Apple reportedly considered a new Intel Mac Pro before scrapping plans
▼ Summary
– Apple announced in March it was discontinuing the Mac Pro with no plans for future hardware.
– Apple developed M2 Extreme and M3 Extreme chips but canceled them due to cost and demand concerns.
– Two unreleased Mac Pro models were in development: the J170 (Intel-based) and the J190 (M3 Ultra-based).
– The J170 was an Intel Mac Pro developed even while Apple was making its own silicon.
– Apple now directs buyers to the Mac Studio, and new Mac Studios with M5 Ultra chips are expected by fall.
In March, Apple officially pulled the plug on the Mac Pro, confirming it would not release any future iterations of the high-end desktop. But according to a new report from Bloomberg, this outcome was far from inevitable inside Cupertino.
Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter reveals that Apple had initially planned a different trajectory for the Mac Pro. The company reportedly envisioned a new tier of processor, dubbed the “Extreme” chip, positioned above the existing “Ultra” line. Both an M2 Extreme and an M3 Extreme chip were in development, but those projects were ultimately shelved due to concerns over high costs and limited market demand.
The report also details two specific Mac Pro models that were prototyped but never released, codenamed J170 and J190. The most surprising detail involves the J170: it was designed as a new Intel-based Mac Pro, even as Apple was aggressively transitioning its entire lineup to its own custom silicon. This suggests Apple was hedging its bets, keeping a fallback option for users whose workflows still depended on Intel-specific compatibility.
The second model, the J190, was planned as an M3 Ultra Mac Pro intended to launch alongside the M3 Ultra Mac Studio in early 2025. That project, too, was abandoned. Looking ahead, Gurman does not expect Apple to revive the Mac Pro anytime soon, if ever. Meanwhile, new Mac Studio models with M5 Ultra chips are reportedly on track for release as early as this fall.
Apple’s decision to discontinue the Mac Pro in March, removing it from its website and directing buyers to the Mac Studio, marked a quiet end to a storied product line. For fans of the modular tower, it was a disappointing conclusion to an era defined by expandability and raw power.
What’s your take on Apple abandoning the Mac Pro and its “Extreme” chip ambitions? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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(Source: 9to5Mac)
