Apple’s M3-series MacBook Professional was launched within the fall of 2023, however Apple has seemingly put the laptop computer on a extra frequent replace cycle, with stories of an M4 MacBook Professional hitting the rumor mill.

We’ll see extra rumors between now and the M4 MacBook Professional launch. This text will hold observe of what’s being reported, in addition to supply a perspective based mostly on Apple’s present lineup.

Up to date Could 28, 2024: Apple might use OLED expertise for the MacBook Professional show however not till 2026.

MacBook Professional M4: Launch date

Apple has but to make a giant impression within the AI market, which is scorching scorching proper now. In accordance with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on April 11, Apple desires to make a giant splash with the M4 chip, which could have large AI enhancements and Apple desires to launch the M4 as quickly as potential. Gurman states that Apple plans to launch M4 MacBook Professional fashions later this 12 months.

Apple may ship within the fall of 2024, which might be a couple of 12 months after the M3-series MacBook Professional was launched. Gurman warns that the plans may change–whether or not he meant they may ship earlier or later, he doesn’t say.

Gurman adopted up that April 11 report with one other one on April 14, stating that Apple might launch the M4 MacBook Professional in “late 2024” whereas the M4 Professional/Max mannequin might be launched on the similar time or in “early 2025.” Apple might need to stagger the chips and separate the M4 Professional/Max from the M4 to provide the higher-end machines their very own highlight.

MacBook Professional M4: Design and Options

The M4 improve can be the fourth era of this specific MacBook Professional design. Apple isn’t anticipated to alter it in any respect, so the 2024 launch will probably be a chip improve solely.

The M4 may change its reminiscence configuration, although. Mark Gurman reported in April that Apple might improve the higher reminiscence restrict of its high-end desktop Macs. He didn’t say something about MacBooks, but it surely’s not a attain to conclude that the M4 and its enhanced AI capabilities may result in extra RAM on the chip for MacBooks, too. Nonetheless, design constraints may stop the MacBooks from having an higher restrict improve as large as on desktop Macs.

One other function that would change is battery life. The M4 might be extra environment friendly, or it might be extra power-hungry, affecting battery life. Experiences in regards to the M4’s energy consumption have but to be made.

Apple may supply a brand new shade. With the M3 Professional/Max launch, Apple launched House Black, which changed House Grey, with the opposite shade possibility being Silver. The bottom M3 MacBook Professional is offered in House Grey or Silver, not House Black.

Foundry

Foundry

Foundry

Apple elevated the show brightness from 500 to 600 nits with the M3 MacBook Professional, so this most likely gained’t change with the M4. The dimensions, weight, digicam, mics, audio system, ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth are more likely to keep the identical.

A report by Omdia states that Apple is probably going to make use of OLED shows within the MacBook Professional, however not till 2026.

MacBook Professional M3: Specs and worth

Listed here are the costs for the present commonplace configurations of the M3 MacBook Professional for reference.

14-inch MacBook Professional

• $1,599/£1,699: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 8GB unified reminiscence; 512GB SSD
• $1,799/£1,899: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 8GB unified reminiscence; 1TB SSD
• $1,999/£2,099: M3 with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU; 16GB unified reminiscence; 1TB SSD
• $1,999/£2,099: M3 Professional with 11-core CPU, 14-core GPU; 18GB unified reminiscence; 512GB SSD
• $2,399/£2,499: M3 Professional with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU; 18GB unified reminiscence; 1TB SSD
• 3,199/£3,299: M3 Max with 14-core CPU, 30-core GPU; 36GB unified reminiscence, 1TB SSD

16-inch MacBook Professional

• $2,499/£2,599: M3 Professional with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU; 18GB unified reminiscence; 512GB SSD
• $2,899/£2,999: M3 Professional with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU; 36GB unified reminiscence; 512GB SSD
• $3,499/£3,599: M3 Max with 14-core CPU, 30-core GPU; 36GB unified reminiscence; 1TB SSD
• $3,999/£4,099: M3 Max with 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU; 48GB unified reminiscence; 1TB SSD

Experiences for the M4 MacBook Professional costs have but to be made. Apple will probably supply comparable configurations and it stays to be seen if the costs will improve or not.