There have been numerous reports suggesting Apple will release M4-equipped Macs by the end of 2024, but new information indicates Apple may announce new Mac products featuring the new M4 chip starting in November. According to MacRumors, Apple is preparing new models of the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini for the year-end shopping season.

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Highly Anticipated M4-Equipped Macs May Launch in November

According to internal information obtained by MacRumors, Apple plans to announce Mac products equipped with the new M4 chip in November 2024. This announcement timing aligns with Apple's typical product cycle—last year's "Scary Fast" event was held on October 30, with new products launching on November 7, so a similar schedule is expected this year as well.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also reported that Apple is preparing to announce new Mac models equipped with M4 series chips before the end of the year. In particular, regarding the new Mac mini model featuring the M4 chip, suppliers have reportedly been instructed to begin shipping to warehouses within this month.

The expected new lineup includes the following:

  • Entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro (equipped with M4 chip)
  • 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (equipped with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips)
  • 24-inch iMac (equipped with M4 chip)
  • Redesigned Mac mini (equipped with M4 and M4 Pro chips)

Among these new models, the Mac mini is likely to attract the most attention. A major design change—the first in 14 years—is expected, with the possibility that USB-A ports will be eliminated entirely, with up to five USB-C ports included instead. There are also reports that the new model will be thinner than the previous version.

For the MacBook Pro and iMac, the focus is expected to be primarily on chip upgrades, though it's also been suggested that 16GB of RAM may become standard across all models for the first time. This would address a long-standing request from users.

Additionally, to comply with EU regulations, iMac accessories may also be unified to use USB-C connectors. This would further advance USB-C adoption across Apple's entire ecosystem.

Furthermore, there is information suggesting that standard RAM across all Macs will start at 16GB. This appears to stem from the unavoidable need to ensure a minimum capacity for AI processing in support of Apple Intelligence, and if this results in little to no price increase, it would be a significant benefit for users.

Detailed performance specifications for the new M4 chip remain unknown at this time, but further improvements in performance and energy efficiency are expected compared to the previous generation M3 chip. As in previous years, Apple is likely to hold an event between late October and November to announce these new products.

For tech enthusiasts and professional users, this new Mac lineup is likely to attract considerable attention. In particular, the major redesign of the Mac mini and the increase in standard RAM capacity across all models will be an attractive upgrade for many users. As we await Apple's official announcement of the M4-equipped Mac products, further details are expected to emerge.

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