Apple Mac Pro - Last relic of the Intel era

With the imagination of the new Mac mini, which one with the M2 chip as well as with the new one M2 per chip can be configured, the 2018 Intel model has been removed from the official Apple store. This could be next to that M1 model of 2020 continue to be bought. But those times are over now Mac Pro from 2019 the last Intel Mac in Apple's lineup. A new Mac Pro with M2 Ultra or M2 Extreme was expected for last year - especially since Apple spoke of a two-year phase for the switch from Intel chips to Apple Silicon in 2020 - but it has been postponed. This year, however, he should appear and complete the new lineup.

After the presentation of new Mac mini and MacBook Pro models with M2, M2 Pro and M2 Max, the question now arises about the upgrade for Apple's last Intel computer. When will the Mac Pro switch to Apple Silicon and why hasn't that already happened?
After the presentation of new Mac mini and MacBook Pro models with M2, M2 Pro and M2 Max, the question now arises about the upgrade for Apple's last Intel computer. When will the Mac Pro switch to Apple Silicon and why hasn't that already happened?

Apple Mac Pro with Intel chip still in store

The standard 2019 Apple Mac Pro can still be purchased from the official Apple online store for €6.499. It features a 3,5 GHz 8-core Intel Xeon W processor, 32 GB of RAM and a Radeon Pro W5500X graphics card with 8 GB of graphics memory. But the configurations with more powerful hardware and a higher price are still available, so that the values ​​can definitely surpass the current M2 versions.

For the maximum possible equipment, the machine can be upgraded to a 2,5 GHz 28-core Intel Xeon W processor, 1,5 TB of RAM and two Radeon Pro W6800X Duo graphics cards, each with 64 GB of graphics memory. If you then choose a full 512 TB of SSD storage instead of 8 GB and also have an Apple Afterburner card installed, the price is 59.169 euros. And the housing rolls for 500 euros are not even included.

Why is the introduction of the Mac Pro with Apple Silicon failing?

There are certainly many reasons why Apple is behind schedule. The Covid-19 pandemic will be one. But discarded models of the M2 chip could also play a role. We have already referred to the M2 Extreme described by Mark Gurman several times (e.g. here and here). This is said to have been rejected by Apple at the end of 2022 because it would have been too expensive to produce and therefore also for the end product.

The question now arises whether a Mac Pro with M2 Max or a combination of two such chips as M2 Ultra is sufficient to offer the performance that is required of a Mac Pro. Especially after the maximum equipment of the last model mentioned above, the next big step in performance and efficiency for professional users, companies and studios must be an incentive to buy. According to current rumours, this should be possible this year, so that a Mac Pro 2023 could be presented.

The cheese grater: The design should remain the same

With the Mac Pro, Apple has occasionally tried out interesting designs and given them appropriate nicknames. The 2013 Mac Pro was nicknamed e.g. B. likes to be referred to as a "garbage can". Because of the handles, the feet and last but not least the holes on the front and back of the current model, the same is often referred to as a "cheese grater". 

Current rumors in the trade press with reference to analysts, who are often right, suggest that Apple intends to stick with the 2019 design of the Mac Pro for the time being. One can only speculate as to whether the lack of visual differentiation can indicate a not so significant increase in performance. Or maybe there are just too many cases in stock. That could be another reason for the delay - if there are still too many old Mac Pros around, they might want to sell them off first.

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In the Sir Apfelot Blog you will find advice, instructions and reviews on Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini and Mac Studio.