Apple is said to be planning an overhaul of its entire Mac line of computers with an in-house M4 chipset capable of delivering artificial intelligence (AI)-based features. The Cupertino, California-based company launched its M3-powered MacBook Pro models and 24-inch M3 iMac last year, before introducing new MacBook Air models with M3 processors in March. Apple is also said to be working on refreshing the Mac mini, but a new report says the company may skip the M3 generation and launch an updated M4-powered Mac mini in late 2024.
This information comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who previously reported that Apple could bring an M3-powered Mac mini to market in 2024. However, in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman claimed that Apple may abandon the M3 Mac mini altogether and focus instead. Upon refreshing the model with the next-generation M4 chipset.
In the Q&A section of their newsletter (Via MacRumors ), Gurman said he did not expect the M3 Mac mini to hit the market this year. This development comes a week after Gurman Claimed That M4 and M4 Pro-powered Mac mini models will arrive between late 2024 and early 2025. In their latest newsletter, they doubled down on the claim, revealing a possible launch of the M4 Mac mini by the end of 2024. That won’t leave any room for M3 models to arrive before then, so it’s probably safe to say they’ll be skipping the Mac desktop M3 generation.
Last July, Gurman reported that an M3-powered Mac mini would likely arrive in 2024. Since then, Apple has refreshed its Mac lineup with the M3 chip, but continues to sell the M2 and M2 Pro-powered Mac mini models. In January 2023.
Apple launched its 3nm M3 chipset at its Scary Fast event in October last year with new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro variants as well as the sole 24-inch M3 iMac. The new MacBook Pro lineup runs on the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max family of chipsets. Earlier in March this year, the company refreshed its MacBook Air line with M3 processors, unveiling 13- and 15-inch models.
Apple last updated the Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro chipsets in January 2023. Currently, the M2 Mac mini is available in three configurations – the M2-powered Mac mini with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD storage, and the M2-powered Mac mini with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8 GB RAM. with. and 512GB SSD storage; and an M2 Pro-powered Mac mini with a 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.
Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Apple intended to replace its entire Mac lineup with AI-focused M4 processors. The company is reportedly close to producing the next-generation M4 chip, which will likely come in three main variants.
