M2

Apple announced the M2 during WWDC in June 2022. It is the start of a new line of processors and is expected to follow the same trajectory as the M1. So far it has, with the M2 Pro and M2 Max becoming available in January 2023.

The base processor is around 18% faster than the M1 it replaces, has 25% more transistors, and can be configured with up to 10 GPU cores. It is being rolled out to Apple's product lineup with only a few notable Macs missing the chipset — the 24-inch iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.

The M1 was announced in 2020 as the first chip that would transition the Mac lineup from Intel to Apple Silicon. Apple then spent the following two years updating each of its products to use the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M1 Ultra.

It isn't clear how long it will take Apple to move each of its processors to the second generation, nor if there will be new additions to the chip lineup, like a faster top-end processor. Uncertainty in the supply chain and other global problems may mean a slower cycle for Apple's next-generation processor.

The M2 Pro and M2 Max came later than expected, as the announcement video and other metadata indicate the chips were meant to release in October 2022. The M2 Ultra should arrive sometime in 2023.

The baseline M2 processor

The M2 includes eight processing cores and up to ten GPU cores. The processing cores are split between four high-performance cores and four efficiency cores, like with the M1.

The integrated GPU delivers up to 35% more performance over the previous generation when configured with ten cores. Apple says this translates to 1.3x faster gaming performance.

It also features 100GB/s memory bandwidth, 50% more than M1. Users can also upgrade the RAM from 8GB to up to 24GB.

The Neural Engine is slightly faster despite having the same 16 cores. It can now perform up to 15.8 trillion operations per second compared to the 11 trillion operations in the previous processor.

The CPU is 18% faster thanks to hosting 25% more transistors on a slightly larger chip. Power efficiency remains similar across generations despite the improved capabilities, so battery life is unaffected in upgraded machines.

Apple also included the Media Engine first introduced in the M1 Pro/M1 Max processors. This is a significant advantage for the M2 since pro video and photo workflows will vastly improve on machines with the entry processor.

Benchmarks show that the M2 outperforms the M1 in line with Apple's numbers. The single core score of 1869 for the M2 is a slight bump over the M1's 1707. Graphics, however, show a significant jump from 7395 to 8900.

The M2 doesn't outperform the higher-end M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M1 Ultra, nor is it meant to. This is a replacement for the base chip and has performance characteristics relative to that position.

Also, the M2 still has the single Thunderbolt-connected display limitation. Even on Macs with multiple ports, only one external monitor can be connected at a time.

Configurations

Anyone upgrading from a Mac with an M1 processor to M2 won't be surprised by the configuration options. The RAM limit has jumped from 16GB to 24GB, but otherwise, everything else is the same.

Apple is bringing MagSafe to new M2 computers like the M2 MacBook Air, so the two Thunderbolt port limitation is less of an issue. Now users can provide power to their MacBook without taking up a vital Thunderbolt port.

So far, all M2 Macs have an 8-core CPU with the option of an 8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on the model. For example, only the 10-core GPU option is available for the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Customers can choose between 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage.

Computers with M2

• 13-inch MacBook Pro
• M2 MacBook Air
• Mac mini
• iPad Pro

M2 Pro

The M2 Pro supports up to 32GB of RAM and 200GB/s memory bandwidth. This is essentially like stacking two M2 processors on top of each other with even more performance gains.

This chipset has multiple configurations with 10-core or 12-core CPU options, 16-core or 19-core GPU options, and 16GB or 32GB of RAM. Customers can also purchase up to 8TB of integrated SSD storage.

Apple rates the GPU at 30 percent faster than the one in the M1 Pro, and benchmarks confirm that. That means rendering video games will also be improved, as Apple shows with footage of "Resident Evil Village."

According to Apple, the MacBook Pro with M2 Pro is able to process images in Adobe Photoshop up to 40 percent faster than with M1 Pro and as much as 80 percent faster than MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i9 processor.

Computers with M2 Pro

• 14-inch MacBook Pro
• 16-inch MacBook Pro
• Mac mini

M2 Max

If the M2 Pro is like two M2 chips stacked on each other, the M2 Max is double that. It has a 10-core CPU with up to 96GB of RAM and 400GB/s memory bandwidth.

Customers can configure the M2 Max with a 30-core or 38-core GPU and up to 96GB of RAM. Maxing out this processor adds $700 to the base price of the laptop, costing another $800 for the maximum RAM.

Apple calls the M2 Max the most powerful and efficient chip in a laptop.

Computers with M2 Max

• 14-inch MacBook Pro
• 16-inch MacBook Pro

M2 Ultra

The M2 Ultra hasn't been announced, but it is expected to arrive sometime in 2023. Apple will likely use the chipset in its updated Mac Studio and Mac Pro.