Apple plans to equip all Macs with an M4 processor in 2024 and 2025. When can we expect the first models?
The first Apple devices with M4 are already in circulation. These are not Macs, but the iPad Pro 2024.
Apple is reportedly planning to equip all Mac models with an M4 chip from 2024, but which ones will be the first?
You can read about it on this page. The M4 chip comes in at least three variants, codenamed Donan (entry-level), Brava (mid-range), and Hidra (higher-range).
The Donan chip will be used in the entry-level MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini, while the Brava chips will be used in the more expensive models of the MacBook Pro and Mac mini. The Hidra is designed for the Mac Pro and probably corresponds to the M4 Ultra or Extreme.
The M4 chips are built by TSMC on the same 3-nanometer process as the M3 chips but with an improved manufacturing process.
This is beneficial for performance and power consumption. In addition, Apple is said to want to add a much improved Neural Engine, with more processing cores for AI tasks.
Latest M4 Mac Rumors
Update August 5, 2024: ‘At least one new M4 Mac with major changes’
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will release new M4 Macs spread out over late 2024 and the first half of 2025. That’s in line with his previous predictions. What he adds this time around is that there will be at least one new Mac that will change more than just a faster chip. He talks about “more dramatic changes,” which could suggest a model with a new design. The big question then is which model it will be.
The most likely Mac models to see a major change are the Mac Pro and Mac mini. These two models haven’t been updated in a long time (the Mac Pro in 2022, and the Mac mini in early 2023) and have designs that are at least five years old.
The Mac mini in particular has basically looked the same for years. The size has remained unchanged since the switch to Apple Silicon, while the chip and various components take up much less space inside.
The Mac Pro is also still based on a more modular system in terms of design, while that has been much less the case since the Apple Silicon model.
When will Macs with M4 come out?
According to Gurman, this would be the possible planning:
- MacBook Pro: later in 2024 with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max
- iMac: later in 2024 with M4
- Mac mini: later in 2024 with M4 and M4 Pro
- MacBook Air: Spring 2025
- Mac Studio: Mid 2025
- Mac Pro: later in 2025
As for the MacBook Pro, display expert Ross Young reiterated that he expects the MacBook Pro with an M4 chip in late 2024.
This is in line with Gurman’s schedule. More specifically, Gurman expects the following schedule (and he reiterated this on April 15, 2024 and May 19, 2024 ).
However, he later moved the date of the Mac Studio and Mac Pro to late 2025.
| Model | Processor | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level MacBook Pro 14-inch | M4 | End of 2024 |
| iMac 24-inch | M4 | End of 2024 |
| High-end models MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch | M4 Pro/Max | End of 2024 |
| Mac mini | M4 and M4 Pro | End of 2024 |
| MacBook Air 13-inch and 15-inch | M4 | Spring 2025 |
| Mac Studio | “high end” M4 | Later in 2025 |
| Mac Pro | M4 Ultra | Later in 2025 |
The M4 chip will put a heavy emphasis on Apple Intelligence features present in macOS Sequoia. Apple is also reportedly planning to update the Mac mini, as customers have complained that the current models are underpowered.
Next up will be the high-end Mac desktop offerings: they will likely sport up to 512GB of central storage, up from 192GB in the current Mac Studio and Mac Pro.
Apple plans to make many of the AI features run locally on the devices, rather than on remote servers. We should hear more about that at WWDC 2024.
Apple is also said to want to release a few Macs with the M3 chip, although it is quite possible that this will be limited to a few models.
