Apple is prepping the first laptops and desktops to launch with macOS Big Sur 11, according to the Eurasian Economic Commission. It’s possible these will be the initial models running Apple Silicon, as this company’s switch away from Intel chips is scheduled to begin soon.
The EEC specifically says that Apple asked for approval for laptops with code numbers A1466, A1932, A1989, A1990, A2141, A2147, A2158, A2159, A2179, A2182, A2251, A2337 and A2338. These will all run macOS Big Sur 11, according to the French-language site Consomac.
And Cupertino also asked the agency for approval for desktops with code numbers A1418, A1481, A1862, A1991, A1993, A2115, A2116, A2304, A2330, A2348, A2438 and A2439. Again, these will all run MacOS Big Sur.
The Eurasian Economic Commission holds sway in several countries, including Russia, Belarus and Armenia. Entries in its product database have given us early looks at many Apple computers in the past, including the iPad and Apple Watch models unveiled in September.
This regulatory agency makes a habit of approving devices weeks before they have been announced, giving the world a first definite glimpse of upcoming products. But the EEC doesn’t reveal specs. Just model numbers
And all the entries in the EEC database don’t indicate that Apple will soon launch 25 completely different Mac models. The various configurations of the same device always get separate numbers.
Getting ready for Apple Silicon?
At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple began the process of transitioning from Intel processors to ones designed by the Mac-maker itself. Craig Federighi, SVP of software engineering, said at the time, “We expect to ship our first Mac with Apple Silicon by the end of this year.”
But Cupertino declined to be more specific about the first Macs with Apple-designed chips. The new entries in the EEC database could indicate that Apple is close to launching both laptops and desktops with Apple processors.
The rumormill has been busy on this topic. There have been leaks about MacBooks with Apple Silicon. And iMacs with the new chips too.
Of course, it’s also possible these will be new Macs with Intel processors. Apple hasn’t fully made the switch to its own chips heat. It launched an Intel-based iMac over the summer, for example.
