Apple Gears Up M6 & M7 Chips Alongside “Baltra” AI Server Processor
Codenames Komodo, Borneo, and Baltra reveal Apple’s ambition for next-gen Macs, iPads, and its own AI data-center brains.
A Multi-Year Silicon Roadmap
Apple’s silicon teams have already set their sights beyond the M5: internal roadmaps show two new consumer chips—codenamed Komodo (M6) and Borneo (M7)—in development for future Mac and iPad lines. Simultaneously, Apple is designing a heavyweight AI server processor, dubbed Baltra, to replace today’s M2 Ultra in its data centers by around 2027.
Komodo & Borneo: Powering Your Next Mac and iPad
Komodo (M6)
Targets high-end MacBook Pro and iMac models.
Expected to double or triple CPU cores and dramatically boost GPU throughput over M4/M5.
Borneo (M7)
Aimed at premium iPad Pro and possibly MacBook Air refreshes.
Focuses on energy-efficient performance gains, especially for graphics and on-device machine learning.
By layering in more cores and wider memory buses, these chips will push Apple’s lead in performance-per-watt and enable new pro-grade workflows on lighter hardware.
Baltra: Apple’s In-House AI Powerhouse
- Purpose-Built for AI: Baltra is being engineered to handle both on-device AI features (like Apple Intelligence) and cloud-side generative workloads.
- Broadcom Partnership: Built in collaboration with Broadcom, Baltra aims to deliver massive matrix-math throughput and memory bandwidth.
- 2027 Timeline: Slated to roll out around 2027, replacing the Broadcom-based M2 Ultra servers Apple currently leases.
Owning its AI inference silicon end-to-end will help Apple reduce reliance on third parties and optimize performance for services ranging from image recognition to large-language models.
Why It Matters
- Vertical Integration
Apple continues its strategy of controlling hardware and software—this time extending from consumer devices into the data center. - Performance Leap
With Komodo and Borneo, expect another generational uplift in everything from video editing and 3D rendering to AR experiences on iPad. - AI Ambitions
Baltra signals that Apple isn’t content with merely embedding AI on gadgets—it wants to host, train, and serve models on its own silicon.
Looking Ahead
- WWDC Previews: We may catch early glimpses of performance targets or developer tools for Komodo/M7 at upcoming Apple events.
- AI Service Expansion: As Baltra comes online, Apple could expand subscription-based AI services or offer on-device generative features to more apps.
- Ecosystem Impact: Mac, iPad, and server teams working in concert mean tighter optimizations—leading to longer battery life, faster upgrades, and new capabilities across Apple’s product lineup.
Apple’s pipeline of M6, M7, and Baltra chips underscores its commitment to owning every layer of computing—on your desk, in your hands, and at the heart of its data centers. Stay tuned as these next-generation processors transition from sketches to silicon.
