Apple is reportedly planning a major change in its Mac chip roadmap. The company may skip the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips and move faster towards an AI-focused M7 chip family, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The tech giant has followed a predictable pattern with its M-series processors. The company usually launches a standard chip first. It later introduces Pro, Max, and Ultra versions for users who need higher performance. The reported shift would break this approach.
Apple is expected to launch the standard M6 chip later this year. However, it may not introduce M6 Pro, M6 Max, or M6 Ultra variants following the release. According to Gurman, the change is linked to the company’s focus on major Neural Engine upgrades for the M7 family.
These improvements are crucial enough to shift attention towards the next generation of chips. The M7 chip is expected to arrive in the first half of 2027. The M7 Pro and M7 Max could follow later in the same year, while the M7 Ultra is reportedly scheduled for 2028.
Apple has spent years developing technology that supports on-device AI features. Its Neural Engine has powered features such as Face ID, Animoji, and machine learning tasks on Apple devices. The company’s previous work on its self-driving car project, known internally as Project Titan, also contributed to its AI hardware development.
The project required advanced machine learning systems and powerful custom chips. The tech giant is now using these capabilities across Macs and future AI services. It is also rebuilding parts of its software strategy around a next-generation Siri assistant.
The reported M7 shift marks a change in how Apple designs its processors. Earlier chips focused heavily on improvements in CPU speed, graphics performance, battery life and device efficiency. The upcoming M7 family is expected to put greater focus on AI processing. The move could help Apple compete with companies developing specialised AI hardware.
Apple is also working on AI servers based on powerful chips. Reports suggest the company is developing a server powered by the M5 Ultra chip. A future server platform using the M7 Ultra is also being prepared for a possible 2029 launch.
The reported roadmap shows Apple’s growing focus on artificial intelligence across its products and services. The company appears to be moving from traditional chip upgrades towards processors designed around AI workloads.
If the plans materialize, Apple’s future Macs and AI systems could depend less on yearly performance jumps and more on advanced neural processing capabilities.
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