A leaked Intel roadmap indicates that the company is currently developing a new CPU lineup that is expected to outperform Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips by late 2023/early 2024. But is it simply a case of skating to where the puck has been?
The Intel roadmap, leaked initially by AdoredTV and interpreted by Wccftech, states that Intel is looking to be able to compete with Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro with its Arrow Lake series. The roadmap shows Intel’s 15th generation Arrow Lake processors as targeted to ship by late 2023, or early 2024. The CPUs will be created with a priority on delivering high-performance while using minimal energy.
With Arrow Lake, it looks like Intel is prioritizing mobile over desktop first and while there will be both Arrow Lake-S and Arrow Lake-P CPUs, the company is aiming to specifically produce its 15th Gen mobility CPUs first to tackle Apple’s next-generation MacBook 14″ laptops. Based on the leaked roadmap, it looks like we will see the first engineering samples ready by late 2022 and early 2023 with QS chips shipping out in Q3 2023 and final production beginning the same quarter. And lastly, the CPUs will be ready for RTS (Ready To Ship) in Q4 2023. So this means we are looking at a late 2023 or early 2024 launch for the next-generation Arrow Lake mobility CPU lineup.
The Intel roadmap shows that Arrow Lake will use TSMC’s 3nm process. Apple, while currently using the 5nm process for its latest processors. Apple is expected to adopt the 3nm process to make the upcoming “M3” Apple Silicon chip, as well as the “A15” chip to be used in the iPhone 15.