Why it matters: Along with the redesigned Mac Mini, Apple has announced a significant upgrade to its MacBook Pro lineup, introducing new M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips that deliver substantial performance improvements. The new models mark Apple’s strongest push yet into AI computing, with enhanced neural engines and increased memory configurations.
The Innovation: Bloomberg reports that the new MacBook Pro models feature dramatically improved specifications. The M4 Pro offers up to 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores, while the M4 Max pushes boundaries with 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores. Performance gains are significant, with the M4 Pro running three times faster than the M1 Pro.
- Memory starts at 16GB across all models
- Up to 128GB available on Pro models
Technical Advances: According to The Verge, the laptops introduce Thunderbolt 5 ports on Pro and Max models, enabling data transfer speeds up to 120Gb/s. Battery life improves, too, with the 16-inch model now offering 24 hours of use.
- Thunderbolt 5 triples previous speeds
- Enhanced neural engines for AI tasks
Pricing and Availability: CNet reports that the new lineup starts at $1,599 for the 14-inch M4 model, with Pro and Max configurations reaching up to $3,499 for the 16-inch version. All models will be available in stores starting November 8.
