From the new Mac mini to the MacBook Pro, here’s what to expect from Apple’s M2-based Macs

Mac mini

Apple is apparently working on updated versions of the Mac mini as a refresher on the Mac mini M1 that was released in 2020. But while those devices were originally scheduled to release this year, the launch window has now been pushed back to early 2023. It’s rumored that at least one of the Mac mini devices will replace the Intel version, getting rid of that chip entirely in this lineup. There are also rumors that Apple will tweak the design a bit, although it’s not clear what it will look like. Youtuber Jon Prosser thinks the new Mac mini will have a Plexiglas-like top with an aluminum frame in between. He also expects the size to shrink next year.

MacBook Pro

In 2021, Apple completely revamped the MacBook Pro lineup, introducing an all-new design (with a notch!), upgraded M1 Pro and M1 Max silicon for the processors, and more. But while the MacBook Air got an M2 refresh this year, the Pro models stuck. So the update was expected to be due later this year, but as mentioned above, that’s not going to happen.

The next-gen MacBook Pro will likely recycle the design of 2021

As far as specs go, we’re obviously going to see the new M2 chips under the hood of the upcoming machines, which should take their performance to the next level, as if the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips weren’t fast enough already. The M2 Max could have 12 CPU cores and use a 3nm manufacturing process, according to Mark Gurman.

In terms of design, the next generation MacBook Pro models will most likely not see any changes at all. Apple doesn’t make frequent design changes, and since the last major design overhaul was just last year, Apple will be sticking with the same formula.

iMac Pro

Launched last year, the M1 iMac introduced an all-new design to the lineup and featured Apple’s own chips for the first time. While it was expected at the time that Apple might launch an iMac Pro alongside the vanilla iMac, that never happened. Cut so far and rumors are doing the rounds that Apple is actually planning to launch a Pro model next year. It’s unclear what chip a potential iMac Pro (2022) will have, but when rumors of the machine first surfaced, it was expected to be powered by the M1 Pro or M1 Max. Maybe we’ll see the updated versions of those chips powering the iMac now that M2 is here.

Mac Pro

The current Mac Pro is currently still hanging on Intel, but when Apple is ready to release the next-gen Mac Pro, it will arrive with the company’s homegrown M2 chips — either an M2 Ultra or even an M2 Extreme.

15 inch MacBook Air

Apple may have upped the screen size from 13-inch to 13.6-inch with this year’s MacBook Air, but the company wants to go even bigger with a 15-inch MacBook Air – a first for the series. While rumors of such a machine have been circulating, we could finally launch it in 2023.

Next year we could see a 15-inch MacBook Air for the first time

Gurman suggested that Apple wants to introduce this model to increase its share of the laptop market and give consumers more choices. Following this report, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted that this new model could be powered by an M2 Pro chip. Interestingly, Kuo never used the term Air for the laptop, just calling it “MacBook.”