Leck suggests that Apple M3 Ultra Chip tested in MacBook Pro

Apple may have tested its most powerful chip, the M3 Ultra, in MacBook Pro models before decided not to launch it. A current leak from an internal iOS 18-build that was discovered on a Chinese technical prototype-iPhone 16 contains references to unpublished 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook professionals with code seeds “J514D” and “J516D”, which are believed to meet models that are equipped with the M3 Ultra Chip.

These references were found in a diagnostic test folder within the internal iOS building, which indicates that Apple was carried out on performance and stability tests for these prototypes. The M3 Ultra, which is currently exclusive to the Mac Studio, has a 32-kern CPU, an 80-core GPU, and supports up to 512 GB of uniform storage. In contrast, the MACBOOK PRO structure Maxes with the M4 Max, which supports a 16-core CPU, a 40-core GPU and a uniform memory up to 128 GB.

Why Apple probably broke off the M3 Ultra MacBook Pro

Apple probably prevented heat and restrictions on power from publishing a MacBook Pro with the M3 Ultra. While the chip offers significant increases in performance, it has a TDP rating (thermal design power) -mounted by 140 W. This is almost twice as high as the 79W Max. Even if the power efficiency of the M3 Ultra is improved, the thermal load would exceed what the current MacBook Pro chassis can process.

Apple has been with similar challenges in the past. The PowerBook G5 was scrapped due to thermal problems, and internal tests of M1 Pro- und M1 -Max chips in the Mac Mini never led to a product publication. These prototypes often reach advanced stages of development, but are set up if they do not meet the company's standards for efficiency and real use.

Prototype -Leck offers an insight into the internal tests of Apple

According to a bilibili post from a user who analyzed the iOS -18 test files, Apple Engineers used with the designation of the labeled script run_murphy_g17x.sh Evaluation of the GPU performance under different loads and data types. This script contained the identifiers J514D and J516D, according to the internal name pattern of Apple, in which a D suffix refers to models that are equipped with Ultra chips.

The leakage also noticed that Apple may offer 512 GB Unified Memory as a distinction feature for MacBook Pro models that are operated by the M3 Ultra. This indicates that the company, as an ultra-powered MacBook Pro, is regarded in response to increasing demands on the workload of AI and the competition in powerful laptops.

As reported on bilibili, this prototyping size is not unusual. Apple often tests hardware combinations that are never sent. The M1 Max Mac Mini and a broken A9 -Pad Mini were both uncovered by a similar internal file analysis and never brought it onto the market.

Apple did not comment on the leak. The M3 Ultra currently remains exclusively for machines of the desktop class like the Mac Studio.