The Mac update cycle for the rest of 2024 and into 2025 will include the expected M4 chip updates -- and at least one major product design refresh, according to a new rumor.
Apple's entire Mac lineup is likely to see M4-based refreshes, starting in late 2024.
So far, only one Apple device has gotten Apple's next-generation M4 chip, and that was the iPad Pro. As Apple brings its next-generation chip to its Mac lineup, the opportunity for hardware refreshes large and small will also be taken advantage of -- starting with the iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini.
While it's expected that all three of the 2024 Mac updates will retain the same basic design, Apple's transition away from Lightning connectors should have an impact on the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad accessories included in the accessories for the iMac and available for other devices.
Currently, those accessories rely on included Lightning-to-USB-C cables for charging, but are likely to be updated to use USB-C connectors throughout. No other major design changes to the iMac, Mac mini, or MacBook Pro form factors are currently expected.
Redesigns likely coming in 2025
Users eager for M4-based updates to the Mac Pro, Mac Studio, and MacBook Air will have to wait until sometime in 2025, writes Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He hints that at least one forthcoming revision will mark a "dramatic change" from its present design.
If accurate, this is the first report that there may be a design change coming to a Mac sooner, rather than later.
The most likely candidate for a significant design rethink would be the Mac Mini, which has used essentially the same design since 2010, only changing ports and other connectors with general industry trends. Some Mac products never received the M3 chip at all, including the low-end MacBook Air, the Mac mini, and the Mac Studio.
The M4 chip family to be used in the upcoming updates is said to be significantly more powerful than the M3. In particular, graphics processing and the Neural Engine are said to gain serious upgrades compared to the M3 family of chips, based on early benchmarks.