Apple Debuts MacBook Pro With M2 and M2 Max Chips and New Mac Mini

Apple has delivered its long-awaited MacBook Pro models featuring the M2 Pro and M2 Max silicon chips. The next-generation chips promise the longest battery life ever in a Mac, as well as its fastest performance.

The devices deliver on Apple’s plan to use chips produced in-house, rather than those made by manufacturer Intel. The Pro models were originally expected to launch last year but were delayed until early 2023 due to supply chain issues. Apple typically rolls out its new laptops in March, making the January announcement a rare occurrence in the company’s history.

Apple says that its new MacBook Pros, of which there are 14- and 16-inch models, are adept at effects rendering “6-times faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro” and color grading 2-times faster, making the new models attractive to those who use their devices for graphics work or programs such as Adobe Photoshop. The battery life for the model has also been boosted to 22 hours at a time.

The standard M2 chip comes packed with either a 10- or 12-core CPU with up to eight high-performance and four high-efficiency cores and a GPU with up to 19 cores, which Apple says will grant users 20% more efficiency over devices powered by the M1.

The M2 Max, meanwhile, ups the GPU with up to 38 cores, promising 30% improvement in graphics over the M1 Max, along with a 12-core CPU.

Both chips are equipped with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity as devices that operate on the 6GHz spectrum, granting users faster internet and support for advanced HDMI.

Additional features on the models include three Thunderbolt 4 ports and an SDXC card slot. The MacBook Pros each have updated mics and a sound system consisting of six speakers.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at $1,999 USD, while the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at $2,499 USD. For the M2 Max, the 14-inch model begins at $3,099 USD and the 16-inch begins at $3,499 USD.

In addition to the new MacBooks, Apple has dropped off a new Mac mini, available with either the M2 or M2 Pro chip. The M2 version comes with up to 24GB of unified memory and 100GB/s of bandwidth, while the comparably quicker M2 Pro packs 32GB and a 200GB/s bandwidth. The new Mac mini starts at $599 USD for the M2 chip version and at $1,299 USD with the M2 Pro.

Those interested can order the new Mac minis and 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro beginning today, with units officially available on Tuesday, January 24.

In other tech news, Apple is reportedly planning to use in-house chips in iPhones by 2025 and Microsoft unveiled voice mimicking AI technology in the latest tech roundup.