GitHub Actions Introduces M2 Pro-Powered Hosted Runners in Public Preview

In a significant upgrade to its macOS hosted runner fleet, GitHub has announced the introduction of M2 Pro-powered machines, now available in public preview. This development, reported by GitHub, marks a leap in computational power for developers utilizing GitHub Actions.

Enhanced Performance with M2 Pro

The macOS XLarge runner sku now leverages a 5 vCPU M2 Pro machine, offering developers a substantial boost in performance. The new hardware configuration includes a 5-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 14 GB of RAM, and 14 GB of storage, enabling more efficient processing. Apple developers can expect a reduction in build times by up to 15% compared to the previous 6-core M1 runner, thanks to the enhanced on-chip GPU capabilities.

Transition and Usage

To utilize these advanced runners, developers need to update the runs-on: key in their workflow YAML files to one of the specified labels, such as macos-latest-xlarge or macos-15-xlarge. Notably, the 6-core M1 macOS larger runner is no longer available, pushing developers to transition to the new M2 Pro configuration.

Cost and Availability

Despite the upgrade, GitHub has maintained the existing pricing structure for the XLarge runner sku at $0.16/min, ensuring no additional cost burden on developers. The new runners are accessible without any sign-up requirement, providing immediate availability to all developers, teams, and enterprises.

Community Engagement

GitHub encourages developers to join discussions about the new M2 runners in the GitHub Community. This open forum allows users to share experiences, insights, and feedback, fostering a collaborative environment for continuous improvement.