Bloomberg: Apple to unveil ARM MacBook in November
On Tuesday, October 13, Apple will introduce its latest iPhones to the world. There will be as many as four models to choose from, all sporting Apple A14 silicon, OLED screens, upgraded cameras, and reworked (squared-off, iPad-like) designs. In addition, a smaller HomePod speaker and the first Apple over-ear headphones will reportedly also make an appearance. It sounds like a great Apple event, but also one that won’t be graced by the debut of an ARM MacBook Pro. However, the course-setting laptop is coming no sooner than November.
ARM MacBook to be announced in November
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman states that the first Mac running the in-house Apple silicon will be the star of another launch in November, and it’s going to be a notebook model. Previously, the reporter maintained that the ARM Mac will be a matter of fact “by November”. So we have a good bit of consistency leading up to an eventual November keynote dedicated to the Mac’s present and future.
New MacBook?
It is not immediately clear whether the ARM notebook will be a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a new MacBook Air, or a revival of the 12-inch MacBook. Regardless, we will witness a new era that’s ripe with computing power potential, but one that also raises questions. How will Apple handle app compatibility? Will developers continue to support x86 apps and plug-ins for the foreseeable future? Equal parts excitement and anxiety are in the air.
Out with the old?
I, for example, purchased a 16-inch MacBook Pro in January 2019. I intend on having it as my sole creative machine at least until 8K video editing becomes a regular thing. The first consumer 8K cameras have just started coming in, pricey and running hot. It will probably be a good 4-5 years before the tech matures and trickles down to mid/upper mid-range cameras. You can imagine that I won’t be too pleased if I am forced to switch to an ARM Mac in the next two years because my AV software has become obsolete. Before you raise the question, yes, I am aware of x86 emulation – I’m just not a believer in it when it comes to piping high-def, low-latency audio in and out of a DAW.
Either way, an ARM Mac is coming before this tumultous year’s end, and we are looking at a two-year window for a complete hardware & software transition. So buckle in till November and let’s see where Apple plans to take us.
source: Bloomberg via MacRumors
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