When is the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac expected to launch?

Since Apple started using its own silicon in its devices, its product release cycle has been more consistent compared to the era of Intel x86 chips. With the recent release of the M4 iPad Pro, the company has also introduced its own chips to the next generation, which will be spread across the entire Mac lineup.

According to Marek Gurman from BloombergNew M4 Macs will arrive in the second half of 2024. The MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Mini models will be introduced first. The Mac Pro, Mac Studio, and MacBook Air will be updated in 2025.

This series of events makes sense for Apple, as the MacBook Pro line of Macs is the best-selling computer. After the successful launch of the M2 Max MacBook Pros, Apple surprised consumers with the powerful M3 Max update shortly after last year. A powerful M4 MacBook Pro is therefore expected, as the M4 iPad Pro achieved impressive results for the entry-level M4 chip.

Apple Intelligence is also set to arrive on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS in the fall. Apple hopes the new AI features will encourage consumers to upgrade their systems, especially older Intel-based Mac owners who haven’t yet made the switch to Apple chips.

While the M4 iPad Pro made a splash and won over many Mac users with its great form factor, the M4 on Mac should prove to be exciting. Interestingly, Apple seems to have skipped the M3 generation for some of its heavier machines.

The 2023 Mac Pro and Mac Studio will have the M2 Ultra chip as their newest and most powerful option, unlike the MacBook Pro, which has been upgraded with the M3 Max chip. It seems like Apple may prefer gradual releases and the occasional generation skip for some of its Macs, especially its more expensive workstation models.

There could also be some design changes to some models during the next update cycle. Apple is always pushing for thinner, more capable devices, especially when it comes to laptops. The Mac Pro, which fills its own niche for users who need PCIe lanes, has also been around in its current design since 2019’s Intel Mac Pro. The Mac Studio hasn’t changed since launch either, but you could argue that both devices already have a functional and form-factor that’s right for them.

Apple typically focuses a lot of its resources on the iPhone, with the next iPhone 16 expected in the fall. Whether the new AI features will encourage users to upgrade to both iOS and macOS remains to be seen, but we should see new M4 Macs this fall if Gurman’s information is accurate.