Apple’s M4 Mac Release Schedule Revealed for 2024

Following the announcement of the M4 chip for the new OLED iPad Pro, Apple is set to update its MacBook and Mac models with the M4 chip. But how will this new chip impact the MacBook?

What to Expect from the M4 Chip

The M4 chip uses the second-generation 3nm technology, making it more power-efficient and solving an overheating problem iPhone users experience with the A17 Pro. The M4 chip has a powerful new CPU with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, with next-gen ML generators. It also features a 10-core GPU with Dynamic Caching and hardware ray tracing. The Neural Engine has a 16-core design and is up to 38 trillion operations per second.

M4 MacBook and Mac Models Release Date

According to reports, the M4 MacBook will be released later this year, specifically around November. Here are the expected release dates for other M4 Mac models:

• MacBook Pro: M4 and M4 Pro variants for low-end and high-end models, expected later this year.
• Mac mini: M4 and M4 Pro variants, with a redesign, expected later this year.
• iMac: Expected to feature the M4 chip, release date later this year.
• MacBook Air: Expected in spring 2025, with 13-inch and 15-inch options.
• Mac Studio: M4 Max and M4 Ultra options expected in mid-2025.
• Mac Pro: Expected in late 2025.

Key Features of M4 Macs

The M4 Macs will highlight the AI processing capabilities of the components and integrate with the next version of macOS. Other expected features include:

• Apple Intelligence platform
• Improved Siri
• Priority notifications and messages
• Email summarization
• Record and transcribe calls in the Notes app
• Smart Reply in Mail

Apple also plans to “beef up” the Mac mini with better specifications and increase the minimum RAM to 16GB for all M4 Macs.

My Thoughts

The M4 Era: Apple’s Next Leap in Mac Technology

Apple’s latest announcement has confirmed the arrival of the M4 chip, marking the end of the M3 processor family. As Apple begins to update its MacBook and Mac models with the new M4 chip, it’s exciting to think about what this means for future devices. The M4 chip boasts impressive specs and features, including a powerful new CPU, next-gen ML generators, and improved GPU power.

Improvements Over Previous Models

The M4 chip promises a significant upgrade over previous models, especially for those still using M1 or older devices. With its more efficient 3nm technology, the M4 chip aims to solve overheating issues and provide better performance. The new Neural Engine, with a 16-core design, is 60 times faster than Apple’s first Neural Engine.

When Can We Expect the M4 Macs?

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, we can expect to see the M4 MacBook Pro later this year, with other M4 models following suit. The Mac mini will receive a redesign and M4 chip later this year, while the MacBook Air will debut its M4 model in the spring of 2025. The Mac Studio and Mac Pro will also see updates, although their release dates are a bit further out.

The Future of Apple Intelligence

With the M4 Macs comes the