phase is stick the chips in the old chassis, second phase is to stick them in newly designed hardware (e.g. a Mac mini inside an AppleTV size box)  At that point, Intel Macs will be a hard sell. There are already deep discounts on the ‘old stuff’ now. This transition may be a lot faster than expected. Once Adobe optimizes their suite for Apple silicon (1H 2021?) that will spur sales to a performance craving market. It would also be helpful if there was a killer app that requires the horsepower that only the new chips can deliver -  to create even more demand for them and grow market share.
  • Reply 14 of 20
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    Beats said:
    Apple should have redesigned all Macs for M1.
    Anything else you’re having difficulty moving on from?
    TRAG
  • Reply 15 of 20
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 2,707member
    Not happening. 

    Intel is as gone as PowerPC was when Apple moved to X86. 

    It’s a whole new M series era now. 

    Legacy architecture, lack of control of what a third party can do, a history of failed roadmap predictions, inability to reliably fab at innovative speeds and sizes, expense, and inferior performance are why this is a miss from lovetodream. 

    The budget, low power chips from Apple are already kicking intels behind in a major way. 

    Apple isn’t known for going backward. 
  • Reply 16 of 20
    MplsPMplsP Posts: 3,924member
    The only question I have is regarding the higher end models - Mac Pro, iMac Pro, etc. The M1 is a good chip but can’t replace those models when it comes t multi core performance or graphics performance. The 16GB memory limit is wholly inadequate for professional graphics or video work as well. 

    I think it’s a safe bet that there’s an ‘M2’ processor in the pipeline, so it depends on what it’s capabilities are. I can’t see Apple continuing with 2 processor lines long-term; it’s a matter of how quickly the transition will occur and whether they will update any of the intel models in the process. 
  • Reply 17 of 20
    mr lizardmr lizard Posts: 354member
    “A leaker known for their accuracy has inferred that redesigned MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models said to launch in 2021 could ship with either Intel or Apple Silicon processors.”

    You mean implied, not inferred. 
  • Reply 18 of 20
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,510member
    larryjw said:
    melgross said:
    tenthousandthings said:
    Joswiak’s comment is to clarify that Apple didn’t mean to say they would be producing Intel Macs for “years to come” (an indefinite phrase that means quite a bit more than two years) — but his comment also doesn’t mean they won’t continue to produce parallel Intel Macs during the transition.

    So, to be clear, the comment doesn’t actually contradict this leaker’s information.
    The leaker has no information. He just said that they may, or may not do this. A total waste of time.
    All leaker and rumor articles read the same. All these articles can and probably are written by bots. 
    They’re not all the same, and they’re not written by bots. We know most of the leakers, and some have excellent records. It’s such a defined category that they’re actually assigned percentage ratings.

    but something like this is worthless. It must have been a slow news day.
  • Reply 19 of 20
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,510member

    Japhey said:
    melgross said:
    tenthousandthings said:
    Joswiak’s comment is to clarify that Apple didn’t mean to say they would be producing Intel Macs for “years to come” (an indefinite phrase that means quite a bit more than two years) — but his comment also doesn’t mean they won’t continue to produce parallel Intel Macs during the transition.

    So, to be clear, the comment doesn’t actually contradict this leaker’s information.
    The leaker has no information. He just said that they may, or may not do this. A total waste of time.
    And yet you came back 3 hours after your original post to comment again. 
    We’re in a forum, in case you haven’t noticed.
  • Reply 20 of 20
    JapheyJaphey Posts: 1,767member
    melgross said:

    Japhey said:
    melgross said:
    tenthousandthings said:
    Joswiak’s comment is to clarify that Apple didn’t mean to say they would be producing Intel Macs for “years to come” (an indefinite phrase that means quite a bit more than two years) — but his comment also doesn’t mean they won’t continue to produce parallel Intel Macs during the transition.

    So, to be clear, the comment doesn’t actually contradict this leaker’s information.
    The leaker has no information. He just said that they may, or may not do this. A total waste of time.
    And yet you came back 3 hours after your original post to comment again. 
    We’re in a forum, in case you haven’t noticed.
    Lol
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