Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pro is reportedly in the works and is set to be powered by the all-new M4 chip. Reports suggest a late 2024 release, bringing a significant leap in performance and efficiency to the Mac lineup.
Industry analysts, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and display expert Ross Young, suggest that Apple is gearing up to release the M4 MacBook Pro models by the end of 2024. Panel shipments for the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro displays are expected to begin in Q3 2024, aligning with Apple’s typical October launch event.
The M4 chip, first introduced in the iPad Pro in May 2024, promises substantial performance enhancements over its predecessor, the M3. The M4 features a powerful CPU with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, next-gen machine learning generators, and a 10-core GPU that supports Dynamic Caching and hardware ray tracing.
According to Apple, the M4 is up to 50% faster than the M2, delivering the same performance with just half the power consumption. The Neural Engine has also seen significant improvements, now boasting a 16-core design capable of 38 trillion operations per second, making it 60 times faster than Apple’s first Neural Engine. This advancement will be instrumental for the upcoming Apple Intelligence platform.
Apple is expected to unveil a range of M4-equipped Macs. The roadmap includes:
- 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro: Both models will feature the M4 chip, with higher-end variants equipped with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips likely launching between late 2024 and early 2025.
- Mac mini: The M4 and M4 Pro versions are expected to debut in the same timeframe as the MacBook Pro models.
- iMac: An update featuring the M4 chip is anticipated by late 2024 or early 2025.
- MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro: These models are expected to receive the M4 update in 2025.
The M4 MacBook Pro is not expected to undergo significant design changes, maintaining the current form factor introduced with the M1 series. However, some internal enhancements are anticipated. Potential increases in the upper memory limits, particularly for high-end desktop Macs, might extend to MacBooks, enhancing their AI capabilities.
The M4 chip’s efficiency improvements could lead to longer battery life, though exact power consumption details are still under wraps. The M4 MacBook Pro will likely retain the current 600 nits brightness display, with a new color option possible but not confirmed.
