Analyst Ming-chi Kuo published a report predicting that Apple will feature its new ARM-based processors in its upcoming MacBook Pro and iMac products The company will hold its WWDC 2020 keynote later tonight, with many speculating that it will unveil the new line-up by then.
Kuo said in his research note that the first device to feature the new processor will likely be a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro that would be released in Q4 2020 or Q1 2021. He believes that the form factor will be similar to current MacBook Pro models and will begin production in mid-2021. Production of the Intel version of the laptop will cease once the ARM model is introduced, he added.
As for the iMacs, Kuo wrote that the new product will feature a 24-inch display with thin bezels. The first batch is expected to be released in Q3 2020 and will be the last to feature Intel chips. The ARM-based iMacs, on the other hand, is said to be shipped out by the first quarter of 2021.
Additionally, the analyst noted that Apple’s transition to a fully ARM-based line-up will take 12 to 18 months. Kuo expects that the new devices would outperform their Intel predecessors by 50 to 100 percent, but its actual performance will only be determined on what Apple decides to prioritise with the new designs.
Tonight’s event may not actually see the debut of these new ARM-based Macs, according to numerous reports. Even so, there’s a possibility that Apple may officially announce them during the keynote, and reveal future plans for the upcoming quarters.
