Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch M4-powered Macs this November, including updated versions of the Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro. A standout upgrade is the bump to 16GB of RAM as the new standard across all models, even for the base 14-inch MacBook Pro.
The Mac mini is finally getting a much-needed redesign, ditching the old USB-A ports in favor of five USB-C ports. For the other Macs, don’t expect any major design overhauls—just the new M4 chip upgrades.
Complying with the EU’s USB-C mandate by 2024, Apple plans to switch all Mac accessories to USB-C. Standard M4 Mac minis are shipping this month, with M4 Pro models expected in October, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. This timeline points to a likely November launch for the new devices.
For context, last year, Apple surprised everyone with its “Scary Fast” event on October 30, 2023.
Apple M4 Chip
The Apple M4, announced in May 2024, is a system on a chip (SoC) for the iPad Pro. It features a CPU, GPU, NPU, and DSP as part of Apple’s silicon series.
The M4 chip brings significant upgrades across multiple areas. In terms of performance, its CPU is up to 1.5 times faster than the M2 chip found in the previous iPad Pro, and it delivers up to four times faster pro rendering performance. The design of the M4 also contributes to making the iPad Pro exceptionally thin. On the display front, the M4 features a new display engine that enhances precision, color accuracy, and brightness.
The M4’s GPU features hardware-accelerated ray tracing for improved graphics. Built on second-gen 3-nanometer technology, the ARM-based M4 chip uses RISC circuits for cooler operation and simpler instructions, conserving battery life compared to Intel’s x86 architecture.
