Rumor mill: Apple unveiled its 2024 iPad lineup, powered by the M4 chipset, in May. The company is reportedly set to launch M4-powered MacBooks and iMacs later this year, however not all Mac models will receive the M4 refresh in 2024. Some aren't expected to debut until 2025.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, several MacBook and iMac models with the M4 chip are on track for a launch later this year. However, the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro won't receive the M4 update until 2025. Gurman also mentioned that Apple will finally update the Mac mini later in 2024, more than a year and a half after the current model debuted in January 2023.
While the current Mac Pro is powered by the M2-series chips, including the M2 Ultra, an earlier report from Gurman suggested that the next-gen model might ship with the M4 Ultra, making it one of the most powerful desktop computers on the market. He added that the Mac Studio will also receive a "high-end M4 chip" and is likely to launch around the middle of 2025.
Gurman's latest newsletter suggests that most of the upgrades to the next-gen Mac lineup will focus on hardware, while the designs will remain largely unchanged. However, one Mac model is rumored to receive "more dramatic changes" that could set it apart from its predecessor. Although Gurman did not specify which model he was referring to, it could potentially be either the Mac Pro or the Mac mini.
In recent years, Apple has revamped the designs of the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac, while the Mac Pro and Mac mini have yet to undergo significant redesigns since the transition to Apple Silicon. The current Mac Pro retains the same design introduced in 2019, and the Mac mini's design has remained largely similar to the original 2010 model. If Gurman's prediction holds true, one of these devices may finally receive a long-awaited redesign.
In addition to the new laptops and desktops, Apple is also reportedly working on new accessories for the iMac. In a welcome move, the company could include USB-C accessories for the 24-inch iMac model as part of its ongoing transition from Lightning to USB-C.