Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro lineup appears to be right around the corner. According to the latest information from the supply chain, mass production of the new MacBook Pro equipped with the M4 chip has already begun, with preparations intensifying for an October 2024 release.
M4 MacBook Pro Mass Production Begins and Release Timing
According to a report from Taiwan's DigiTimes, Apple's supply chain is expected to begin mass production of MacBook Pro models equipped with the M4 Pro and M4 Max sometime in August. This is expected to cover four variations across both 14-inch and 16-inch models. This production schedule aligns with previous information that display suppliers began shipments last month, suggesting a Q4 launch, specifically toward the end of October.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman had also previously predicted that "high-end MacBook Pros equipped with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips will arrive later this year." In addition, three new Mac models featuring the standard M4 chip are reportedly in preparation as well. Specifically, these are the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, the M4 iMac, and the M4 Mac mini.
Apple typically tends to announce new Mac products following the announcement of new iPhones. Given that the "Glowtime" event on September 9 is already scheduled, October looks to be the optimal timing for Mac hardware announcements. Considering that last year's M3 Mac announcement took place in late October, a similar timeframe for this year's announcement is expected.
M4 Chip Performance and Future Developments
As for the performance of the M4 chip, we can already get a sense of it from the M4-equipped iPad Pro, which has already been released. This tablet achieves a 60x performance improvement compared to the A11 Bionic, and thanks to an enhanced Neural Engine, boasts roughly 25% higher performance and efficiency than the M3 MacBook Pro. Based on these figures, the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips expected in the new MacBook Pro can be anticipated to deliver even higher performance.
In fact, early benchmark results for the M4 chip show that the top-tier model with a 10-core CPU significantly outperforms both the M2 and M3, and also demonstrates an advantage over the M3 Pro and the Snapdragon X Elite. Even the lower-tier model with a 9-core CPU configuration has recorded a record-breaking single-core score on Geekbench 6. These results provide ample grounds to suggest that the M4 Pro and M4 Max will offer extremely high performance.
Combined with the MacBook Pro's robust cooling system, sustained high performance across a variety of workloads is expected. That said, no major design changes are anticipated for this year's Mac products. Apple has maintained an optimal aesthetic since removing the Touch Bar display in 2021.
Looking further ahead, according to Gurman, Apple is planning to manufacture a thinner MacBook. A transition to OLED displays is also reportedly planned for the future. However, it's expected to still be several years before these changes are realized.
Sources