Apple typically releases new Macs within the fall, however we’re nonetheless ready for official affirmation that the corporate has related plans this yr. We’re approaching the center of October now, and if Apple plans to announce new Macs earlier than the vacations, latest historical past suggests it’ll occur this month. This is what we all know to date.
As of scripting this, it has been 220 days since Apple launched a brand new Mac, the final being M3 variations of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, each of which arrived in March. Previous to that, in October 2023, Apple launched 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions with M3, M3 Professional, and M3 Max chip choices, alongside a 24-inch M3 iMac.
Elsewhere within the lineup, the Mac Studio and Mac Professional have not been up to date since June 2023, when Apple launched M2-based variants of each machines. That leaves the M2 Mac mini, which hasn’t seen an replace since January 2023, over 600 days in the past.
One other October Occasion Doubtless
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman just lately claimed that Apple is planning a Mac-related occasion in direction of the top of October, with the corporate desiring to launch new M4-based Macs as quickly as Friday, November 1. Happening previous years, that is an excellent wager. Apple has typically held a second annual fall occasion the place the main focus is normally on new Macs and iPads. Whereas that did not occur in 2022, there have been October occasions in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
Notably, Apple’s subsequent quarterly earnings convention name can be held on Thursday, October 31. Examine that to final yr’s earnings name on Thursday, November 2, which got here simply two days after its “Scary Quick” Mac-focused occasion on Monday, October 30, the day earlier than Halloween. It is also price remembering that Apple uncharacteristically scheduled its spooky-themed Mac occasion for 8.00 p.m. ET / 5.00 p.m. PT, which meant it wasn’t for the morning or lunchtime US crowd.
So, what can we moderately count on this time round?
14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Professional
New MacBook Professional fashions are due, and Gurman stories that subsequent month Apple will launch a brand new M4 model of its low-end 14-inch MacBook Professional, in addition to higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions with M4 Professional and M4 Max chips. Certainly, Apple seems to have been sufferer to a brazen Russian leak of the low-end 14-inch MacBook Professional, which can include three Thunderbolt 4 ports (up from two TB3 ports) and a minimal of 16GB of RAM as an alternative of 8GB. It may additionally assist as much as two exterior shows with the lid open, up from one show within the earlier mannequin. It might even be accessible in a House Black shade choice, at present unique to Apple’s 14-inch and 16-inch fashions with M3 Professional and M3 Max chips.
Mac Mini, iMac
Gurman stories that Apple is planning to unveil a redesigned Mac mini with each M4 and M4 Professional chip choices at its October occasion, with a launch to comply with in early November. Together with M4 and M4 Professional chips, the next-generation Mac mini can be slimmed down, and it may very well be across the measurement of the Apple TV. The brand new Mac mini will retain its aluminum casing and, whereas comparable in measurement to the Apple TV, it’s anticipated to be taller. Apple has examined Mac mini prototypes that includes 5 USB-C ports, alongside an influence cable and HDMI port. USB-A ports should not anticipated to be included within the upcoming mannequin. To accommodate Apple Intelligence, the brand new Mac mini fashions might embrace 16GB of Unified Reminiscence as customary, slightly than 8GB.
In the meantime, the 24-inch iMac can be anticipated to be up to date in November with a next-generation M4 chip. The M4 iMac may additionally begin with 16GB RAM as an alternative of 8GB, maybe to raised assist Apple Intelligence options. Notably, the entire M4 Macs which were noticed in developer logs have featured both 16GB or 32GB RAM. Apple final redesigned the iMac in 2021, and there aren’t any indicators {that a} new look is on the horizon.
MacBook Air, Mac Studio, Mac Professional
It is price repeating that Apple this yr has already up to date the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air. These M3-based updates have been launched in March, so there may be little likelihood that they are going to be outdated by newer fashions earlier than the top of 2024. In keeping with Gurman, the corporate is predicted to introduce M4-powered 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air fashions within the first half of 2025.
Mac energy customers might have to attend a bit longer for high-end desktop updates. Whereas new Mac Studio and Mac Professional fashions with M4 chips are in growth, Gurman says they’re slated for later releases. The Mac Studio is anticipated round mid-2025, with the Mac Professional following in direction of the top of subsequent yr. The Mac Studio can be geared up with a variation of the M4 processor, which may very well be an M4 Extremely or Max chip. The present Mac Studio is available in each M2 Max and M2 Extremely variants.
As for the Mac Professional, will probably be geared up with the highest-end model of the M4 chip, which is codenamed “Hidra,” based on Gurman. Primarily based on the outline of the chip, it may very well be positioned as an “Extremely” or “Excessive” chip. Apple has been designing a brand new, extra highly effective chip for the Mac Professional resulting from criticism that the M2 Extremely chip was not highly effective sufficient for the high-end machine. The M4 can be constructed on the identical 3nm course of because the M3 chips, however Apple provider TSMC will doubtless use an improved course of that reinforces efficiency and energy effectivity. The Mac Professional may additionally assist as much as 512GB Unified Reminiscence, up from the present 192GB restrict.
M4 Chip
With new MacBook Professional, Mac mini, and iMac updates anticipated within the subsequent few weeks, the transition to Apple’s M4 chip is gathering tempo throughout its Mac lineup. Just like the M3, the M4 is constructed on a 3nm course of, however with enhancements from Apple provider TSMC for improved efficiency and energy effectivity. The M4 additionally contains an improved Neural Engine that fuels accelerated AI workloads. Apple says it’s the firm’s strongest Neural Engine ever, able to 38 trillion operations per second, so there’s loads of scope for sooner compute speeds.
Actually, new benchmarks for one of many upcoming M4 fashions just lately surfaced on Geekbench, giving us some perception into how an M4 Mac will carry out in comparison with the M4 iPad Professional and prior-generation M3 Macs. The M4 chip exhibiting up on Geekbench is the usual M4, and will probably be used within the iMac, Mac mini, and 14-inch MacBook Professional fashions.
The “Mac16,1” mannequin that was benchmarked contains a 10-core CPU, reaching a single-core rating of 3864 and a multi-core rating of 15288. As compared, the bottom M4 iPad Professional, with its 9-core CPU, scored 3647 for single-core and 13135 for multi-core efficiency. Relying on the storage capability, iPad Professional fashions are geared up with both a 9-core or 10-core CPU, with the 10-core variations reaching multi-core scores round 14500 on Geekbench.
When evaluating the M4 chip to the earlier M3 chip (which has an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU), single-core efficiency has improved by 26.7 %, whereas multi-core efficiency is up by 30.6 %. For instance, the M3 iMac has a single-core rating of 3048 and a multi-core rating of 11708.
Apple has said that the M4 chip within the iPad Professional is as much as 25 % sooner than the M3, and efficiency in Macs with the bottom M4 chip can be related and even higher. Take into account that these are simply benchmark outcomes, so precise scores might fluctuate when the units are formally launched. We’re additionally anticipating to see M4 Professional and M4 Max chips for the higher-end MacBook Professional and Mac mini fashions, and benchmark outcomes for these machines haven’t but surfaced.
