Apple shelved two Mac Pro models, one Intel-based

Apple discontinued its high-end Mac Pro desktop computer earlier this year, but a new report reveals the company had previously developed several unreleased models intended to address professional user needs, including an unexpected return to Intel processors. The shelved projects, including more powerful "Extreme" chip variants, highlight the strategic challenges Apple faced in balancing its transition to proprietary silicon with the demands of its most demanding professional customers.

According to the report, Apple internally developed two Mac Pro models with the codenames J170 and J190, neither of which reached the market. The J170 model was particularly notable as it was designed to use an Intel processor, a surprising development given that Apple had already completed its transition to its own Apple Silicon chips. The Intel-based Mac Pro was intended to address specific professional use cases, though details were not specified. Analysts suggest it could have resolved compatibility issues with specialized software written for Intel architecture or enabled support for third-party PCIe graphics cards, a feature not supported on Apple Silicon Macs.