Apple is gearing up for a flurry of new product releases, with the iPhone 16 line-up taking center stage in September. But the spotlight will shift to the Mac Mini in October, as Apple plans to unveil a new model powered by the M4 chip, featuring a complete transition to USB-C ports. This updated Mac Mini is expected to be significantly faster than its predecessors, boasting a 10-core GPU and advanced features like Dynamic Caching and hardware ray-tracing.
The Mac mini has always been a popular choice for its compact size and affordability. However, with the rise of powerful and portable laptops like the MacBook Pro, the Mac mini’s appeal has waned. The upcoming redesign with a smaller footprint and M4 chip may entice some, but it’s unlikely to sway those who value portability.
New reports suggest that Apple is gearing up to launch MacBook Pro models powered by the M4 chip later this year. Production is reportedly set to begin in August, with 14-inch and 16-inch models featuring M4 Pro and M4 Max processors. The rumor mill also hints at a minimum of 16GB of RAM for all M4 Mac models, including the MacBook Pro.
Rumors suggest that Apple has started mass production of new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring the powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. These upgraded laptops are expected to be released in October, aligning with Apple’s usual release schedule. While no official announcements have been made, the new MacBook Pros are likely to feature increased RAM options and minimal design changes.
Apple is gearing up to launch a new Mac mini featuring the powerful M4 chip, accompanied by a significant redesign that shrinks the device to almost the size of an Apple TV box. The update promises enhanced performance, new features, and potentially a lower price tag. Additionally, Apple is expected to equip its entire Mac lineup with the M4 chip, ushering in a new era of AI-powered functionality across the board.
The new iPad Pro with the M4 chip is an impressive machine that is a step above the competition. It is a true generation-over-generation upgrade that commands a worthy premium. The performance gain is brazenly evident, and the new Magic Keyboard is a substantial overhaul that feels like a more substantial overhaul than the iPad Pro itself. Overall, the M4-driven iPad Pro is the finest device Apple has ever made, but it is limited by iPadOS, which is a criminally hobbled operating system that doesn’t do justice to what the iPad Pro hardware ecosystem brings to the table.
Apple has announced its newest chip, the M4, the successor to the M3. The M4 is an entry-level chip and is currently only found in the 2024 iPad Pro. It is expected to come to the Mac later in 2024. The M4 is a second-generation 3nm chip, which means it has some small improvements to its efficiency and output compared to the M3. It also has a dedicated display engine that was absent in all of Apple chips before it. Performance-wise, the M4 is a small step up from the M3. It has a 9-core or 10-core CPU (with either three or four performance cores and six efficiency cores), a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. The M3 has an 8-core CPU, an 8-core or 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. In Geekbench’s ML 0.6.0 test, which measures machine learning capabilities, the M4 achieved a score of 9,234, which is about 23% higher than the M2 and around 10% better than the M3. However, it’s important to note that Geekbench’s tests are synthetic benchmarks rather than real-world ones, so they may not translate exactly into actual usage. Overall, the M4 is a small but significant upgrade over the M3. It offers some improvements in performance and efficiency, and it adds a dedicated display engine. If you’re looking for a new Apple device, the M4 is a good option to consider.
Apple’s special event in London introduced groundbreaking upgrades to its iPad lineup. The iPad Pro now boasts the revolutionary M4 chip, enabling unparalleled performance and a sleek design thinner than any previous Apple device. The larger iPad Air received an M2 chip for 50% faster performance, while the Apple Pencil Pro introduces intuitive features like squeeze-activated tool palettes and rotation-controlled brush strokes.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, hailed the advancements made to the iPad portfolio as the “biggest day for the iPad since its introduction.” The iPad Pro line now boasts an advanced tandem OLED display and the powerful M4 chip, marking the first instance of Apple Silicon technology in an iPad. The Apple Pencil Pro introduces new features like barrel roll and squeeze functionality. The iPad Air expands its screen size with an 11-inch and 13-inch option and features the versatile M2 chip. Additionally, the entry-level iPad receives a price adjustment, and the Magic Keyboard has undergone a redesign.
Apple’s surprise inclusion of the M4 chip in the new iPad Pros has sparked speculation about the future of Macs. While some expected the M4 chip to debut on Macs first, it’s now uncertain when M4-powered Macs will arrive. Some analysts predict that M4 Macs could be announced at WWDC in June, but others believe the wait could be longer, with late 2024 being the most likely timeframe. The lack of M4 Macs at this year’s WWDC may be due to Apple’s focus on software, particularly its AI tools and features. This shift in focus suggests that Macs may not be a priority for Apple at the moment, leading to a potentially lengthy wait for the next generation of Mac hardware.
