Apple-made Mac chips won't be ready until 2021, report says

The first Mac chip designed by Apple was previously rumored for 2020.

Corinne Reichert Senior Editor

Corinne Reichert (she/her) grew up in Sydney, Australia and moved to California in 2019. She holds degrees in law and communications, and currently writes news, analysis and features for CNET across the topics of electric vehicles, broadband networks, mobile devices, big tech, artificial intelligence, home technology and entertainment. In her spare time, she watches soccer games and F1 races, and goes to Disneyland as often as possible.

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I've been covering technology and mobile for 12 years, first as a telecommunications reporter and assistant editor at ZDNet in Australia, then as CNET's West Coast head of breaking news, and now in the Thought Leadership team.

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Corinne Reichert

Feb. 25, 2020 5:02 p.m. PT

21-macbook-pro-16-inch — Apple's 2021 Mac computers could come with a home-made chip.
Sarah Tew/CNET

Apple is working on a home-made processor that could be set for Mac computers released from the first half of 2021, MacRumors reported Monday, citing a note by Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo. Moving from an Intel chip to an Apple-made Arm-based processor would mean Macs work better together with iPads and iPhones because they'd run on the same apps, according to MacRumors.

"We expect that Apple's new products in 12 to 18 months will adopt processors made by 5nm process, including the new 2H20 5G iPhone, new 2H20 iPad equipped with mini LED and new 1H21 Mac equipped with the own-design processor," Kuo's note reportedly says. "iPhone 5G support, ‌iPad‌'s adoption of innovative mid-size panel technology, and Mac's first adoption of the own-design processor are all Apple's critical product and technology strategies."

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Apple declined to comment on rumors and speculation, but the reported release in 2021 is a delay from previous rumors that Apple would have a home-made chip in Mac computers by 2020. Back in April 2018, it was reported that Apple was in the early stages of creating its own processors for its MacBook and iMac .

Originally published Feb. 24.
Update, Feb. 25: Apple declined to comment.