Apple has announced the launch of its new MacBook Pro laptops featuring upgraded processors, which might mark the company's final major hardware release of the year. These devices integrate Apple's latest M4 chips, with some models offering more powerful versions, named M4 Pro and M4 Max. The new chips reportedly deliver speeds 1.8 times faster than the M1, which powered the 2021 MacBook Pro.
Significant adjustments have been made across Apple's Mac lineup, preparing it for future artificial intelligence capabilities. The new models are designed with Apple Intelligence in mind, Apple's AI system that generates text, images, and emojis. Notably, all the new MacBook Pro models come with a minimum of 16GB of RAM, a substantial increase from the 8GB default in previous low-end models, enhancing their capacity to handle larger and more complex AI models.
Apple's MacBook Air and iMac have also been upgraded to include at least 16GB of memory, maintaining the starting price of $999. The improvements in AI capabilities are a significant change made to better support the Apple Intelligence system. The increased memory in notebooks represents one of Apple's most significant moves to enhance its computer lineup for AI capabilities.
The 2021 redesign of the MacBook Pro was praised for its thicker design, which accommodates several traditional ports, such as an HDMI port for connecting the computer to TV screens and projectors. This redesign was part of Apple's shift from Intel chips to its own M-series chips.
While the Mac product line is crucial for Apple, it contributes less to total revenue compared to the iPhone or wearables like the Apple Watch and AirPods. However, all applications developed for the iPhone are written on Macs. In the quarter ending in June, Mac sales reached $7 billion, a year-over-year increase of about 2%. Apple is set to announce its latest quarterly results soon.
The starting price for the 14-inch Mac is $1,599, while the 16-inch version begins at $2,499. The 14-inch model with the more powerful M4 Pro chip starts at $1,999. Some M4 MacBook Pro models boast a battery life of up to 24 hours. The new MacBook Pro also features an upgraded 12-megapixel video conferencing camera. These laptops will be available for purchase starting November 8.
