Intel’s latest line of processors, code-named Broadwell, will be available in stores this holiday season and to computer manufacturers early next year, according to 9to5Mac. Besides making minor updates to its MacBook Pro Retinas, which still feature Intel’s old Haswell chip, Apple has not released a new or refreshed MacBook Pro or Air this year, which the company does annually. Therefore, it’s safe to expect that either updated or new MacBooks and Macs featuring the new Broadwell chip will be released as early as this holiday season.
Broadwell
Broadwell’s technology, based on a new 14nm fabrication process, is the first line of CPUs from Intel destined to hit desktops, laptops, tablets, and potentially smartphones and Internet of Things devices. The smaller chip size provides additional power and speed while eliminating the fan and neutralizing overheating, though the process itself has proven extremely difficult to perfect.
In the past, Intel has released new processors in the summer so that computer manufacturers could have enough time to release new machines for the back-to-school push, according to CNET. However, as the processors shrink and consumers’ expectations grow, the process of developing and manufacturing the chips is becoming more challenging.
The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
Typically, Apple has been the first to release new laptops featuring the latest Intel chips because the company offers only a few mass-produced models, allowing them to hit the market with new technology faster than laptop makers who don’t produce millions of units of the same type. Apple has just released a slight refresh to their MacBook Pros, but they do not include Broadwell chips. The new MacBooks featuring Broadwell may not hit the market until the holiday season or as late as February 2015.
Were you planning on buying one of the refreshed MacBooks, or are you going to wait for the Broadwell chip integration now? Tell us why in the comments below.
Image courtesy of Flickr
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