Apple launches new M2 chips, MacBooks and mini

Apple has released two new systems-on-chips, the M2 Pro and M2 Max, which form the backbone of new MacBoook and mini computers.

The M2 Pro is made with a 5 nanometre process and has 40 billion transistors forming a 10 or 12 core central processor (CPU) and up to a 19 core graphics unit.

M2 Pro’s CPU has up to eight high-performance cores, and four high-efficiency cores and with 200 gigabytes per second of unified memory bandwidth, Apple claims the multithreaded performance is up to 20 per cent faster than the M1 Pro with 10 cores.

For the GPU, Apple says it is up to 30 per cent faster than the built-in graphics in the earlier M1 Pro SoC.

The M2 Max has 67 billion transistors, 400 GBps memory bandwidth and a 12 core CPU.

For the M2 Max GPU, Apple added a larger level 2 cache and the unit can have up to 38 cores.

Apple said the M2 Max can have up to 96 gigabytes of memory; both new SoCs feature a 16 core Neural Engine with 15.8 trillion operations per second performance, up 40 per cent on their predecessors.

MacBook Pro 16-inch in Space Grey; source: Apple.

The new SoCs power new MacBook laptops, and Apple’s Mac Mini devices, with availability starting January 24:

• MacBook Pro with a 14-inch screen and M2 Pro starts at $3699 including GST.
• MacBook Pro with a 16-inch screen and M2 Pro starts at $4599 including GST.
• Mac Mini with the earlier M2 SoC starts at $1099 including GST.
• Mac Mini with M2 Pro starts at $2399 including GST.

Maxing out the specifications, a 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Max, 96 GB of memory, 8 TB of storage will cost $11,599 including GST to buy.

A Mac Mini with the M2 Pro that has 12 core CPU and a 19 core GPU, 32 GB of memory, 8TB storage, and 10 Gbps Ethernet wired connectivity will set users back $7999 including GST.

According to the news on Connecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s Channel