Apple is reportedly planning to launch a range of new MacBooks and iMacs with its own ARM-based processor in 2021, according to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Speaking in a research note, Kuo said that Apple’s ARM-based Macs will “significantly enhance” the power and performance of the Mac, making the company’s range more competitive and attractive to consumers and professionals looking to upgrade their devices.
What’s more, switching to Apple-designed chips will allow the company to refresh its range of notebooks and desktop without having to wait for Intel to release its latest processor.
A report from Kuo has even suggested that the switch could reduce the cost of processors by as much as 60%, and allow Macs to further compete with Windows laptops and PCs.
Apple had planned to launch its first ARM-powered Mac in the fourth quarter of 2020, but the ongoing coronavirus outbreak could potentially cause that to be delayed until 2021.
ASMedia Technology will become an exclusive supplier of USB controllers for the new ARM-based Mac devices, which would mean that MacBooks could switch to USB 4 support from 2022.
USB 4 is the latest standard, covering USB protocols and Thunderbolt. Based on Thunderbolt 3, the standard offers an incredible 40 gigabyte per second data transfer speed, and it can support two 4K displays or a 5K display through a single USB cable.
The idea of USB 4 is to serve as a royalty-free version of Thunderbolt 3.
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