Apple's transition to ARM processors
Template:Mac OS X topics Apple's transition to Arm processors is an ongoing process of changing the central processing unit (CPU) of Apple Inc.'s Mac computers from Intel x86-64-based processors to ARM64-based processors developed in-house.
The transition is the third time Apple has migrated its personal computer product line from one ISA to another. The first was the switch from the Mac's original Motorola 68000 series architecture to the then-new PowerPC platform in 1994, and the second was the transition from PowerPC to Intel x86, which was formally announced in June 2005 and officially completed by August 2006.
Background
Transition from PowerPC to Intel
Since 2006, all Mac computers have been using Intel processors, following Apple's transition to Intel processors from PowerPC processors. During his keynote address at WWDC in 2005, Steve Jobs noted that Intel-based processors outperformed PowerPC processors in terms of energy consumption. At the time, laptop sales accounted for 53% of all computer sales in the United States.[1] The transition to Intel-based processors was complete by 2006.
In recent years, media reports have documented Apple's challenges with Intel products. It was noted that Apple had trouble with Intel modems for iPhones in 2017 due to technical issues and missed deadlines.[2] Meanwhile, a 2018 report suggests that Intel chip issues prompted a redesign of the MacBook.[3] In 2019, Apple blamed Intel processor shortages for a decline in Mac sales.[4]
Processor development
In 2009, Apple bought processor company P.A. Semi for $278 million.[5] At the time, it was reported that Apple bought P.A. Semi for its intellectual property and engineering talent.[6] Apple's CEO at the time, Steve Jobs, later claimed that P.A Semi would develop system-on-chips for Apple's iPods and iPhones.[7]
In the years since P.A. Semi was acquired by Apple, Apple has released a number of products with its own processors. By 2020, it was noted that the Apple A12X Bionic processor used in the 2018 iPad Pro models roughly matched the performance of Intel Core i7 processors used in MacBook Pros at the time.[8]
History
As early as 2018, there were reports of a potential transition by Apple to its own processors.[9]
In the days prior to the 2020 WWDC address, various reports suggest that an official announcement of the transition was expected to be made during the event.[10][11]
The announcement to transition away from Intel was indeed made during the WWDC keynote address on June 22, 2020.[12]
During the address, it was announced that all apps included with the upcoming macOS Big Sur release will have native Arm binaries added to it. Other apps, including Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and Microsoft Word, were described as native Arm apps.[13]
The entire transition is expected to take two years, with the first Macs featuring Apple chips to be released by the end of 2020.[13] However, it has been noted that similar language was used during Apple's transition to Intel, and that transition took one year instead.[8]
To facilitate the use of software compiled for Intel processors on new Arm-based Macs, the company announced the Rosetta 2 dynamic binary translation software, with the company saying Intel-based apps should run faster on ARM-based Macs with Rosetta 2.[8] In addition, a Mac mini-based Developer Transition Kit will be sold to app developers for testing purposes.[8]
Impact
A media report notes that while the transition's impact on Intel sales may be low, as Apple only has a 10% market share in the personal computer segment, the transition could prompt other PC makers to look at different options as well, as Macs are considered to be premium products. The transition could also lead to thinner and lighter Mac laptops in the future, due to a power efficiency advantage that Apple's processor has over Intel.[14]
See also
- Apple's transition to Intel processors
- Apple-designed processors
References
- ↑ ""Macintel" Q&A". EveryMac. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Potuck, Michael (15 May 2019). "Report: Apple's custom 5G modems may not arrive until 2025 after 'long and painful divorce' with Intel". 9to5Mac. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Horwitz, Jeremy (17 August 2018). "Apple reportedly redesigned basic MacBook after Intel chip issues". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Allan, Darren (3 May 2019). "Apple blames Intel's processor shortage for slump in Mac sales". TechRadar. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Krazit, Tom (18 September 2009). "Apple acquires low-power chip designer PA Semi". CNet. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Krazit, Tom (18 September 2009). "Report: Apple wants PA Semi's engineers, not its chips". CNet. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Krazit, Tom (18 September 2009). "Report: Apple's Jobs: PA Semi to design iPhone chips". CNet. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Horwitz, Jeremy (22 June 2020). "Apple confirms Mac transition to ARM CPUs, Rosetta 2 Intel emulation". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ King, Ian; Gurman, Mark (2 April 2018). "Apple Plans to Use Its Own Chips in Macs From 2020, Replacing Intel". Bloomberg. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Gurman, Mark; Wu, Debby; King, Ian (2020-04-23). "Apple Aims to Sell Macs With Its Own Chips Starting in 2021". Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ↑ Haselton, Todd (22 June 2020). "Apple will stop using Intel chips in all Macs by 2021, top analyst says". CNBC. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Warren, Tom (22 June 2020). "Apple announces it will switch to its own processors for future Macs". The Verge. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Axon, Samuel; Amadeo, Ron (22 June 2020). "This is Apple's roadmap for moving the first Macs away from Intel". ArsTechnica. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ↑ Gurman, Mark (9 June 2020). "In a first, Apple plans to shift to its own processors to power new Mac computers". Fortune. Bloomberg. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
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