Tech analyst Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has suggested that Apple may be gearing up to release its M4 chips for Macs as early as late this year. Gurman speculates that Apple could potentially skip the M3 generation for certain Macs, such as the Mac mini, with the M4 chips expected to make their debut in late 2024 to early 2025.
While Gurman admits he lacks insider information, he believes that the timeline for the M4 mini release may not allow for an M3 mini in between. This wouldn’t be the first time Apple has skipped chip generations, as evidenced by the 24-inch iMac and Mac Pro.
If the M4 chips do indeed hit the market by the end of 2024, it would mark a quicker turnaround compared to previous Apple Silicon chips. The last update to the Mac mini was in January 2022 with the introduction of the M2 model, along with the M2 Pro variant boasting enhanced features.
Gurman hints that the M4 series will likely emphasize AI capabilities, potentially upgrading the Neural Engine to support on-device generative AI features. The series is anticipated to include at least three performance tiers named “Donan,” “Brava,” and “Hidra,” although specific details on the specifications are not yet known.
It is believed that the M4 chips will replace the Pro, Max, and Ultra processors in current-generation M2 and M3 Macs, paving the way for enhanced performance and capabilities in Apple’s future lineup. Stay tuned for more updates on Apple’s upcoming M4 chips as more information becomes available.
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