Apple Testing Four New M4 Macs Ahead of Fall Launch

[MacRumors]

Apple has ramped up testing of four new Mac models equipped with an M4 chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is planning to refresh the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac with M4 chips this year, and we could see the new models sometime in October.

The four machines have base-level M4 chips, according to developer logs. Three of the Macs have a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The fourth machine has an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, which is not an M4 configuration that we've seen so far. All four of the M4 Macs have either 16GB or 32GB of Unified Memory.

The M4 used in the 256GB and 512GB iPad Pro models has a 9-core CPU and 10-core GPU, while the chip used in the 1TB and 2TB models has a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The high-end iPad chip is the same chip that will be in some of the Mac models.

Gurman does not mention M4 Pro or M4 Max chips, which would be used in higher-end Mac mini and 14-inch MacBook Pro models, as well as the 16-inch MacBook Pro. M4 Pro and M4 Max chips would have a higher number of CPU and GPU cores, as well as more maximum memory.

It is not clear if Apple is only introducing lower-end models with the standard M4 chip, or if there are plans for M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max models but those higher-end chips simply weren't seen in the developer logs.

Prior rumors have suggested that both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models would see a refresh, and Gurman previously said that the new, slimmer Mac mini that's in the works will be available with both M4 and M4 Pro chip options.

Article Link: Apple Testing Four New M4 Macs Ahead of Fall Launch

 

[abatabia]

M4 mini is a day one purchase.

 

[0xjf]

No Pro chips? Huh. I wonder what they’re cooking up

 

[N69AP]

The fourth machine has an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, which is not an M4 configuration that we've seen so far. All four of the M4 Macs have either 16GB or 32GB of Unified Memory.

I assume an 8/8 core model would be the base model, so this sounds promising...

 

[DrJR]

M4 mini is a day one purchase.

Yep. I'm in.

 

[danbuter]

Base RAM 16GB is the best news in the article.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Maybe they’ll put magnets in the corners and a weireless charger, so you can just click it in place on the back of the XDR display & viola, instant imac.

 

[t0rqx]

No Pro chips? Huh. I wonder what they’re cooking up

Probably the M4 performance is better than M3 Max. So they sell/rebrand that as a Max. More revenue less expenses.

 

[weaztek]

Base RAM 16GB is the best news in the article.

I was sort of expecting a 12GB base and an optional 8GB upgrade to bring mine to 20GB. One can dream...

 

[t0rqx]

Base RAM 16GB is the best news in the article.

It still performs as 8 GB as the other 8GB is eaten by AI.

 

[poematik13]

M4 mini for 499 EDU price will probably be the last traditional PC anyone will ever need or buy

 

[BelgianChoklit]

Hold on. They test products before launching them for millions of sales?

 

[CrysisDeu]

Maybe they’ll put magnets in the corners and a weireless charger, so you can just click it in place on the back of the XDR display & viola, instant imac.

I doubt it. Metal on metal scratches easily

 

[Algr]

Probably the M4 performance is better than M3 Max. So they sell/rebrand that as a Max. More revenue less expenses.

That seems unlikely. The cores are more powerful, but not by such an extent. And there are fewer of them.

 

[Algr]

I doubt it. Metal on metal scratches easily

Rubber feet.

 

[coffeemilktea]

All four of the M4 Macs have either 16GB or 32GB of Unified Memory.

16 GB of RAM to start across multiple Apple product lines?!?!? 😮🤯

Timmy must have gotten replaced by an alternate universe doppelgänger... this news is the clearest evidence I've seen for the existence of a multiverse... 🤔

(joking aside, I'm glad Apple is finally moving up the base RAM for the first time in over a decade)

 

[ellpee]

“According to people familiar with the situation” who somehow keep feeding Gurman the company’s plans with the CEO simply not being able to find out who they are after all these years.

 

[bzgnyc2]

No Pro chips? Huh. I wonder what they’re cooking up

I am curious if that will also translate into max 2 Thunderbolt ports for the entire line? The main reason I thought about the M2 Pro variant of the Mini was the 4 Thunderbolt ports. Anything less feels like a downgrade.

 

[DHagan4755]

Maybe they're rejiggering the chip line up. Perhaps the basic M4 has the 3 displays support, 3 TB ports that the M1-M3 lacked. And if you're loading it with 16GB + memory to start. Wow. This could be really good if it is the way I think it is. Plus M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max is kind of cluttering.

 

[bzgnyc2]

I assume an 8/8 core model would be the base model, so this sounds promising...

That would be fine for my needs all else being equal as long as at least 4 of the CPU cores are performance cores. And it can drive 4 Thunderbolt 3/4 ports and up to two monitors @ 4K full speed, etc.

 

[Jamie0003]

Base RAM 16GB is the best news in the article.

For sure. Why is Apple still being stingy on the RAM of the iPad Pro though?

 

[tipoo]

Wait wait wait, does this report say that it's not just moving the base from 8GB to 12GB as speculated, but the entry level is now 16GB? That's great news if that's what it's saying! Hope there aren't 8GB entry-er models hiding out there


8 core M4 instead of the already binned iPad Pro's 9 core is slightly odd, but it's 4+4 instead of 3+6 so probably makes sense from an available power and thermal situation

 

[Algr]

8 core M4 instead of the already binned iPad Pro's 9 core is slightly odd, but it's 4+4 instead of 3+6 so probably makes sense from an available power and thermal situation

M4s? Mini-M4?

They might get rid of the A series and call everything M.

 

[Chuckeee]

16GB entry level for the M4 Mac mini would indicate 16GB entry level for the M4 iMac, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro too.

 

[bradman83]

No Pro chips? Huh. I wonder what they’re cooking up

This is just based on developer logs so it could just mean the chips are being tested separately or will be tested in the coming weeks.

Considering the base M4 is within spitting distance of the M3 Pro in terms of multicore performance I would think Apple would want to update all three models in short order now that the 14" MBP has a base chip version.