The MacBook ARM release date could come this year — here's the proof

The MacBook ARM release date could come this year — here's the proof

If you're in the market for a new Apple Silicon-powered Mac, you might want to save up a little money. According to an anonymous leaker, the first ARM-powered Mac products will be available later this year, with more hardware to follow in 2021.

This information, provided by technology analyst and leaker Komiya on Twitter, is consistent with several rumors we have heard about Apple Silicon-powered Macs. However, there is still some interesting information in the leaked timeline.

If Komiya's information is correct, the first series of silicon Macs will very likely be the 12-inch MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro models, which could be announced at Apple's upcoming fall event. (This is a different rumor from the event at which Apple will announce the iPhone 12.) Other ARM-based Macs are said to be set for 2021 or later, according to a timeline tweeted by Komiya.

Even then, the full transition to Apple Silicon will not happen for another year. Komiya believes that Apple will also release at least a partial ARM refresh of the iMac and MacBook Pro 16 in 2021, meaning that Apple will likely sell both Intel-based and ARM versions of each device simultaneously.

Apple then plans to discontinue the Intel-based MacBook Pro 16 and iMac by 2022. That year, Apple plans to release new ARM-powered versions of the iMac Pro and Mac Pro.

There is also the matter of a new Mac mini, which Komiya believes will appear in 2021 or 2021. Previously, Apple has indicated that it intends to complete the transition to ARM chipsets within two years.

Previously, Komiya had suggested on Twitter that an entry-level MacBook with an ARM-based processor could cost around $799 and a MacBook Pro 13-inch could cost around $1099.

Of course, this is all hearsay at this point, as Apple only revealed its plans for Apple Silicon at the Worldwide Developer Conference in June and has yet to make an official announcement. We are still waiting for confirmation of a fall event to showcase Apple's hardware, including the rumored iPhone 12 launch.

If you want a Mac laptop, it may be worth holding out for another month or two to see if the Apple Silicon-powered 12-inch MacBook or 13-inch MacBook Pro materializes as rumored. If not, set aside that money for your 2021 Mac shopping spree.

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