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Apple skips M6 Pro/Max, fast-tracks AI-focused M7 chips; Touchscreen MacBook Pro looms
According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman in his most recent Power On newsletter, Apple is making one of the biggest changes yet to its Apple Silicon roadmap for Macs. The company is prioritizing on-device AI performance and graphics capabilities over its traditional generational cadence, leading to a skipped generation of high-end chips and a faster push toward the M7 family.
Apple’s New Chip Roadmap: M6 (Base Only), Then Straight to M7
Apple plans to release a base M6 chip as early as late 2026 for entry-level Macs. This includes testing in a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro (internally codenamed J804). Key improvements expected in the M6 include:
• Memory bandwidth rising to around 200 GB/s (up from 153 GB/s on the M5)
• Enhanced GPU performance with up to 12 cores
• A stronger neural engine for better AI workloads
In a notable departure from past strategy, Apple will skip M6 Pro, M6 Max, and M6 Ultra variants entirely. This marks the first time the company has bypassed higher-end versions of a new chip generation.
Instead, Apple is fast-tracking the M7 series to deliver major advancements in on-device AI processing and graphics performance sooner. According to Gurman’s reporting:
• Base M7 — Expected in the first half of 2027
• M7 Pro and M7 Max — Targeted for late 2027
• M7 Ultra — Slated for 2028 (with support for up to 1.5 TB of memory in high-end configurations)
The M7 lineup (with codenames like Delos for the base and Andros for the higher variants) represents Apple’s effort to meet surging demand for AI features and more graphics-intensive software by accelerating technologies originally planned for later generations.
Gurman also notes that M8 chips are already in active development, with high-end variants expected around 2028 on an advanced manufacturing process.
First-Ever Touch MacBook Pro Coming Soon
Gurman’s newsletter also covers Apple’s long-rumored touchscreen MacBook Pro models (14-inch and 16-inch, codenamed K114 and K116). These represent the biggest hardware overhaul of the high-end MacBook Pro lineup since the transition away from Intel chips.
Key details:
• Expected launch window: Late 2026 or early 2027
• Initial models will use current-generation M5 Pro and M5 Max chips (aligning with the decision to skip high-end M6 variants)
• First MacBooks to feature OLED displays
• Adoption of an iPhone-style Dynamic Island interface (with a hole-punch camera cutout replacing the current notch)
• Touch support designed as a “bonus” feature rather than a primary input method — macOS updates will allow seamless switching between touch and traditional trackpad/keyboard use, with adaptive UI elements
Later follow-up models are expected to transition to the new M7 chips once available. The redesigned laptops are also described as potentially thinner and lighter, with reinforced components to handle touch input without screen bounce.
Why the Change? AI Is Reshaping Apple’s Priorities
Gurman explains that this unusual strategy shift allows Apple to focus engineering resources on the more significant architectural leap in the M7 generation. By skipping incremental high-end M6 chips, the company can deliver stronger on-device AI capabilities and graphics performance to its most powerful Macs faster.
This aligns with broader industry trends and Apple’s ongoing push into AI across its ecosystem (including new Apple Pencil models also mentioned in the newsletter).
MacDailyNews Take: M6, we hardly knew ya!
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