Apple launched “MacBooks” powered by the new, faster processor chips, “M2 Pro” and “M2 Pro Max”, in a sudden launch weeks before the technology giant’s usual date.
The introduction of new PCs that use Apple’s latest versions of the “M2” chips, which it introduced for the first time last year, comes based on a decision the company made in 2020, using semiconductors of its design, after relying on Intel technology for 15 years.
The new processors, “M2 Pro” and “M2 Pro Max”, are the crown jewel of the company’s new products, after providing it with superior data processing capabilities, along with 96 GB of random memory, and using a pioneering system to rationalize energy consumption, which Apple claims is the first of its kind. kind in the world.
Through its new processor, the M2 Pro, Apple introduced the advanced 5 nm technology, on 40 billion transistors, or 20% higher than the previous generation M1 Pro, in addition to a data transfer speed of 200 megabytes per second through the random memory of the processor, which is twice what the Apple processor offers. M2.
The new processor comes with a data processing unit that offers two options, one of which is 10 cores and the second of 12 cores, including cores for heavy performance of up to 8 cores, and 4 cores for outstanding performance while maintaining efficiency, which provides a processing speed that is 20% higher compared to the data processing unit in the previous generation. In addition, it allows developing the performance of the graphics processor and raising its cores to 19 cores, and this possibility exceeds what was offered by the previous generation at a rate of 3 cores.
Apple indicated that the process of running code within its Xcode software platform, which facilitates the development of applications for different devices and operating systems, will become two and a half times faster with the new processor, while graphics processing will be 30% faster, compared to the last generation M1 Pro.
M2 Max processor
As for the higher version of Apple processors, the American company has added a new element to its processors, which is the M2 Max, which comes with 67 billion transistors, about 10 billion more than the previous generation M1 Max, and 3 times what the M2 provided, in addition to supporting the operation of random memory up to Its capacity is 96 GB.
The M2 Max processor comes with a data processing unit supported by 12 cores, along with a graphics processing card whose performance can be increased to 38 cores, which increases the speed and accuracy of graphics processing by 30% compared to the previous generation, in addition to providing a unique level of energy consumption, as the processor allows The ability to extend battery life for daily use by up to 22 hours, which is the highest daily battery usage in the history of all Mac computers.
Apple provided its two new processors with a Secure Enclave security unit, which contributes to storing sensitive data for the user separately from the main processor itself, in addition to providing Apple with a neural processing unit on board its two new Neural Engine processors, with a powerful performance of 16 cores capable of completing 15.8 trillion operations per second. This is 40% faster than the previous generation.
It is noteworthy that the neural processing unit of Apple processors offers various advantages to users of its devices, with regard to the speed of processing and completing tasks based on machine learning, such as video analysis, voice recognition, image processing, and improving the level of imaging quality.
And Apple distinguished between its two new processors in terms of their superior capabilities in dealing with videos and images, as the M2 Pro processor comes with one engine dedicated to processing videos and images with H.264, HEVC and ProRes quality, while the M2 Max processor offers two engines for video processing, and two separate engines for processing images with ProRes quality. , which increases the level of processing speed by twice compared to the previous generation M1 Max.
New Mac computers
Not only did Apple unveil two new processors, but it also unveiled 3 new devices from the Mac computer family, including two 14-inch and 16-inch “MacBook Pro” computers, as well as a new “Mac Mini”.
The new MacBook Pro computers come with a variety of options, in terms of screen size 14 inches and 16 inches, and in terms of performance, they come with the new Apple processors M2 Pro and M2 Max.
And Apple revealed that the graphics processing rate in the new computers will reach 80%, and the codes in the Xcode platform will run two and a half times faster compared to the fastest “MacBook Pro” computers with Intel processors, and an average of 20% at the level of graphics processing, and 25% faster in running codes compared to computers. MacBook Pro with M2 processor.
And to emphasize the superior capabilities of its new computers, Apple reported that the new “MacBook Pro” computers will provide superior performance in the Adobe Photoshop image editing program, at a speed of up to 40% compared to the previous generation of “MacBook Pro” computers.
The price of the “MacBook Pro” with a 14-inch screen starts at $ 2,000, but to get the highest performance with an M2 Max processor, 96 GB of RAM and an internal memory of up to 8 terabytes, the cost will rise to $ 6,300.
As for the “MacBook Pro” with a 16-inch screen, it starts at $2,500, but with superior capabilities, this price will rise to $6,500.
As for the screens of the two new versions, they come from the type Liquid Retina XDR, in addition to presenting the two versions with a new HDMI output that supports 8K media playback, at a refresh rate of 60 Hz on external screens, or 4K at a frequency of up to 240 Hz, in addition to 3 “Thunderbolt” outputs, and a MagSafe outlet. 3, a conventional 3.5 mm headphone jack, and an SD memory card slot.
As for the third computer device, it is a new “Mac Mini”, which comes with the previous Apple M2 processor, and one of its new processors, the M2 Pro, at a price starting at $ 599. The first version offers 8 GB of random memory and 256 GB of internal memory, with HDMI outputs and wireless Internet technology. Gigabit ethernet, and a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack, in addition to two USB-A and two USB-C outputs.
As for the second version, which is equipped with the M2 Pro processor, it comes with 16 GB of random memory and 512 GB of SSD storage, with two additional USB-C outputs, in addition to the same outlets available in the first version, and its price starts at $ 1299.
The new “Mac mini” is the first of its kind in the “Mac mini” family with the “Pro” version of Apple processors. The new generation offers two and a half times faster performance than the previous generation in terms of graphics processing in the Affinity Photo program, and a speed that is 4.2 times faster than the previous generation. The level of video processing within Final Cut Pro.
The new computers are available for pre-orders starting from January 17th, and the market will officially arrive on January 24th.