Will Apple skip the M6 Chip and jump straight to the M7? Maybe. Apple’s silicon roadmap has been remarkably predictable. We have seen the progression from Apple M1 to Apple M2, Apple M3, Apple M4, and the upcoming Apple M5. Logic suggests the next processor will naturally be the Apple M6.
But what if Apple did something unexpected?
Could Apple skip the Apple M6 entirely and launch an Apple M7 instead?
It sounds far-fetched at first, but there is one fascinating reason why some enthusiasts think it might happen: the legendary Leica M6.
While there is absolutely no evidence Apple plans to do this, it’s an interesting branding thought experiment.
Among photographers, very few products have reached mythical status quite like the Leica M6.
Released in 1984, the Leica M6 became the defining mechanical rangefinder camera for generations of photographers. Even today, original examples command premium prices, while Leica’s modern reissue proved just how powerful the M6 brand remains.
Search online for “M6” and one of the most recognisable products you’ll encounter is almost certainly the Leica M6.
Unlike many model numbers that fade into history, the Leica M6 has become an identity in its own right.
That makes “M6” unusually distinctive compared with names like M5 or M7.
In June 2010, when announcing the new iPhone 4, Steve Jobs said:
You gotta see this in person. This is beyond the doubt, the most precise thing, and one of the most beautiful we’ve ever made. Glass on the front and back, and steel around the sides. It’s like a beautiful old Leica camera.
Steve Jobs, June 2010
Apple Loves Strong Branding
Apple has always placed enormous value on branding.
Whether it’s iPhone, MacBook Air, Vision Pro or Apple Silicon, Apple carefully considers how products are named and remembered.
If Apple releases an Apple M6, millions of search results for “M6” already reference Leica’s famous camera.
Could that matter?
Perhaps.
Brand recognition isn’t just about trademarks. It’s about mindshare.
Apple generally prefers names that become synonymous with Apple—not names that consumers already strongly associate with another iconic product.
SEO Could Also Be a Consideration
Search engines have become increasingly important in product discovery.
Imagine searching for:
- Apple M6
- M6 benchmarks
- M6 performance
- Buy M6
Today, “M6” already has decades of authority built around Leica.
Apple would certainly dominate search results eventually thanks to its enormous online presence, but launching the Apple M6 would initially share attention with one of photography’s most recognisable cameras.
By comparison:
- Apple M5 has relatively little historical competition.
- Apple M7 would also stand largely on its own.
Would Apple care?
Probably not enough to change an entire processor roadmap—but it’s an intriguing possibility.
Has Apple Ever Skipped Numbers Before?
Apple generally prefers sequential naming.
However, the company has never been afraid to ignore convention when branding demands it.
Examples include:
- iPhone X replacing iPhone 9
- macOS version naming changes
- Different generations of iPad without numerical branding
- Apple Watch Ultra creating an entirely new product family
Apple has repeatedly shown that marketing often outweighs numerical consistency.
If there were ever a compelling branding reason to skip the Apple M6, Apple certainly wouldn’t hesitate.
Could Trademark Issues Play a Role?
Probably not.
“Apple M6” and “Leica M6” exist in completely different product categories.
Trademark law would almost certainly allow both products to coexist without issue.
This isn’t really about legal conflicts.
It’s about branding.
When people hear “M6,” many technology enthusiasts immediately think of Leica.
That’s a remarkably powerful association for another company to inherit.
What About the Apple M7?
Interestingly, Apple M7 also has history.
Apple previously released an Apple M7 motion coprocessor inside the iPhone 5s back in 2013.
That means the “M7” name already exists within Apple’s own product history.
However, because Apple’s modern desktop processors occupy an entirely different category, reusing the M7 branding wouldn’t necessarily create confusion.
If anything, it might strengthen Apple’s ownership of the “M7” name.
The Counter Argument
There are several reasons why Apple will almost certainly release an Apple M6.
First, Apple’s processor naming has been entirely sequential so far.
Second, consumers already understand the progression:
- Apple M1
- Apple M2
- Apple M3
- Apple M4
- Apple M5
Breaking that sequence would create unnecessary questions.
Technology companies generally value predictability.
Most buyers simply expect the next chip to be called the Apple M6.
Finally, Apple’s marketing power is so enormous that any search competition with Leica would likely disappear within months.
So… Will Apple Skip the M6?
Realistically?
Almost certainly not.
There is no credible evidence Apple intends to bypass the Apple M6 and jump directly to the Apple M7.
But the idea raises an interesting discussion about branding, search visibility and one of photography’s most iconic products.
The Leica M6 isn’t just another camera model—it’s arguably the most famous “M6” in the world.
Whether that’s enough to influence one of the world’s largest technology companies is doubtful.
Still, stranger branding decisions have happened before.
When the Apple M5 eventually arrives, many enthusiasts will already be wondering what comes next.
Will it be the expected Apple M6?
Or will Apple surprise everyone with an Apple M7?
If history is any guide, expect the Apple M6.
But until Apple officially announces its future silicon roadmap, the speculation remains an entertaining “what if?” for both Mac fans and Leica photographers alike.
The intersection between Apple’s processor branding and Leica’s legendary camera naming is probably nothing more than coincidence—but it’s a fascinating example of how iconic products can shape public perception decades after their release.
Whether you’re eagerly awaiting the Apple M5, wondering about the future Apple M6, anticipating a potential Apple M7, or shooting film with a classic Leica M6, one thing is certain: memorable product names can become cultural icons in their own right.
