Apple puts M4 Max chips into the most powerful MacBook Pro computers. The company saves M3 Ultra processors for Mac Studio machines because laptops cannot handle the heat. Engineers discovered proof that Apple tested M3 Ultra chips inside MacBook Pro models. Software code found on iPhone 16 prototypes revealed these secret experiments. Thermal problems stopped the powerful processors from reaching portable computers.
Researchers found special codenames J514d and J516d buried inside iOS 18 files. These names match MacBook Pro models that Apple tested with M3 Ultra processors. Regular MacBook Pro computers use codenames J514 and J516 without the letter d. The extra letter shows Apple experimented with different chip configurations. Mac Studio computers with M3 Ultra use similar codename patterns.
M3 Ultra processors pack 32 processing cores and 80 graphics cores with 512 gigabytes of memory. The massive chips create too much heat for thin laptop designs. Apple would need thicker cases and better cooling systems to make them work. The company worried that ultra-powerful laptops would hurt Mac Studio sales. Future MacBook Pro models will likely stick with M5 Max processors, coming later this year.
Researchers found special codenames J514d and J516d buried inside iOS 18 files. These names match MacBook Pro models that Apple tested with M3 Ultra processors. Regular MacBook Pro computers use codenames J514 and J516 without the letter d. The extra letter shows Apple experimented with different chip configurations. Mac Studio computers with M3 Ultra use similar codename patterns.
M3 Ultra processors pack 32 processing cores and 80 graphics cores with 512 gigabytes of memory. The massive chips create too much heat for thin laptop designs. Apple would need thicker cases and better cooling systems to make them work. The company worried that ultra-powerful laptops would hurt Mac Studio sales. Future MacBook Pro models will likely stick with M5 Max processors, coming later this year.
