Mac transition to Apple silicon
The Mac transition to Apple silicon was the process of switching the central processing units (CPUs) of Apple Inc.'s line of Mac computers from Intel's x86-64 processors to Apple-designed systems on a chip that use the ARM64 architecture.
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a "two-year transition plan" to Apple silicon on June 22, 2020.[1] The first Macs with Apple-designed systems on a chip were released that November;[2] the last, the Mac Pro, was released in June 2023, completing the transition in three years.
The transition was the third time Apple had switched the Macintosh to a new instruction set architecture. The first was from the Motorola 68000 series to PowerPC chips in 1994, and the second was from PowerPC to Intel processors using the x86 architecture in 2005–2006.[3][4]
History[edit]
Early involvement with ARM[edit]
In 1983, Acorn Computers started working on a project to design its own CPU architecture and instructions set, called the Acorn RISC Machine (ARM).[12] In 1985, Apple's Advanced Technology Group worked with Acorn to create an experimental prototype, code-named Mobius, to replace the Apple II, using a modified ARM processor. The project was cancelled but Apple again partnered with Acorn when it needed a low-power, efficient processor for its future Newton PDA.[13][14][15] In 1990, a new joint-venture was created between Acorn, Apple and VLSI Technology with the goal of pursuing the development of the ARM processor. The company was named Advanced RISC Machines Ltd, becoming the new meaning of the ARM acronym.[16] One of the first designs of the new company would be the ARM610 SoC, initially for Apple, that allowed the Endianness to be swapped, increased the address space from 26 bit (64 MB) to 32 bit (4 GB), and modified the memory management unit.[17] Apple held a 43% stake in the company, which was reduced to 14.8% in 1999.[18]
Transition process[edit]
2020[edit]
Apple announced its plans to shift the Macintosh platform to Apple silicon at WWDC in June 2020.[38] The entire transition of the Macintosh product line was expected to take "about two years", with the first ARM-based Macs released by the end of 2020.[39][1] Similar language was used during Apple's 2005–2006 transition to Intel, which actually took about one year.[35]
All Apple apps included with macOS Big Sur are compatible with x86-64 and ARM architectures. Many third-party apps are similarly being made dual-platform, including prominent software packages such as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Word.[39]
To enable x86-native software to run on new ARM-based Macs, Apple embedded Rosetta 2 dynamic binary translation software in Big Sur.[35][1] Universal binary 2 enabled application developers to support both x86-64 and ARM64.[40][1]
To enable developers to create software for ARM-based Macs before they went on sale, Apple introduced the Universal App Quick Start Program, which allowed developers to pay $500 to rent a Developer Transition Kit (DTK), a computer built around the A12Z chip originally used in the iPad Pro (4th generation) and housed in a Mac Mini case.[1][35][41][42][43][44]
In November 2020, Apple announced the Apple M1, its first ARM-based system on a chip to be used in Macs, alongside updated models of the Mac Mini, MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro based on it.[2]
2021[edit]
In April 2021, Apple released a redesigned 24-inch iMac based on the M1 to replace the 21.5-inch Intel model.[45]
In October 2021, Apple announced the M1 Pro and M1 Max, and updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models based on them. The M1 Pro and M1 Max use integrated Apple-designed GPUs, replacing the integrated and discrete GPUs supplied by Intel and AMD, and lack support for external GPUs.[46] Apple discontinued all of their Intel-based laptops following the announcement.[47]
2022[edit]
In March 2022, Apple announced the Mac Studio, a new high-end desktop model that uses the M1 Ultra, a dual-SoC configuration of two M1 Max chips.[48][49] Apple concurrently discontinued the 27-inch Intel-based iMac, leaving the Mac Pro and Core i5/i7 Mac Mini as the last Intel-based Macs.[50] Senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus confirmed the development of an Apple Silicon-based Mac Pro.[51]
2023[edit]
In January 2023, Apple announced updated Mac Mini models based on the M2 and M2 Pro, and discontinued the previous Intel Core i5/i7 model, leaving the Mac Pro as the last Intel-based Mac.[52]
On June 5, 2023, Apple announced an Apple silicon Mac Pro based on the M2 Ultra chip during the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference keynote. The Intel Mac Pro was discontinued, completing the "two-year transition" to Apple silicon three years after announcing it, or two years and seven months between the release of the first Apple silicon Mac and discontinuation of the last Intel Mac.[53][54]
Reception[edit]
Before Apple released M1 Macs, Wired expressed skepticism that Apple's designers could use smartphone-related processors to drive a Mac Pro. It also questioned Apple's vague commitment to allow Intel binaries to run on ARM-based Macs "for years to come" and wondered which upcoming version of macOS would cease to support Intel Macs.[65][1]
Laurent Giret remarked that Apple might "succeed where Microsoft has failed" due to Apple's "tight integration" of hardware and software, and a vast collection of applications that can already run on the new platform.[66]
When systems containing M1 processors were released, they received near-universal acclaim for their high speed and low energy consumption.[67][68]