The next major round of Mac upgrades is the M4 chip, and it’s starting soon, according to reports. However, not all M4 Macs are coming out at the same time, and since Apple doesn’t really stick to a fixed schedule like the iPhone or Apple Watch, it can be difficult to pinpoint when each Mac will be released and what kind of upgrades will be available.
If the rumors are correct, every Mac in Apple’s lineup will get an update within the next 12 months. Here’s a guide to when each model will get the M4 chip and what to expect from each update.
Updated August 23, 2024:Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple will hold an iPhone event on September 10, with M4 Macs “coming later.” [This article was originally posted on August 19, 2024.]
MacBook Air M4
The MacBook Air will wait until 2025 for its M4 upgrade.
The MacBook Air will wait until 2025 for its M4 upgrade.
Foundry
The MacBook Air will wait until 2025 for its M4 upgrade.
Foundry
Foundry
Release date:The M4 upgrade to the MacBook Air appears to be an opportunity for Apple to establish a regular release window for the company’s most popular Mac. The M4 MacBook Air is expected to ship in spring 2025, about a year after Apple releases the M3 MacBook Air.
The M1 Air was released in November 2020, the M2 Air in July 2022, and the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air was released in June 2023. The release of the M4 Air is an opportunity to establish a spring cycle for the MacBook Air that Apple could make a regular event.
Design:Apple will not change anything about the design of the MacBook Air. The current design was introduced in 2022 and will not change for several years.
Chip:The 2025 MacBook Air will feature a base M4 chip, similar to the one used in the iPad Pro. Benchmark results show that the M4 offers a 20% improvement over the M3 it will replace.
Features:Apple is not expected to upgrade the Liquid Retina display, change the port configuration (MagSafe 3, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack), or upgrade the camera or speakers. Support for Wi-Fi 7 is possible since the Wi-Fi Alliance formalized the standard in early January.
Discover the latest news on the MacBook Air M4.
MacBook Pro M4
The MacBook Pro will get its M4 upgrade this fall.
The MacBook Pro will get its M4 upgrade this fall.
Foundry
The MacBook Pro will get its M4 upgrade this fall.
Foundry
Foundry
Release date:The fall timeframe seems to be Apple’s choice for MacBook Pro releases. Apple is likely to release the M4 MacBook Pro series this fall, in October or November. This would come about a year after Apple released the M3 MacBook Pro lineup.
Design:Apple will not change anything about the design of the MacBook Pro. The design of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro was introduced in 2021. This design will be in place for a few more years.
Chip:Apple is launching the MacBook Pro with three versions of its M-series chip: a base chip, a Pro chip, and a Max chip. The M4 Pro and M4 Max will be variations of the base M4 chip, implementing more CPU and GPU cores and more unified memory. The M4 chips will offer a 20% improvement over the M3 chips they replace.
Features:Apple has no plans to upgrade the Liquid Retina XDR display, change the port configuration (MagSafe 3, two or three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack), or upgrade the camera or speakers. Wi-Fi 7 support is possible since the Wi-Fi Alliance formalized the standard in early January.
Discover the latest news on the MacBook Pro M4.
iMac M4
The iMac’s M4 upgrade is slated for this fall.
The iMac’s M4 upgrade is slated for this fall.
Foundry
The iMac’s M4 upgrade is slated for this fall.
Foundry
Foundry
Release date:Reports indicate that Apple will launch the iMac M4 this fall, in October or November. This would be about a year after Apple released the iMac M3. The iMac M3 replaced the iMac M1, which was released in May 2021. Apple could use this opportunity to establish a fall release cycle for the iMac.
Design:Apple won’t be changing the design of the iMac. The current 24-inch iMac design was introduced in May 2021 and will almost certainly stick around for a few more years.
Chip:The 24-inch iMac is powered by the base M-series chips, so the new iMac will be powered by the base M4 chip. Testing has shown that the M4 chip offers a 20% improvement over the M3 chip.
Features:Apple is not expected to upgrade the Retina display, change the port configuration (two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports (two additional USB-3 ports and Gigabit Ethernet on mid- and high-end models), and a 3.5mm audio jack), or upgrade the camera or speakers. Wi-Fi 7 support is possible since the Wi-Fi Alliance formalized the standard in early January.
Apple is rumored to be releasing a new iMac with a 32-inch display and a high-end M4 chip. It’s unlikely that such an iMac will be ready for release this fall, though Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently noted that it’s unclear whether it will be an M4 product or one that will come out next year or later.
Discover the latest news on the iMac M4.
Mac mini M4
The Mac mini M4 could have a new, smaller design than the current Mac mini M2 (above).
The Mac mini M4 could have a new, smaller design than the current Mac mini M2 (above).
Foundry
The Mac mini M4 could have a new, smaller design than the current Mac mini M2 (above).
Foundry
Foundry
Release date: Apple is reportedly releasing the Mac mini M4 this fall. It will replace the Mac mini M2, which was released in January 2023. And the Mac mini M1 was released in November 2020. Apple could use this opportunity to establish a fall release cycle for the Mac mini, but given the product’s history, the company doesn’t seem to believe that a regular release cycle is necessary for this product.
Design:The Mac mini will undergo a radical change, according to Gurman. It will be even smaller, with a footprint the size of the Apple TV. That would make the Mac mini a competitor to the Raspberry Pi, a small PC often used in special configurations.
Chip:Apple currently offers the Mac mini with either a base M-series or Pro chip, and that trend will continue with the new design. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Mac mini with a base M4 chip will ship “immediately,” while the M4 Pro model won’t be available until late October.
Features:The smaller design could mean the Mac mini doesn’t offer some of the ports the current Mac mini does. Gurman said Apple has tested three models with at least three USB-C ports, a power connector, and an HDMI port. And while Gurman didn’t say, the USB-C ports are likely Thunderbolt ports as well.
The current M2 Mac mini has a Gigabit Ethernet port, USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The latest rumors don’t say whether the lineup will change. While the Ethernet and audio jack are likely to remain, it’s possible that Apple will ditch the USB-A ports. Wi-Fi 7 support is also possible since the Wi-Fi Alliance made the standard official in early January.
Discover the latest features on the Mac mini M4.
M4 Mac Studio
The M4 Mac Studio is scheduled for release in 2025.
The M4 Mac Studio is scheduled for release in 2025.
Willis Lai/Foundry
The M4 Mac Studio is scheduled for release in 2025.
Willis Lai/Foundry
Willis Lai/Foundry
Release date:The Mac Studio won’t get an upgrade to the M4 until 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The current Mac Studio was released in June 2023 at WWDC, while the first Mac Studio was released in March 2022. So it looks like the M4 Mac Studio won’t arrive until spring 2025 or at WWDC 2025 in June.
Design:The Mac Studio design will only be three years old when it is updated to the M4, so it will not change and will retain its design for several more years.
Chip:Apple is powering the Mac Studio with M-series Max and Ultra chips, so the 2025 Mac Studio will likely be powered by either the M4 Max or M4 Ultra chips. The current Mac Studio is powered by the M2 Max and Ultra chips, so the performance boost should be impressive.
Features:Apple probably won’t change anything in terms of ports. On the back, the Mac Studio has four Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, two USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the front of the Mac Studio is an SDXC card slot; the Mac Studio Max has two USB 3 ports, while the Mac Studio Ultra has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. Wi-Fi 7 support is possible since the Wi-Fi Alliance made the standard official in early January.
Discover the latest new features on M4 Mac Studio.
Mac Pro M4
The design of the Mac Pro hasn’t changed since 2019, and there are no plans to do so.
The design of the Mac Pro hasn’t changed since 2019, and there are no plans to do so.
Foundry
The design of the Mac Pro hasn’t changed since 2019, and there are no plans to do so.
Foundry
Foundry
Release date:The Mac Pro won’t get an M4 upgrade until 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The current Mac Pro was released in June 2023 at WWDC. The M4 Mac Pro won’t arrive until spring 2025 or at WWDC 2025 in June.
Design:Although the Mac Pro design is 11 years old, there have been no reports of a redesign. The Mac Pro is designed to accommodate internal expansion cards, so if a redesign is in the works, it will retain the tower form factor, which distinguishes it from the Mac Studio.
Chip:Apple uses Ultra versions of its M-series chip for the Mac Pro. The current Mac Pro has an M2 Ultra; the upgrade coming in 2025 will be an M4 Ultra.
Features:There have been no reports on the features of the Mac Pro, and Apple likely won’t make any changes to the slots, ports, or chassis. Wi-Fi 7 support is possible since the Wi-Fi Alliance made the standard official in early January.
Discover the latest features on the Mac Pro M4.
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