Apple computers equipped with the M4 chip are likely to highlight AI capabilities and are expected to hit the market by the end of 2024.
Although Apple’s M3 chip is still relatively new, the tech giant seems to be preparing to update its entire Mac lineup with the Apple M4 processor.
Reports indicate that the M4 processor will “have at least three main varieties” and is “close to production.” This new chip will highlight artificial intelligence capabilities—undoubtedly to compete with the many “AI laptops” on the market.
Apple plans to release the first batch of computers equipped with the M4 by the end of 2024, and more computers in early 2025. This includes new models of iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and MacBook Air. New Mac Studio and Mac Pro are also expected to be launched.
Our current knowledge of the Apple M4 comes from recent reports by Apple tipster Mark Gurman. Therefore, take all the content we discuss here with a grain of caution. Here is what we know so far about the Apple M4 chip.
According to Gurman, we do not have to wait for Macs equipped with the M4 chip.
The first wave of M4 Macs will arrive later this year—as we have seen in the past, likely around October and November. Gurman believes this will include new iMacs, a lower-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, higher-end 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros, and a Mac mini—all equipped with the M4 chip. Of course, this may change.
More M4 computers will ship throughout 2025. This includes spring updates of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, mid-2025 Mac Studio, and late 2025 Mac Pro.
Currently, the entry-level M3 iMac 2023 is priced at $1,299, while the 14-inch MacBook Pro is priced at $1,599. The M3 MacBook Air 13-inch and MacBook Air 15-inch laptops are priced at $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. The 14-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the M14 Pro starts at $1,999, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499.
Gurman did not discuss prices, but Apple is likely not to raise costs too much.
The M4 chip lineup mainly includes three specifications: the entry-level version named Donan, a more powerful model named Brava, and a high-end chip code-named Hidra. It is reported that Apple plans to focus on the new chip’s artificial intelligence processing capabilities and how they will integrate with the upcoming macOS versions.
Gurman’s report states that the entry-level MacBook Pro, new MacBook Air, and low-end Mac mini will use the Donan chip (likely the entry-level M4 chip). The Brava chip will run higher-end MacBook Pros and more expensive Mac mini models. The new Mac Pro is Apple’s highest-end desktop and will be equipped with the powerful Hidra chip.
Apple is also testing different versions of Mac Studio, one with the yet-to-be-announced M3 chip (perhaps the M3 Ultra), and another with a variant of the M4 Brava processor.
Regarding the Mac Studio M4, Apple is considering enabling it to support up to 500GB of memory. In contrast, the existing Mac Studio and Mac Pro top out at 192GB of unified memory.
Gurman mentions that Apple’s M-series chips have included a neural network engine from the start. With AI PCs sweeping the globe, it is no surprise that the company wants to boast about the M series’ AI capabilities—as we saw with the launch of the M3 chip. To this end, Apple plans to add new artificial intelligence features to its products.
It is reported that Apple plans to preview “a range of new features” at WWDC 2024. Most of these features are designed to run on the devices themselves, rather than on remote cloud servers. If so, then the M4 chip can more effectively power these tasks.
If Mark Gurman’s sources are correct, it won’t be long before we see what the reported M4 chip can do.
On the morning of October 31, 2023, at 8 AM, Apple held a new Mac launch event for the M3 Chip Series.
At the beginning of the event, Apple introduced a major update with three M3 processors: the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max, all crafted using a 3nm process technology.
Here are the details of the three processors:
- The M3 features up to an 8-core CPU (4 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores), a 10-core GPU, and 24GB of unified memory, making it 65% faster than the M1.
- The M3 Pro comes with up to a 12-core CPU (6 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores), an 18-core GPU, and 36GB of unified memory, achieving a 40% speed improvement over the M1 Pro.
- The M3 Max is equipped with up to a 16-core CPU (12 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores), a 40-core GPU, and 128GB of unified memory, marking an 80% speed increase compared to the M1 Max.
- In terms of AI, the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max all feature an enhanced neural engine that accelerates powerful machine learning (ML) models. The neural engine is 60% faster than that of the M1 series, speeding up AI/ML workflows while keeping data on the device to protect privacy. This boost also enhances the performance of powerful AI image processing tools, such as noise reduction and super-resolution in Topaz, as well as scene edit detection in Adobe Premiere and Smart Conform in Final Cut Pro.
- All three chips in the M3 series also have an advanced media engine that provides hardware acceleration for the most popular video codecs, including H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW. For the first time, the media engine supports AV1 decoding, enabling energy-efficient playback for streaming services and further extending battery life.
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