Apple Canceled M2 Extreme and M3 Extreme Chip Projects [Report]

Apple reportedly developed ultra-high-end versions of its M2 and M3 processors before canceling both projects, abandoning plans for chips that would have delivered performance beyond the Ultra tier.



According to Mark Gurman, Apple had been working on processors he previously dubbed the "Extreme" chips. The designs were intended to feature twice the CPU and GPU cores of the corresponding Ultra variants.


It's believed Apple ultimately canceled both the M2 Extreme and M3 Extreme projects due to cost and demand concerns. The chips had been intended to power future Mac Pro models. Without a processor beyond the Ultra tier, the Mac Pro offered little to distinguish itself from the Mac Studio despite costing roughly twice as much. Apple eventually discontinued the Mac Pro.

Apple also developed two unreleased Mac Pro models, codenamed J170 and J190. The former was an Intel-based system, while the latter paired the Mac Pro with the M3 Ultra chip. Looking ahead, Gurman expects Apple to continue updating the Mac Studio, with an M5 Ultra version arriving as early as this fall.

Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on X, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more Mac Studio updates.