Rumors are circulating about Apple developing a new M4 chip that could bring next-generation performance to Macs and iPads. However, detailed information remains scarce amid the gossip.
If you’re feeling lost and looking for insights into what to expect, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled all the latest M4 chip rumors in one comprehensive guide to keep you informed about Apple’s upcoming silicon advancements. Dive into our guide to stay up to date in no time.
Price and Release Date
Typically, the M4 chip would be expected to launch around fall 2024, considering it has been about a year since the M3 series was introduced. Anything earlier would be surprising and could disappoint M3 Mac buyers.
However, there’s a possibility of an earlier launch. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, there’s a likelihood of Apple unveiling an M4 iPad Pro at the Let Loose event on May 7. This would be unprecedented as it would mark the first time an iPad receives a new-gen Apple silicon chip before a Mac. If this happens, it could mean an earlier launch for the M4 chip than anticipated.
Regarding M4 Macs, we might have to wait until fall. Gurman suggests that Apple plans to introduce the M4 iPad Pro in May to focus on its iOS 18 artificial intelligence (AI) software updates at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 10. This implies no hardware announcements at the event, delaying the appearance of Macs. Therefore, the fall timeframe is the most probable window for the M4 to debut in Macs.
There could be further delays, with Gurman and industry analysts at Canalys predicting a release of the first M4 Macs by the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2025. The high-end M4 Ultra chip may not be seen until mid or late 2025, aligning with Apple’s usual top-end Mac release timeline.
Performance and Features
The M3 series’ significant performance improvements over the M2 were attributed to their use of a 3nm process compared to the M2’s 5nm process. This upgrade allowed for enhanced output and efficiency benefits for users.
For the M4, a major change from the current 3nm process is not expected, as Apple is likely to introduce its first 2nm chips in 2025 at the earliest. However, there are speculations about Apple using a modified 3nm process for the M4 series, potentially bringing optimization improvements.
Notably, Taiwan’s United Daily News has suggested that Apple will boost the number of built-in AI computing cores in the M4 chip, which could significantly enhance performance. This enhancement could particularly benefit the M4’s AI capabilities by making them faster and more efficient.
Reports suggest that Apple will emphasize AI capabilities at WWDC, with numerous new AI features expected in iOS 18 and the next macOS version. This focus on on-device AI tasks could require chips capable of handling increased workloads, a capability the M4 is expected to excel at.
Regarding the potential flagship M4 Ultra chip, there might be a significant change on the horizon. The absence of Apple’s UltraFusion tech in the M3 Max suggests that the M3 Ultra (and consequently the M4 Ultra) could be a standalone chip rather than a fusion of two Max chips. This change could result in enhanced performance scaling compared to previous generations.
There is also hope for an increase in base memory from 8GB to 16GB in MacBooks, which could bring substantial improvements to the M4 series, especially in AI performance.
Which Devices Will Get the M4?
We can anticipate that the M4 chip will feature in various Apple products, including the MacBook Air (13-inch and 15-inch models), the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini. Given its lower hierarchy placement, the M4 is likely to be integrated into more consumer-oriented devices.
For the more advanced chips, the M4 Pro is expected to be included in the 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models and the Mac mini as an upgrade option. The M4 Max is projected to be integrated into the 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models and the Mac Studio.
The flagship M4 Ultra is anticipated in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, but their release is not expected until the second half of 2025, leading to a significant wait for their debut.
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