Apple is already working on the M4-powered MacBook Pro.
Months after the M3 chip was introduced in the current MacBook Pro lineup, Apple is already working on a new generation of MacBook Pro models, which are said to be powered by the fourth-generation Apple Silicon processor, the M4 chip.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Cupertino-based giant has begun development of the MacBook Pro M4 model, which is expected to arrive as a successor to the M3-powered 2023 version later this year. In the Q&A section of his Power On newsletter, Gurman wrote in response to a user query: “…maybe I’ll get the M4 MacBook Pro, which by the way just started formal development.”
While the details of the upcoming new generation are being kept under wraps, the M4 chip is likely to bring a lot of improvements, including improvements to AI features, and may include an updated Neural Engine with more cores to handle AI-related tasks. In addition to this, the processor is also expected to be similar to the alleged A18 Pro chip that powers this year’s iPhones (iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max).
The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are powered by the 3nm A17 Pro chip, while the latest iMac, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are available with M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max processors.
Apple’s current M3 silicone
Released in October 2023, Apple’s M3 chip, which powers the latest MacBook Pro models, is built on the same 3-nanometer technology as the A17 Pro chip found in the 15 Pro. M3 versions offer even better performance in high-end MacBook Pro configurations.
While the release date of the M4 MacBook Pro remains unclear, the typical gap of a year and a half maintained by the company points to a possible launch in the first half of 2025. Previously, the M1 chip was released in November 2020, followed by the M2 chip in June 2022 and the M3 chip at the end of October 2023.
Apple’s MacBook Air with the M3 chip
A week ago, Apple also announced the expected MacBook Air update, introducing 13-inch and 15-inch models with the new M3 chip. Apple promises that the M3 MacBook Air offers up to 60 percent faster performance, as well as better battery life, calling it “the world’s best AI powered laptop.”
