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According to the latest rumours, Apple is readying a bunch of new Macs that will be released before the end of the year.
As you might expect, this particular launch will centre around the inclusion of the M4 chip, which has only been wedged into the iPad Pro so far, at the time of writing. This has left us in a slightly unusual situation where Apple’s tablet is technically more capable than its traditional computers.
Maybe that’s the future, who knows. Regardless, it looks like the Mac will very soon reach parity with its touch-based sibling, and I’m looking forward to one update in particular.
M4 Macs coming soon: what the rumours say
According to “a reliable source familiar with the matter”, Apple has settled on November for a bumper Mac release. Four new models are expected, all of which will be powered by the M4 chip.
The iMac, Mac mini, and both sizes of the MacBook Pro are allegedly in line for the upgrade. This is expected to be largely an internal refresh, but recent rumours have pointed towards the Mac mini being singled out for a significant visual overhaul, as well.
Also on the cards is a potential boost to the base memory on offer, with some rumour mill merchants suggesting that Apple will switch to 16GB of unified memory for the cheapest models.
Boy, that’d silence a lot of critics, wouldn’t it?
Probably not.
Can we trust these rumours? I think so. You might remember that Apple chose October last year for its ‘Scary Fast’ M3 Mac event. Selfishly, I hope they pick a slightly more UK-friendly time for the next one, but all signs do seem to point to the end of the year for the next big Mac-only shindig.
What I want to see
I don’t need a new MacBook Pro. Having handed the editing reigns over to someone else for my YouTube videos, I’m not convinced I’ll need another one ever again.
I don’t need a new iMac, either. The M1 version I have means quite a lot to me, as it helped propel my tech review business forward. Plus, it barely gets used these days.
I don’t really need a new Mac mini. But I want one. That’s not because the M2 Pro version I have at the moment is reaching the end of its life or proving frustrating to use. Indeed, just like the M1 iMac, it’s currently resting unused at the studio. The reason I want a new one is because, like so many people, I really want to see the next generation of Apple’s brilliant little desktop powerhouse.
The current Mac mini form factor hasn’t changed for many years, and, since switching to Apple silicon, there’s an awful lot of wasted space in that ageing chassis. It’s dying for a reboot and for a new case that befits the new generation of Apple silicon-powered Macs.
Rumours suggest that we will get just that later this year, with the Mac mini set for a significant design change as part of the M4 launch. The new version is expected to resemble a tall Apple TV which is an immediately tantalising prospect. Additional details are scarce, although the new Mac mini is expected to be subjected to several compromises as a result of the new design – namely the death of the built-in USB-A ports. Which is a shame.
Such a significant redesign is also likely to cheese off anyone who buys Mac minis for rack mounting purposes (although you can bet your bottom dollar that a raft of third-party solutions will immediately hit the market). The good news is that the new Mac mini is expected to still feature a built-in power supply, along with USB-C, ethernet, HDMI, and headphone ports.
I’ve been wanting to get my teeth into a brand-new Mac for a while now, and it sounds like the next Mac mini is going to satisfy that thirst. If Apple does indeed announce it soon, I’ll be placing one at the heart of a music project I’ve been forever teasing and will soon be making a reality.
Final thought
Apple silicon completely changed the game when it was launched in 2020. It was when I started my tech reviews business and it gave the entire Mac lineup (eventually – Apple did take its sweet time rolling it out) a much-needed kick up the backside. Intel was subsequently kicked to the curb, computing power was democratised, and MacBook battery life went from “ok” to “unbelievable”.
Since the introduction of the M1 chip four years ago, we’ve watched as Apple has iterated on top of that platform. Now residing on a three-nanometer fabrication process, Apple silicon is as future-proof as anyone needs it right now.
The M4 chip, therefore, isn’t going to be a colossal upgrade. The switch from Intel to M1 was the last time we’ll see that kind of seismic leap for quite some time. But the promise of a completely new Mac mini and the prospect of 16GB being made the base memory configuration for every Mac is very good news indeed.
Stay tuned for further M4 Mac coverage.
Before you go
