Apple to Skip M6 Pro and Max, Jump to AI-Focused M7 Chips in 2027

Apple will not release Pro or Max versions of its upcoming M6 chip, according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman published June 25, 2026. Instead, the company plans to jump directly to the M7 generation, which will be designed to center on powering artificial intelligence. The move would be the first time Apple has offered only a base version of its in-house silicon.

Gurman's sources indicate that the M7 chips could arrive in the first half of 2027, with M7 Pro and Max models following later that year. An M7 Ultra variant is expected in 2028. Apple has not released an Ultra chip since the M3 generation.

AI becomes the silicon priority

The decision to skip higher-end M6 chips reflects Apple's growing emphasis on on-device AI processing. At WWDC 2026, AI and Siri were central talking points, and the M7 line is reportedly being architected to accelerate machine learning workloads directly on the device rather than relying on cloud servers.

• Apple introduced the M5 Pro and Max chips earlier in 2026.
• The base M6 chip is still expected to debut in entry-level MacBooks before the end of 2026.
• No M6 Ultra model is planned, breaking a pattern that began with the M1 Ultra in 2022.
• The M7 family will include Pro, Max, and Ultra variants, all optimized for AI tasks.
• Apple's silicon team is reportedly reallocating resources to accelerate the M7 development timeline.

What the shift means for Mac buyers

For consumers, the change means that high-performance MacBook Pro and Mac Studio models will not receive an M6 upgrade. Users who want the most powerful Apple silicon will need to wait until the M7 generation arrives in 2027. The base M6 MacBook Pro, expected later this year, will still offer improved performance over the M5 but will lack the Pro and Max tier options.

It remains unclear whether this strategy shift will delay Apple's rumored first touchscreen laptop, which was previously expected to launch with an M6 Pro chip. Apple has not commented on the report. The company typically refreshes its Mac lineup on an annual or biannual cycle, and the M7 timeline suggests a longer gap between high-end chip generations than usual.