Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

2022 Mac Pro could feature an even more powerful M1 chip

Apple has already confirmed that a new Mac Pro is in the pipeline, but beyond that affirmation, the company remains tight-lipped on specific details about its upcoming system. However, a new leak has provided some interesting information pertaining to the 2022 Mac Pro, particularly concerning its processor.

In terms of when the 2022 Mac Pro is expected to launch, LeaksApplePro’s sources point toward an official unveiling in the coming months, which indicates an announcement at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. The leaker mentioned that Apple will ship the system during the third quarter, instead of a summer release, with September said to be the intended target.

Apple's new Mac Pro sits on display in the showroom during Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC).
Brittany Hose-Small / AFP via Getty Images

Also included in the leak is an insight into what sort of technical performance the 2022 Mac Pro will offer. As reported by NotebookCheck , the new Mac Pro will feature two M1 Ultra systems on a chip (SoCs), according to tipster Majin Bu. Apple has reportedly code-named the dual M1 Ultra SoC configuration Redfern.

Recommended Videos

Interestingly, a tweet backs up this particular claim, showing what appears to be an internal image of a bridge depicting the combination of two M1 Ultra chips. The bridge itself is apparently code-named “DAISYXL,” which is based on Apple’s UltraFusion architecture.

Theoretically, the integration of two M1 Ultra SoCs could technically power the Mac Pro with 256GB of RAM. Comparatively, NotebookCheck highlights how the recently announced Mac Studio is limited to 128GB of unified memory due to the inclusion of a single M1 Ultra chip.

Elsewhere, well-known Apple insider Mark Gurman has once again reported that Apple is indeed working on a dual M1 Ultra chip called “Extreme” that purportedly comes with 40 CPU cores alongside 128 GPU cores. A less powerful model with 96 GPU cores is said to be in the works as well.

A purported leaked internal Apple image showing a bridge connecting two M1 Ultra chips.
Image source: @MajinBuOfficial Image used with permission by copyright holder

The M1 Ultra was revealed during Apple’s Peek Performance event on March 8, with the company claiming the die is “the world’s most powerful chip for a personal computer.” That statement was put to the test by several leaked benchmarks , which show Apple’s latest chip holding its own against other flagship chips. Don’t expect the M1 Ultra to be faster than an RTX 3090 GPU , though.

Regardless of the technical specifications of the upgraded Mac Pro, it will be yet another Mac product that has transitioned away from Intel chips in favor of Apple’s own silicon.

As for Apple’s plans beyond the continuation of the Mac Pro lineup, a separate leak from LeaksApplePro mentioned a June launch for the M2 chip-based MacBook Pro 13 , followed by the M2 MacBook Air hitting store shelves in September or October. The existence of these M2-powered Macs is further corroborated by 9to5Mac’s sources.

Zak Islam
Former Computing Writer
Zak Islam was a freelance writer at Digital Trends covering the latest news in the technology world, particularly the…
MacBook Pro 16 vs. MacBook Pro 14: here’s which M4 you should buy
The MacBook Pro 16-inch on a table.

MacBook Pros are some of the best laptops money can buy. With the M4 chip now onboard, these laptops have never been so powerful, and the update brings some interesting upgrades, such as the improved 12-megapixel webcam and brighter screen. They're the best MacBooks that have ever been made, and it's a perfect time to pick one up based on upgrade timing.

But just because the entire MacBook Pro lineup is better now, that doesn't mean it's any easier to choose between the two size options that are available. Despite the fact that they include many of the same features, the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro feel like entirely different systems due to their contrast in size.

Read more
Apple hid one of the best features of the M4 MacBook Pro
Someone using a MacBook Pro M4.

Apple's new M4 MacBook Pro is great. It earned a rare Editors' Choice badge in our M4 MacBook Pro review, and it's cemented itself as one of the best laptops you can buy. Even with so much going for it, Apple hid one of the most exciting developments it made with its new range of laptops -- the use of quantum dot technology.

Like the last few generations of MacBook Pro displays, the M4 range is using a mini-LED backlight. There's no tandem OLED like we saw on the iPad Pro earlier this year. However, according to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), Apple added a layer of quantum dots to the M4 MacBook Pro. This, according to the display expert, offers better color gamut and motion performance compared to the solution Apple previously used.

Read more
Apple defends the M4 Mac mini’s power button
The underside of the M4 Mac mini, showing its vent and power button.

Apple announced a new wave of product refreshes recently, and not only does the charging port for the Magic Mouse remain on the bottom of the device -- the M4 Mac mini's power button has been moved to the bottom, too. These design choices have riled up plenty of people, but it seems Apple stands by its new power button placement for the Mac mini.

In a video posted on Chinese social media platform Bilibili, Apple's Greg Joswiak not only defends the decision but praises it. He calls it a "kind of optimal spot for a power button," claiming that you just need to "kinda tuck your finger in there and hit the button."

Read more