Will Apple’s M2 Overheating Problems Be Resolved in New 3-Nanometer M2 Pro + M2 Max Chips?
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According to a recent report from Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes, Apple is said to have contacted TSMC to discuss manufacturing a 3nm M2 Pro chip. The report added that TSMC plans to start manufacturing in the second half of 2022. I assume that there might be some delays due to the current situation, but if there are, they won’t be very long.
I asked my sources where they stand on this issue, and here is what they have to say: They believe it’s real. I’ll tell you why and add some additional information that will interest you. Let’s get to it!
As mentioned earlier, my sources believe that the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips that Apple plans to use in a number of products, such as the Mac mini and MacBook Pro, will be manufactured in TSMC’s 3-nanometer process.
The M2 chip has some serious battery performance and overheating issues that Apple plans to address with a 3-nanometer process instead of a 5-nanometer process. A process with fewer nanometers usually means that the processor uses less power to achieve the same or higher speed, which is exactly what the company wants to accomplish.
I would not go so far as to say that this will solve all of the M2’s problems, but it will make a big difference.
The M2 is a base model processor, just like the M1, but the latter seems to be more efficient than the former. This is because the M2 is an overclocked M1, so to speak.
Knowing this, I do not recommend buying the M2 MacBook Air (which is scheduled to go on sale on July 15th) until you have seen a few reviews.
Because if the M2 MacBook Pro, which has a fan, overheats, the M2 MacBook Air, which doesn’t, will either be a portable stove or have a very throttled processor to avoid overheating.
I know the new MacBook Air looks very nice, but I don’t think it will be a great computer. Instead, I recommend you buy another Mac. For example, I was planning to switch from my M1 MacBook Air to the M2 MacBook Air, but after seeing how hot the M2 gets, I will probably buy the M1 Pro 14″ MacBook Pro. It’s more expensive than the M2 MacBook Air, but I guarantee it’s worth it.
The screen and speakers are on a whole different level, the chip is much better, especially the GPU, and thermally the difference is noticeable.
The only aspects where the M2 MacBook Air is better are battery life and portability, and those two things have not changed compared to the M1 MacBook Air.
Let me give you advice, if you always want to have the latest Apple products, buy the M2 MacBook Air––but if you are worried about the performance and temperatures, either save some money and buy the M1 MacBook Air or spend a few dollars more and go for a base model 14-inch MacBook Pro.
One last thing on this topic, if you want the M2 MacBook Air, avoid the 256GB model; it is significantly slower than the 512GB version, as shown on my friend Max Tech’s YouTube channel.
Instead of using two 128GB memory modules, Apple only puts in one 256GB module, which is significantly slower, just so you know.
M2 Pro and M2 Max
Now let’s talk about these two beasts. They’re going to be amazing, and we should see them in a couple of Macs. Let me tell you:
Apple introduced the M1 Pro and M1 Max with the launch of the redesigned 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. In my opinion, these are the best laptops Apple has ever made, and Apple is already working on new models with the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.
I saw some people on Twitter saying we’d see these new laptops by the end of 2022, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. I wouldn’t expect these two laptops until March or June 2023; we could see them either at the next Worldwide Developers Conference or at an event in March, but it’s not clear yet.
The design of these laptops won’t change much; in fact, I hear they’ll look exactly like the current MacBook Pros.
The battery life is expected to increase significantly, according to people familiar with the matter, thanks to the new 3-nanometer process.
However, these aren’t the first Macs we’ll see with the M2 Pro and M2 Max. Apple is expected to launch a “Pro” Mac mini with these chips at some point in late 2022 or early 2023.
Apple is also planning to introduce an M2 Max version of the Mac Studio, but it’s still in a very early stage of development and can, at best, be expected at the end of 2023.
I assume that Apple is also working on a Mac Pro with this chip family, but I have no knowledge of that yet. There is a Mac Pro in the works to be announced later this year, but that will probably have one or two M1 Ultras instead of an M2 family chip. I’ll have more information on that in a few months.
There are other chips Apple is working on, like the M2 Ultra and others, but that’s a story for another day.
I hope you found this article helpful. Let me know what you think about this and if you plan on buying any of these Macs in the comments below. As always, have a fantastic day.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
