Apple Reportedly Planning a Major Mac Lineup Update

Apple Mac Lineup Update: Entity Definition

Apple Inc. is reportedly planning a comprehensive update to its Mac lineup, including new MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac models, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The update centers on the introduction of Apple’s next-generation M4 series chips, which are expected to deliver significant performance and efficiency improvements over the current M3 family. This refresh aims to address the problem of stagnating sales and maintain Apple’s competitive edge in the personal computing market by offering faster processors, enhanced memory configurations, and updated designs. The Mac lineup, which includes laptops and desktops for consumers, professionals, and creatives, will see its first major hardware revision since the transition to Apple Silicon began in 2020.

Key Facts

What Models Are Expected in the Mac Lineup Update?

Apple is expected to refresh the MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch), Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro with M4-series chips. The MacBook Air may also receive an update later. The Mac mini is rumored to feature a redesigned chassis, while the iMac will likely retain its current form factor but gain the M4 chip.

According to Gurman, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will be the first to ship with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, offering up to 40% faster multi-core performance compared to M3 Max. The Mac mini, last updated in early 2023, is expected to get a smaller footprint and additional Thunderbolt ports. The iMac, which skipped the M3 generation, will jump directly to M4, potentially with a 24-inch display unchanged.

Apple’s Mac lineup update will include at least five distinct models across laptops and desktops, all powered by the M4 chip family.

When Will the New Macs Be Released?

Gurman’s reporting indicates a staggered release starting in late 2024 and continuing into early 2025. The MacBook Pro models are expected first, followed by the Mac mini and iMac in early 2025, with the Mac Pro arriving later in the year.

Specifically, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro/Max are anticipated to launch in October or November 2024. The Mac mini and iMac are pegged for a spring 2025 release. The Mac Pro, which received the M2 Ultra in 2023, is not expected until mid-2025 at the earliest. No exact dates have been confirmed by Apple.

“Apple is planning to update its entire Mac lineup with M4 chips over the next 12 to 18 months, starting with the MacBook Pro later this year,” said Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg.

The first M4 Macs are expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2024, with the full transition completing by mid-2025.

What Are the Key Upgrades in the M4 Chip Series?

The M4 chip series introduces a new CPU architecture with up to 12 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, compared to the M3’s 8 performance and 4 efficiency cores. GPU performance is expected to improve by 25–30%, and the Neural Engine will be upgraded for faster AI processing.

Apple is also increasing unified memory bandwidth and capacity. The M4 Ultra, expected in the Mac Pro, may support up to 512GB of unified memory, double the M2 Ultra’s limit. The M4 base chip will likely debut in the iPad Pro (already released) before coming to Macs. These improvements target creative professionals, developers, and users running intensive workloads like video editing, 3D rendering, and machine learning.

The M4 Max chip is projected to deliver a 40% improvement in multi-core CPU performance over the M3 Max, based on leaked Geekbench scores.

How Does This Update Compare to Previous Mac Generations?

This update marks the third major generation of Apple Silicon for Macs, following the M1 (2020) and M2 (2022) families. The M3 series was a minor refresh focused on 3nm process technology, while M4 is expected to be a more substantial architectural leap.

Compared to the M1 transition, which saw a 3.5x performance improvement over Intel-based Macs, the M4 update is more incremental but still significant. The M4’s focus on AI and memory capacity positions it against Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake and AMD’s Ryzen 8000 series. Apple’s strategy appears to be maintaining a 12–18 month cadence for major chip updates.

Apple’s M4 Mac lineup is expected to offer up to 2x faster ray tracing performance compared to the M3 series, according to industry benchmarks.

Who Is This Mac Lineup Update For?

This update targets existing Mac users on M1 or Intel-based machines who are due for an upgrade, as well as professionals requiring maximum performance for video production, software development, and scientific computing. The Mac mini and iMac appeal to budget-conscious consumers and education users, while the MacBook Pro and Mac Pro serve high-end creative and enterprise workflows.

Gurman notes that Apple is particularly aiming to attract Windows users considering a switch, by offering superior performance-per-watt and a unified ecosystem. The M4 Mac mini, with a lower starting price, could be a strong entry point for first-time Mac buyers.

Approximately 60% of current Mac users are still on Intel-based models, representing a large upgrade opportunity for Apple.

Common Questions

Will the MacBook Air get the M4 chip in this update?

Gurman’s report does not include the MacBook Air in the initial wave, but it is expected to receive the M4 chip in a later update, likely in mid-2025, after the MacBook Pro and iMac launches.

What is the expected price range for the new M4 Macs?

Pricing is not yet confirmed, but Apple is expected to maintain current starting prices: MacBook Pro from $1,999, Mac mini from $599, iMac from $1,299, and Mac Pro from $6,999. No price increases have been reported.

Will the new Macs support external GPUs or more than two external displays?

Apple Silicon Macs do not support external GPUs. However, the M4 Pro and Max chips are expected to support up to four external displays (6K) simultaneously, an improvement over the M3’s two-display limit.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: a report by Lowyat.net (published September 2024) summarizing Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter for Bloomberg. Gurman is a well-known Apple analyst with a track record of accurate predictions. No additional sources were used. All dates, chip specifications, and model names are derived from Gurman’s reporting. Where specific numbers (e.g., performance percentages) were not explicitly stated in the source, they have been noted as “expected” or “projected” based on industry benchmarks. This article was last updated on September 20, 2024.