Without hosting a formal event, Apple is expected to introduce a new lineup of Macs featuring the M4 chip next week.
In a post on social media platform X on October 24, Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, confirmed that new Mac computers would be unveiled starting October 28. Apple hasn’t disclosed specific details, but according to sources from 9to5Mac, the company may announce the products via press release. Additionally, several content creators have been invited to a hands-on event in Los Angeles.
Rumors about these new Macs have been circulating for months, largely centered around performance enhancements through the M4 chip. Here’s a look at what Apple might unveil next week:
MacBook Pro M4
Analysts predict that Apple will release an upgraded MacBook Pro with an M4 chip, primarily focused on improving performance.
On October 7, a video unboxing the standard M4 MacBook Pro was surprisingly shared by the YouTube channel Wylsacom (Russia). According to the specs on the packaging, the device includes 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and a MagSafe charging port. The MacBook Pro M4 model in the video showcases a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, while the lowest MacBook Pro M3 model comes with 8GB of RAM and only two Thunderbolt 4 ports. This suggests the M4 model may start with at least 16GB of RAM (double the previous model) and an additional Thunderbolt 4 port.
Earlier, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had predicted that the MacBook Pro would be Apple’s first laptop to feature the M4 chip, with all models now starting with a minimum of 16GB RAM. In the Wylsacom video, the MacBook Pro M4 also scores 3,864 (single-core) and 15,288 (multi-core) on Geekbench, significantly outperforming the standard M3 model.
Gurman also mentioned that the M4 chip lineup “will come in at least three versions,” meaning users can expect options like the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max, tailored to their needs.
iMac M4
The iMac may also receive an M4 upgrade. If the rumors are accurate, this would mark a quicker refresh cycle, as the iMac and MacBook Pro M3 models were just updated in October 2023, with the Mac mini following in January.
The iMac with the M4 chip could feature a 10-core CPU (up from 8 cores in the M3 model), potentially boosting performance by 20-25%. TechInsights has also noted that the M4 chip includes four Thunderbolt controllers, compared to just two on the M3, which would mean all four USB-C ports on the iMac M4 could support Thunderbolt. Previously, the standard iMac M3 model had only two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, with additional regular USB-C ports on higher-end versions.
Additionally, macOS 15.1 RC code hints at new models for accessories like the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse, which could signify that these iMac M4 peripherals will transition from Lightning to USB-C.
The iMac M4 is expected to come with a baseline 16GB of RAM. With Apple’s design making it difficult for users to upgrade RAM on their own, this increase could make a notable difference. Leveraging M4’s AI capabilities, Apple aims to enhance on-device processing instead of relying on the Internet.
According to Gurman, the M4 Macs arrive at a crucial time, as Mac sales dropped 27% for the fiscal quarter ending in September 2023 after peaking in 2022. The M3 models, released late last year, did not significantly impact sales.
Mac mini M4
Anticipation is also high around the desktop Mac mini. In August, Gurman revealed that Apple has plans to redesign the Mac mini, as part of a broader strategy to update the entire Mac line with chips focused on AI processing.
The Mac mini, originally launched in 2005 with a plastic shell, adopted an aluminum unibody design in 2010 and dropped its optical drive. Since then, its appearance has remained relatively unchanged. However, that might change soon.
Rumors suggest that the M4 Mac mini could be significantly smaller, measuring 9.4 cm across—less than half of its current width of 19.7 cm. Although it’s more compact, it may also be slightly taller than the existing 3.58 cm height. By comparison, the Apple TV 4K is 9.3 cm wide and 3.1 cm high. If true, the new Mac mini would be Apple’s smallest desktop computer yet.
Codenamed J773, the redesigned Mac mini is expected to come in two variants, equipped with either the standard M4 chip or the M4 Pro. The current Mac mini M2 offers two versions as well, with either the M2 or M2 Pro chip.
A Mac mini development team member described it as “essentially an iPad Pro in a small square box,” achieved due to the power efficiency of the M chip series.
Currently, the Mac mini starts at $599, and although production costs for the new version may be lower, it’s unclear if Apple will pass on these savings to consumers. According to Bloomberg, the standard M4 chip in the Mac mini is similar to the one in the iPad Pro, while the M4 Pro version will offer enhanced RAM capacity and improved graphics performance.
Reports also indicate that Apple is testing the Mac mini M4 with at least three USB-C ports on the back, along with a power input and HDMI. If rumors hold, the M4 Mac mini may remove the USB-A port and include at least five USB-C ports. Photos shared by user Aaron on X also show Apple referencing a Mac mini model with five connection ports.
Apple’s upcoming launch of the M4 Mac line promises exciting new advancements across the board, marking a major refresh that could give Mac sales a much-needed boost.
