M4 MacBook Pro: All the rumors and leaks about the next-gen Apple laptop
The M4 MacBook Pro is on the horizon as Apple is expected to refresh several lineups with new M4 chips.
We got a sneak peek of the M4 chip's capabilities when Apple unveiled it alongside the iPad Pro. This was the first time Apple has injected an M-series chip into an iPad before a MacBook.
We can't quite wrap our minds around why Apple would do this. Perhaps Apple wanted to give us a sneak peek of the M4's powerful capabilities before introducing it to the MacBook family. Based on the in-house performance numbers we got for the M4-based iPad Pro, the next M4 MacBook Pro will likely be equally as impressive.
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That being said, let's take a look at all the rumors we've been hearing about the M4 MacBook Pro.
M4 MacBook Pro quick summary
14-inch M4 MacBook Pro expected in late October
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips expected in late October
M4 MacBook Pro will likely start with 16GB of RAM as opposed to 8GB
No significant redesign
M4 MacBook Pro
The M4 chip, as stated in the latest Power On Newsletter, written by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (a respected Apple analyst and leaker), has enhanced AI processing and gaming capabilities. The M4 has already made its way to the iMac, but we're also waiting for it to house itself inside the MacBook Pro as well as the Mac mini.
Similar to the M3 MacBooks that dropped last year during the October "Scary Fast" event event, we're expecting the following M4 MacBook models this year.
14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 (cheapest)
14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro
14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max
16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro
16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max (priciest)
According to Apple, compared to the M2 CPU, the M4 processor is 50% faster. The Cupertino-based tech giant also claims that rendering performance has a four-fold performance jump.
It's also worth noting that, according to Bloomberg, the M4 MacBook Pro will likely start with 16GB of RAM as opposed to 8GB.
M4 MacBook Pro release date
According to Gurman, the M4 MacBook Pro is expected to drop during the tail-end of October. In fact, Apple is reportedly on a rampage and refreshing a bunch of its devices. As mentioned, it already unveiled an M4 iMac, but we're also expecting new M4 MacBook Pro models and new M4 Mac mini configurations.
This matches a rumor from Ross Young, another respected analyst. According to Young, who posted a leak on his subscriber-only feed on X (formerly Twitter), Apple fans can expect an M4 MacBook Pro release "later this year," he said.
According to Gurman, Apple is rumored to release a "new 16-inch MacBook Pro and both low- and high-end configurations of that laptop’s 14-inch model."
M4 MacBook Pro design
At least two Russia-based content creators claimed to have gotten their hands on the highly anticipated M4 MacBook Pro.
One YouTuber with the moniker "Wylsacom" uploaded a video claiming to do an unboxing of the M4 MacBook Pro. He appeared to have the 14-inch "Space Black" model, a colorway that was reserved for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, excluding the base M3 chip. If this is true, then it looks like Apple will expand Space Black colorway to the base 14-inch M4 configurations (instead of just saving it for the pricier M4 Pro and M4 Max models).
The video also shows that the M4 MacBook Pro will feature three Thunderbolt 4 ports as opposed to two. Plus, as mentioned earlier, the starting configurations will be 16GB of RAM as opposed to 8GB.
We haven't seen any other design rumors regarding the M4 MacBook Pro, but it likely won't get a significant overhaul. As MacRumors said, behind the scenes, Apple is planning a MacBook launch with a new OLED display. However, this isn't expected until 2026.
Kimberly Gedeon, at Mashable since 2023, is a tech explorer who enjoys doing deep dives into the most popular gadgets, from the latest iPhones to the most immersive VR headsets. She's drawn to strange, avant-garde, bizarre tech, whether it's a 3D laptop, a gaming rig that can transform into a briefcase, or smart glasses that can capture video. Her journalism career kicked off about a decade ago at MadameNoire where she covered tech and business before landing as a tech editor at Laptop Mag in 2020.
