The latest rumors suggest that Apple is preparing to launch the new M4 Macs as early as November. It is reported that the first Macs with the M4 chip are expected to start shipping in November, following a similar pattern to last year’s “Scary Fast” event on October 30, with Macs shipping on November 7. However, while Macs have traditionally been announced and shipped in October in previous years, this slight deviation from the timing is not entirely uncommon.
The upcoming Mac mini is anticipated to be the highlight of this fall’s launch, as it is rumored to undergo a redesign for the first time in 14 years. The Mac mini is expected to lose support for USB-A ports and instead feature five USB-C ports. Moreover, all new Mac models, including the base version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, are expected to come with 16GB of RAM as standard.
In terms of other updates to the Mac lineup, Apple is expected to make fairly modest changes. The iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini are slated to receive updates this fall, with the iMac and MacBook Pro mainly receiving chip upgrades without significant design alterations. Additionally, to comply with the European Union’s mandate, iMac accessories are likely to utilize USB-C ports later this year.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, suppliers are set to begin shipping standard Mac mini models with the M4 chip to warehouses later this month, with the M4 Pro model expected to begin shipping in October. Based on this timeline, an early November release is anticipated.