M4 was introduced into the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models, becoming the first chip manufactured using TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process. Now, Apple Silicon chips are reportedly coming to various Macs later this year, and a new report claims Apple is gearing up for the release of Mac mini and iMac powered by the same SoC. Assuming Apple adopts the same release model as the M3 MacBook Pro series and releases the basic versions of the M3 Pro and M3 Max, then we may see the release of two other SoCs.
New reports claim that more powerful MacStudio and MacPro are expected to launch in 2025, and not only that, Apple is said to be developing a powerful M4 Ultra.
According to reports, the M4 MacBook Pro series will be launched in the fourth quarter of this year, including an entry-level model and two high-end models with display sizes of 14 inches and 16 inches. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman mentioned in the new issue of the "PowerOn" newsletter that updated Macmini and iMac models are also expected to be launched.
Gurman added that the MacStudio and MacPro will be available in 2025, and previously released information stated that these powerful machines will use M4 Ultra. Apple skipped the M3 launch of the Mac mini, so it's only fitting to announce a new product with a more powerful chipset, with other configurations likely to adopt the M4 Pro, while the M4 Max may be reserved for next year's Mac Studio.
Performance-wise, the M4 impressed us. The two versions have different M4 CPU and GPU cores. The top-end version comes with a 10-core CPU, maintaining a solid lead against the M3 Pro and Snapdragon X Elite. As for the weaker 9-core version, it barely slowed down, and its single-core score in Geekbench6 broke the record and is still unbeatable.
Using liquid nitrogen to cool Apple's iPad Pro, the M4 also successfully exceeded the 4,000-point mark in single-core running on Geekbench6. Since the new MacBook Pro is equipped with an active cooling fan, its scores may be higher than the passively cooled iPad Pro. Unfortunately, we will have to wait a few months to get these figures.