The Mac Pro is expected to be Apple’s most powerful product when it launches in the coming months, and it was always assumed that, like the Mac Studio, it would feature the company’s M4 Ultra. After all, the technology giant’s current-generation workstations feature the M2 Ultra, and both machines can be configured with the Apple Silicon. However, the company could take a different approach with its future releases, and where the new Mac Studio was previously reported to ship with the M4 Ultra in H1 2025, the Mac Pro could be treated to an SoC called ‘Hidra.’
Hidra could share the same lithography as the M4 Ultra but exclusively ship with more CPU and GPU cores to encourage an upgrade
A bevy of Macs are expected to launch later in the year, but some readers will likely be paying attention to the M4 Ultra, which was said to be Apple’s upcoming workstation-grade silicon that would steal the show from the M4 Max. However, the company could introduce an even more powerful chipset for the Mac Pro, and according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, it is codenamed ‘Hidra.’ For months, we assumed that Hidra and the M4 Ultra were the same SoC, but it appears that there could be some differentiation.
For instance, the current-generation Mac Studio and Mac Pro can be maxed out with the M2 Ultra, but customers must pay a massive premium to own the tower workstation. In fact, our earlier comparison revealed that with all the hardware kitted out in both models, the M2 Ultra Mac Pro is still $3,000 more expensive, which does not ooze incredible value from a product, and buyers could simply invest in the Mac Studio and pocket the remaining difference.
While the exact specifications of Apple’s Hidra chip are unknown, we may see additional CPU and GPU cores to help compel customers to spend the extra premium and get the new Mac Pro. Unfortunately, we only know the partial specifications of the M4 Ultra, which include up to a 32-core CPU that is estimated to comfortably beat AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X in multi-core performance.
Furthermore, we have reported that the M4 Ultra’s top-end model will flaunt an 80-core GPU, making it twice as much as the top-tier M4 Max. Hidra could offer a slightly higher CPU and GPU core than what we have talked about today, but without the exact numbers, it is best to treat this report with a pinch of salt and wait for more updates soon.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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