Apple could have three new Macs to release before year's end according to macOS code

Apple has had a bumper year with the pandemic helping to drive sales of its products as more people work from home. Early sales data following the launch of the iPhone 12 launch suggests that it will maintain this momentum moving into next year. However, the company still has some tricks up its sleeve before the year is out with code in the macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 beta showing that it is set to launch up to three new Macs.

In fact, at yesterday’s earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the company still had a few new products to launch this year. Naturally, Cook didn’t go into specifics but speculation is that the new Macs are an Apple silicon-powered MacBook Air-like device and a refreshed Intel-based 16-inch MacBook Pro. The third Mac is thought to be either a new 13-inch MacBook Pro or the rumored Apple silicon-powered iMac.

Apple announced in June that it would be transitioning its Mac line up to its in-house custom ARM-based silicon over the next two years. At the time, however, it also indicated that it still had some new Intel-based Macs in the pipeline and that it would continue to support Intel-based Macs for “many years to come”. As such, it should not be a surprise to see a mix of new Macs arrive before the year’s end powered by either Apple or Intel silicon. Next year, however, should start to see new Intel-based Macs start to drop off the radar altogether.