Apple M7 chips: it’s skipping the high-end M6

Apple is breaking its M-series chip release pattern by skipping the high-end M6 Pro and Max variants entirely. Instead, only a base M6 will ship in 2027 for entry-level Macs, while the M7 Pro, Max, and Ultra will power high-end machines starting in 2027 and extending to 2028. The base M6 (codenamed Komodo) brings significant improvements including ~200GB/s memory bandwidth (up from 153GB/s on M5), a new neural engine, and up to 12 GPU cores. The shift is officially framed as fast-tracking on-device AI capabilities, though supply chain pressures and memory shortages are also cited as contributing factors. Buyers wanting Apple's fastest silicon face a wait of at least two years, with the M7 Ultra not expected until 2028.