Apple Nears M4 Chip Completion, Hints on Overhauling Mac Line

Apple is reportedly nearing the production of its M4 chips and is planning to overhaul the entire Mac line to adapt to the new AI features, according to people familiar with the project.

Bloomberg also reported that the M4 chip will be released in at least three main varieties and will focus on bringing AI capabilities to Apple devices.

Apple M4 Chips are Almost Ready Five Months After M3 Chips' Release

Apple announced the M3 chip family late in 2023 and quickly began to ship it. The latest M3 chip powers the 2023 iMac, 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 15-inch MacBook Air. It also comes in three variants: M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max.

With over five months since it was launched, Apple is reportedly almost done with the production of its next-generation processor, the M4 chip. According to the report, Apple is planning to update every Mac model with it.

In addition, the tech giant is targeting to release its updated computer before the year ends, with a possibility of extending it into early 2025. The upgrade is expected to launch new iMacs, low-end and high-end MacBook Pros, and Mac minis, all with the M4 chips.

Apple to Boost Mac Sales With M4 Chips, AI Integration

Apple has been actively catching up in the AI trend, which has been far long overdue for the company when compared to its competitors. The new M4 chips are expected to open a new door of AI capabilities into all of Apple's products.

Last fiscal year, sales for the Mac declined by 27% and the introduction of M3 chips was not enough to boost its revenue. Some consumers argued that the new chips failed to bring major performance improvement over the impressive M2 chips from the prior year.

The M4 chip line currently consists of an entry-level version under the codename Donan, a more powerful model called Brava, and a top-end processor named Hidra. All of the chips are expected to introduce AI processing capabilities that Apple has been working on quietly.