Rumor has it that Apple is working on ARM-based Mac computers and is already testing several models such as its iMac desktop, Mac mini CPU and 13-inch MacBook laptop with with 64-bit ARM quad core processors. In addition to this, the company is apparently designing a new keyboard style which integrates a large-format Magic Trackpad.
Apple has been using Intel chipsets in its Mac products so long because it hasn’t felt too confident about the performance ARM processors can offer. At the same time, it has been trying to break away from the chip maker and is even said to have tested an ARM A5-powered MacBook Air back in 2011.
This unofficial news comes from French website MacBidouille via Mac Rumors. At any rate, Apple was never too pleased with the amount of energy consumed by Intel processors and even had a little tiff with the company about this issue. The story ran that the former was biding its time until ARM shifted to 64-bit architecture.
In mid-2013, the tech giant was ready with its 64-bit A7 SoC used in the iPhone 5S, iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display. Experts and tech lovers alike were speaking of the technology being underutilized in these iOS devices. But Intel may have known what was going to come next there and then.
Apple’s expected move to ARM may just be one step in the evolution of its Mac machines. After all, it did dump PowerPC processors for Intel x86 SoCs in 2006, without facing the irrevocable damage Commodore and Atari did when they pulled a similar move.