Apple’s total Mac lineup is prone to see M4-based refreshes, beginning in late 2024.
The Mac replace cycle for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025 will embrace the anticipated M4 chip updates — and at the least one main product design refresh, in keeping with a brand new rumor.
Up to now, just one Apple gadget has gotten Apple’s next-generation M4 chip, and that was the iPad Professional. As Apple brings its next-generation chip to its Mac lineup, the chance for {hardware} refreshes giant and small can even be taken benefit of — beginning with the iMac, MacBook Professional, and Mac mini.
Whereas it is anticipated that every one three of the 2024 Mac updates will retain the identical primary design, Apple’s transition away from Lightning connectors ought to have an effect on the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad equipment included within the equipment for the iMac and accessible for different gadgets.
Presently, these equipment depend on included Lightning-to-USB-C cables for charging, however are prone to be up to date to make use of USB-C connectors all through. No different main design modifications to the iMac, Mac mini, or MacBook Professional type components are at the moment anticipated.
Redesigns probably coming in 2025
Customers looking forward to M4-based updates to the Mac Professional, Mac Studio, and MacBook Air must wait till someday in 2025, writes Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He hints that at the least one forthcoming revision will mark a “dramatic change” from its current design.
If correct, that is the primary report that there could also be a design change coming to a Mac sooner, fairly than later.
The almost definitely candidate for a major design rethink could be the Mac Mini, which has used basically the identical design since 2010, solely altering ports and different connectors with common business developments. Some Mac merchandise by no means obtained the M3 chip in any respect, together with the low-end MacBook Air, the Mac mini, and the Mac Studio.
The M4 chip household for use within the upcoming updates is claimed to be considerably extra highly effective than the M3. Specifically, graphics processing and the Neural Engine are mentioned to realize critical upgrades in comparison with the M3 household of chips, based mostly on early benchmarks.