Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that Apple may skip the M3 chip generation for some Macs, particularly the Mac mini. Gurman believes it’s likely that Apple’s timeline for the M4 Mac mini, scheduled for late 2024 or early 2025, doesn’t allow for an M3 mini release in between.
This wouldn’t be the first instance of an Apple Silicon Mac skipping a chip generation. The 24-inch iMac transitioned directly from M1 to M3, and the Mac Pro leapfrogged from Intel chips to M2. However, if the M4 chips are released by the end of 2024, it would be a quicker turnaround than previous Apple Silicon updates.
Apple introduced the M2 Mac mini in January 2022, offering an M2 Pro variant with enhanced capabilities. While most Apple desktops still utilize M2 chips, all laptops and the iMac have received M3 refreshes.
Gurman predicts that the M4 series will focus on AI, potentially enhancing the Neural Engine for generative AI features in upcoming operating system updates. Apple has an advantage in this area, as all M-series and A-series chips since 2017 have included Neural Engine capabilities. Intel and AMD have recently started incorporating similar neural processing units into their processors.
Gurman hasn’t disclosed details about the M4 series specifications but mentioned at least three performance tiers: Donan, Brava, and Hidra. It remains unclear which of these will replace the Pro, Max, and Ultra processors in current-generation M2 and M3 Macs.
