Apple Silicon-Powered Prototypes Running macOS Being Tested On iPhone, Leak Claims

Apple recently announced that it will transition the Mac from Intel chips to its own in-house silicon. The company's announcement is hailed as the “biggest leap ever for the Mac” and is seen to bring a slew of benefits to those who will use such Macs in the future, as well as developers who create apps for the company's desktop and laptop computers.

“Today we’re announcing our transition to Apple silicon, making this a historic day for the Mac,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said at the time.

“With its powerful features and industry-leading performance, Apple silicon will make the Mac stronger and more capable than ever. I’ve never been more excited about the future of the Mac,” Cook added.

New reports indicate that Apple is indeed serious about the matter, and is already working on it. According to a leak from Twitter tipster Mauri QHD, the company is already testing prototypes powered by in-house silicon and running macOS.

To be more specific, think “iPhone with macOS.”

The leaker said he is “hearing” that Apple is “working on Linda/Dex type of prototypes,” adding that “the software work on it is insane.” The leaker adds that the company is very enthusiastic about the project, saying “I cant (sic) even tell you how excited they are about the whole thing.”

It's worth noting that the leaker made references to several projects that attempted to get mobile devices to run a desktop operating system, Apple Insider noted. Samsung's DeX, for example, tried to make the Galaxy S8 smartphone into a Chromebook-like device. Razer's Project Linda, on the other hand, also tried to turn the Razer Phone into an Android laptop as well.

Mauri QHD also claimed that Apple has two prototypes in the works, but will choose to go forward with only one of them. The leaker said the company has been working on the project for years, and is just “waiting for other projects to fall into place.” That said, the leaker is only “95% sure” that the device is “coming, but not 100%.” This is because the project “depends on a lot of factors.”