Apple Tests MacBook Pro with M3 Ultra Chip: Is This the Fastest Laptop Ever?

Apple is reportedly testing MacBook Pro models that are equipped with an M3 Ultra chip. A user named Aaron shared on Bilibili that he found references to the codenames J514d and J516d within a test file from an internal version of iOS 18. The codes J514 and J516 are associated with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models of the M3 generation, respectively, and the suffix “d” indicates the inclusion of an Ultra chip.

Unveiling the M3 Ultra Chip

The M3 Ultra chip represents the pinnacle of power in Apple’s current lineup, given that there is no M4 Ultra chip (and there never will be). Presently, the MacBook Pro models only accommodate the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips. Apple’s Ultra chips employ UltraFusion technology, which merges two Max chips. This makes them twice as large and necessitates a more robust cooling system, which is why Apple has so far confined itself to using Max chips in the MacBook Pro.

Future Technologies and Smaller Chip Sizes

In the coming years, Apple will benefit from more compact and energy-efficient manufacturing processes at TSMC. Currently utilizing 3-nanometer technology, the process is expected to shrink to 2 nanometers by 2026 with the M6 generation chips, and further down to 1.4 nanometers by 2028 with the M8 generation chips. Whether these advancements will allow for the integration of Ultra chips into MacBook Pros remains an intriguing question.