An entry-level MacBook Pro with an M2 chip, codenamed J493.There’s also an “M2 Pro" variation, codenamed J474, in testing. This machine will have the same specifications as the MacBook Air.
A Mac mini with an M2 chip, codenamed J473.That’s up from eight graphics cores in the current MacBook Air. This Mac will have eight CPU cores, the components that handle the main processing, and 10 cores for graphics. A MacBook Air with an M2 chip, codenamed J413.A spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment on the plans.
The business generated $35.2 billion in sales the past fiscal year, about 10% of Apple’s total.Įven though testing is far along in some cases, there are no guarantees that all the models will ultimately be released. Therefore, although a user-modified Mac upgraded to 16-gigabytes of memory and 2-terabytes of storage is interesting, it's not exactly a big breakthrough.After years of slow growth, the Mac computer division enjoyed a resurgence the past two years, helped in part by home office workers buying new equipment. Ultimately, the upgrades simply matched the maximum configuration that can be ordered from Apple at the time of first purchase. Memory errors are notoriously hard to replicate, but can cause a general instability in a computer, so it is best to use caution. Also, potential damage to a chip or other component may not be immediately apparent.
However, there is a chance that a future macOS update could result in incompatibility issues, considering Apple doesn’t officially support such changes. The screenshots seem to indicate the computer is operating and recognizing the upgraded components, implying that everything may work just fine for now. An external drive is a much easier and safer option.Īs mentioned above, some Mac owners claimed to have successfully removed and replaced both the memory and the storage chips in their M1 Mac computers.
Again, removing the original component to upgrade to more storage is risky as it could damage the old drive and the Mac computer. M1 Mac computers have a choice of four internal storage configurations starting at 256-gigabytes with a maximum SSD capacity of 2-terabytes. Overheating these components with a soldering iron can cause irreparable damage, so even though it is possible to do so, it is not recommended unless the user has experience and confidence in their abilities. It is recommended to go with the larger RAM configuration, since it is quite difficult and potentially damaging to upgrade soldered-in memory chips. The M1 Mac computers are limited to a maximum of 16-gigabytes of memory and the only other option is 8-gigabytes. However, as pointed out by MacRumors, upgrades are technically possible and some adventurous owners have already done so. Apple allows external expansion of storage via the two USB 4 ports which support fast Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds, but doesn’t offer any help regarding memory expansion. Since there are no memory card slots available, and no dedicated place to add another internal drive, an upgrade would require replacing those components. The internal solid-state drive (SSD) is also soldered in place, as was the previous generation Intel-based Mac mini. The two previous generations, based on an Intel CPU, did not have upgradable RAM, so this isn’t unique to the M1 Mac mini. However, according to Apple’s support page even the Mac mini, a small desktop computer with a more sizable case has a fixed memory capacity. Laptops that are difficult to upgrade are more common in the last few years, so the official stance that the random access memory (RAM) on an M1 MacBook Air or MacBook Pro can’t be increased after purchase is not terribly shocking. Related: How RISC Makes Apple Silicon M1 Mac Faster Than Intel The new M1 Mac was up to the task, outperforming the previous generations' Intel processors and eliminating most of the doubt that Apple chips could be competitive in this new venture. Apple has been making its own chips for the iPhone and iPad as well as other devices for many years, but these new computer systems were the first to rely on an Apple processor. This is significant because a laptop or entry-level desktop is expected to perform intensive tasks much faster than a mobile device.
This is the term Apple used when the company announced its plan for future Mac computers to come powered by its own system-on-a-chip. The newest MacBook laptops and Mac mini desktop are powered by Apple Silicon.
Whether this a hard line, a technical impossibility, or simply a very difficult and unsupported process was not known until recently. However, once the choice is made, the official statement is that there is no possibility of an upgrade. When purchasing an M1 Mac from Apple or from another retailer, there are options to choose more or less memory and greater or smaller storage capacities.