Summary
According to the rumors that are circulating, Apple is reportedly working on a new M4 processor that has the ability to provide Apple’s Macs and iPads with performance that is on par with the next generation. On the other hand, as is the case with a great deal of information in the realm of hearsay, solid details are few.
The Apple M4 chip
If you are feeling lost and without a compass and are interested in knowing what to anticipate, you have arrived to the correct spot. We have compiled all of the most recent rumors on the M4 chip into a single location, providing you with all of the information you want regarding the next developments in Apple’s silicon. Simply by reading our instructions, you will be up to speed in a very short amount of time.
Price and the date of release
Considering that it would be around one year after the M3 series was introduced, we would normally anticipate the M4 chip to be released somewhere in the autumn of 2024. It would be quite unusual if anything were to happen sooner, and it may leave purchasers of M3 Macs feeling a little bit disappointed.
In spite of everything, that is precisely what may occur. Mark Gurman, a writer for Bloomberg, has said that there is a significant possibility that Apple will unveil an M4 iPad Pro during the Let Loose event that will take place on May 7. That would be strange for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it would be the first time that an iPad would get a new-generation Apple silicon processor before a Mac. On the other hand, if it did come to true, it would imply that the debut date of the M4 would be sooner than anybody anticipated.
When it comes to Macs with the M4 processor, the earliest that we are going to see them is probably next autumn. Gurman has said that Apple intends to introduce the M4 iPad Pro in the month of May in order to be able to discuss its artificial intelligence (AI) software enhancements for iOS 18 “without distraction” at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which will begin on June 10. It is quite likely that this indicates that there will be no hardware present during the event, which implies that Macs will not be able to make an appearance. In light of this, the most probable moment for the M4 to make its debut inside of a Mac is during the autumn launch window that occurs every year.
Indeed, it is possible that we will have to wait for a longer period of time than that. The first quarter of 2025 has been suggested as a possible release date by industry experts at Canalys, while Gurman himself has said that he anticipates the first M4 Macs to be released between the end of the year and the beginning of the next year. Considering that Apple often launches its most powerful Macs around this time, it is quite likely that the M4 Ultra, which is the most powerful M4 processor, will not be seen until the middle or late of the year 2025.
Functionality and characteristics
As contrast to the M2 series of chips, which were manufactured using a 5nm technology, the M3 series of chips were manufactured using a 3nm process, which resulted in significant performance increases when compared to the M2 series. A double whammy of advantages was made available to customers as a result of this enhanced technique, which enabled the chips to provide a higher output while simultaneously improving their efficiency.
When it comes to the M4, we do not anticipate a significant departure from the 3nm technology that is currently being used. This is due to the fact that Apple is not anticipated to release its first 2nm processors until 2025 at the earliest. But there are reports that Apple would employ a modified 3nm technology to manufacture the M4 series, which would offer a few enhancements here and there. This would be a significant improvement.
On the other hand, none of this indicates that the M4 is likely to be a failure. According to a report from Taiwan’s United Daily News, Apple is planning to “significantly increase the number of built-in AI computing cores” in the M4 processor. In any case, the impact on performance might be highly favorable. It is not entirely obvious if this is referring to the built-in Neural Engine, which is primarily focused on artificial intelligence activities, or the chip’s central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) cores. Any improvements made to the Neural Engine in particular have the potential to make the M4’s artificial intelligence capabilities more effective and efficient.
Regarding artificial intelligence, it has been claimed that Apple will place a significant emphasis on this field at its WWDC event. It is anticipated that a wide variety of new AI capabilities will be introduced to iOS 18 and the subsequent edition of macOS. According to rumors, Apple wants its devices to be able to do the majority of artificial intelligence operations on-device. If this is the case, then Apple will need CPUs that are capable of managing the increasing workload. The M4 is anticipated to do very well in this regard.
When it comes to the M4 Ultra, which is the most powerful processor found in the M4 family, there is a tweak that has the potential to be really significant and might be on the way. It has been asserted by the YouTube channel Max Tech that the M3 Max does not use Apple’s UltraFusion technology. It was because of this that Apple was able to construct the M2 Ultra by stitching together two M2 Max circuits in the past. In the event that the M3 Max does not include this functionality, it indicates that the M3 Ultra (and, by extension, the M4 Ultra) will be its own independent chip rather than two Max chips that have been fused together. It is possible that this will result in improved performance scaling in comparison to earlier generations.
Moreover, we are hopeful that Apple would increase the amount of basic RAM in its MacBooks from 8 gigabytes to 16 gigabytes. On account of the fact that the memory is integrated directly into Apple’s CPUs, this is something that may result in a significant modification to the M4 series. This is an update that might be of great assistance to Apple if the company is serious about artificial intelligence.
In what devices will the M4 be available?
An informed bet may be made about which Apple goods will ultimately be equipped with the M4 chip, as well as which devices will be given the M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M4 Ultra variants, which are more advanced versions of the M4 processor.
The MacBook Air (in both 13-inch and 15-inch models), the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, the iMac, and the Mac mini are all slated to get this feature, beginning with the M4. Given that the processor will be at the bottom of Apple’s hierarchy, it is reasonable to anticipate that it will be used in products that are geared at the end user.
As we move on to the more professional-grade processors, we may anticipate that the M4 Pro will eventually be included in the MacBook Pro in both the 16-inch and 14-inch sizes, as well as the Mac mini as an upgrade model. Meanwhile, the M4 Max ought to be made available for the MacBook Pro in both the 16-inch and 14-inch sizes, as well as the Mac Studio.
Finally, the flagship M4 Ultra may be found inside both the Mac Studio and the Mac Pro operating systems. However, they are not anticipated to be released until some point in the second half of the year 2025, which means that it will most likely be quite some time before we get to see them in action.
