While the M4 chip made its debut on the latest M4 iPad Pro, it’s no surprise to anyone that it’ll likely form the basis for the next lineup of Apple’s MacBook Pros.
While currently on M3 architecture, Apple is expected to bring M4 to its MacBook Pros, as well as Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio in the coming months.
As for what it’ll offer Mac users, X (formerly Twitter) user Fred The Frenchy dug into a new Tech Insights image that appears to show the ways the M4 is different from its predecessor, which Max Tech’s Vadim Yuryev followed up on.
Apple’s M4 chip has a bunch of secrets that will only be revealed alongside the new M4 MacBook Pro later this year:1. Double the Thunderbolt blocks (4x)2. Support for 3+ displays (incl. 8K)3. Official Thunderbolt 4 ports (3x)4. New Media Engine with faster encoders/decoders https://t.co/Ct1zl4W09ZJune 21, 2024
What could M4 do for Mac?
As noted by Yuryev, Apple’s M4 chip contains “a bunch of secrets” to be revealed alongside new MacBook Pros this year.
Yuryev says these include double the Thunderbolt blocks, three Thunderbolt 4 Ports, and a new Media Engine with faster encoders and decoders.
Perhaps most interesting is the inclusion of support for “3+ displays”, including 8K resolution. Given the M3 was the first non-Pro or higher chip to support multiple displays when it came to the MacBook Air this year (albeit in clamshell mode), this feels like a solid next step for the platform.
Naturally, we’ll update you as we hear from Apple, but with no new hardware revealed at WWDC and new iPhones likely just months away, we could be waiting a while for a Mac-focused event.