MacRumors

The current Apple TV was released two years ago this month, so you may be wondering when the next model will be released.

Below, we recap rumors about a next-generation Apple TV.

In January 2023, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that a new Apple TV was planned for release in the first half of 2024:

Beyond the future smart displays and new speaker, Apple is working on revamping its TV box. A new version with the current design is in the works for the first half of next year with a faster processor, the people said.

The first half of 2024 passed by without a new Apple TV, so that rumor has expired.

Last month, Gurman said "stable inventory" of the Apple TV suggested that a new model was not on the "immediate horizon" after all:

While the company has been working on an update to the Apple TV set-top box for as early as this year, no new model has come to fruition and stable inventory of the device suggests a new version isn’t on the immediate horizon.

All in all, there is no longer a clear timeframe for the next Apple TV. If you are considering purchasing an Apple TV, we recommend at least waiting until October is finished, just in case a new model is announced this month like in 2022.

Here is when the previous five Apple TV models were announced:

• Third-generation Apple TV 4K: October 2022
• Second-generation Apple TV 4K: April 2021
• First-generation Apple TV 4K: September 2017
• Apple TV HD: September 2015
• Third-generation Apple TV: March 2012

Whenever it comes out, the next Apple TV is rumored to feature a faster processor than the current A15 Bionic chip, and even lower pricing. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the next Apple TV could have a sub-$100 starting price. In the U.S., the current Apple TV is available with 64GB or 128GB of storage for $129 and $149, respectively.

No major design changes have been rumored for the next Apple TV specifically, but Gurman said Apple has considered adding a built-in camera to a future model. tvOS 17 added a FaceTime app to the Apple TV, allowing for users to have video calls by using the rear camera on a connected iPhone or iPad. If the Apple TV gained a built-in camera, users would no longer need to rely on an external device for video calls on the TV.

Read our Apple TV roundup for more details.

The batteries inside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus use an innovative type of adhesive that can be loosened with low-voltage electrical current. Apple's official repair guide recommends using a 9V battery with alligator clips for this process, but DIY repair website iFixit has released a new USB-powered tool as an alternative solution.

As reported by The Verge, iFixit is now selling a VoltClip tool that is essentially a pair of alligator clips with an integrated USB-C adapter. With a USB-C to USB-C cable, which is not provided, you can connect the tool to any USB-C charger or device that supports 9V or 12V output. iFixit has a step-by-step guide with complete instructions.

The adhesive debonding process takes roughly 60 to 90 seconds.

The tool is available for $10.95 on iFixit's online store in the U.S., with same-day shipping available on orders placed before 1 p.m. Pacific Time each day.

This electrical removal process does not extend to iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max batteries, which still have stretch-release adhesive pull tabs.

Prime Day deals are rolling in today, and now we're tracking the return of all-time low prices on the second generation Apple Watch SE. If you want a full list of all the best Prime Day discounts on Apple products, our dedicated article has sales on AirPods, MacBooks, iPads, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Apple's 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE is available for $169.99 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This is an all-time low price on the wearable. This deal is available in all three aluminum color options, and only Amazon has the discount.

You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE on sale right now, available for $199.99 on Amazon, down from $279.00. This is another best-ever price on the Apple Watch SE for Prime Day.

There are also multiple cellular models on sale for Prime Day, starting at $219.99 for the 40mm cellular Apple Watch SE, down from $299.00. The 44mm cellular Apple Watch SE has hit $249.99, down from $329.00, and both of these are record low prices.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Apple today added the final iPod nano and iPod shuffle models to its obsolete products list worldwide, marking the end of an era.

Apple introduced new color options for the seventh-generation iPod nano and fourth-generation iPod shuffle in 2015, and those models are now obsolete in particular. Apple went on to discontinue the iPod nano and iPod shuffle entirely in 2017.

Apple considers a device to be "obsolete" once seven years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale. Once a device is obsolete, it is no longer eligible for repair at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, with the only exception being MacBook battery replacements for up to a 10-year period.

Apple also added the iPhone 6 to its obsolete products list today. Apple had already classified the larger iPhone 6 Plus as obsolete in April, but the smaller iPhone 6 had remained available through resellers in select countries for longer, so it only became obsolete now.

Last, Apple added the 2017 model of the 12-inch MacBook and the sixth-generation iPad to its vintage products list today. Apple considers a device to be "vintage" once five years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale. Apple might offer to repair a vintage product, but only if parts remain available.

Prime Day has Apple's 256GB Wi-Fi 11-inch M4 iPad Pro for just $849.00, down from $999.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on the tablet, and it's accompanied by numerous discounts across the entire M4 iPad Pro lineup.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Deals are primarily focused on Wi-Fi models, but you can find a few cellular tablets on sale at this time as well. Most of these deals also require you to clip an on-page coupon to see the final deal price.

11-Inch

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $849.00 ($150 off)
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,049.00 ($150 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,449.00 ($150 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,549.00 ($150 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,840.00 ($159 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,949.00 ($150 off)

13-Inch

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,149.00 ($150 off)
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,349.00 ($150 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,748.00 ($151 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,844.00 ($156 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $2,099.00 ($200 off)

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Amazon Prime Day is live and it includes a huge sale across the MacBook Air lineup, including both the M2 and M3 MacBook Air models. We already covered the M2 MacBook Air deals available for Prime Day, so this article will focus entirely on M3 models.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

13-Inch M3 MacBook Air

Amazon is taking $250 off the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air with multiple all-time low prices for Prime Day. You can get the 256GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air for $849.00 in every color, down from $1,099.00. Both 512GB models are on sale as well with best-ever prices.

15-Inch M3 MacBook Air

Amazon also has the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air for up to $275 off during Prime Day. These start at $1,044.00 for the 256GB 15-inch M3 MacBook Air, down from $1,299.00, and again include both 512GB models. Overall, every 15-inch M3 MacBook Air deal from Amazon this week represents all-time low prices on each model.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Rumors strongly suggest Apple will release the seventh-generation iPad mini in November, nearly three years after the last refresh. Here's a roundup of what we're expecting from the next version of Apple's small form factor tablet, based on the latest rumors and reports.

Design and Display

The new iPad mini is likely to retain its compact 8.3-inch display and overall design introduced with the sixth generation. However, one rumor suggests Apple may address the "jelly scrolling" issue by rotating the screen assembly. This change would be made to minimize the noticeable lag when scrolling vertically in portrait orientation, which is a point of frustration for some users of the current model.

Performance Boost

While the iPad Pro and iPad Air now boast M-series chips, the iPad mini 7 is expected to stick with the A-series. It's likely to feature either the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro or the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16. This upgrade should provide a significant performance boost over the A15 Bionic in the current model, as well as provide support for Apple Intelligence features.

Connectivity Improvements

The new iPad mini is almost certain to include Wi-Fi 6E support, allowing connection to the 6GHz band on compatible routers. Bluetooth 5.3 is also expected, bringing the latest wireless connectivity standards to the compact tablet. Cellular models may transition entirely to eSIM, potentially eliminating the physical nano-SIM slot.

Camera Enhancements

Apple might relocate the front-facing camera to the landscape edge, as seen in the latest iPad Air. This change could improve the video calling experience, especially when using the device in landscape orientation. The camera may also receive upgrades like HDR 4 support and a wider aperture.

Apple Pencil Compatibility

The iPad mini 7 will likely support the Apple Pencil Pro, which introduced features like squeeze gestures, haptic feedback, and Find My integration. Apple Pencil Pro hover functionality may also be included.

Color Options

While the current iPad mini is available in space gray, starlight, pink, and purple, the new model may adopt a color palette similar to the iPad Air. This could mean the introduction of blue and the removal of pink from the lineup.

Release and Availability

With supplies of the current iPad mini dwindling in stores, a November release seems increasingly likely. Indeed, well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman recently said that Apple could release a new iPad mini alongside new M4 Macs in early November, potentially on the first day of the month. The new model is likely to maintain similar pricing to its predecessor, starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi model.

Future iPad Models

Rumors suggest that Apple is developing a foldable iPad mini and incorporating OLED display technology into the device, though neither of these updates are anticipated for 2024. An OLED display or a foldable iPad mini is not expected to arrive until 2026, 2027, or possibly even later.

Summing Up

By all accounts, Apple's iPad mini 7 will be a modest yet meaningful upgrade, bringing Apple Intelligence support as well as performance and usability enhancements, rather than a dramatic redesign. As always, we'll have to wait for Apple's official announcement to confirm these details.

Apple today announced it will begin accepting submissions for the 2025 Swift Student Challenge for a three-week period starting in February.

The annual Swift Student Challenge gives eligible student developers around the world the opportunity to showcase their coding skills and creativity by building experimental "app playgrounds" with the Swift Playgrounds or Xcode apps.

Apple said it will select 350 winners based on "innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity," and it will invite 50 of those winners to spend three days at Apple Park in Cupertino, California next summer, with travel and lodging included. The trip will likely coincide with Apple's annual developers conference WWDC, which is typically held in June.

This earlier-than-usual announcement gives students an adequate amount of time to prepare for the next Swift Student Challenge. Students can learn more and sign up to be notified when applications open on the Apple Developer website.

Apple has yet to announce dates for WWDC 2025.

Prime Day kicked off earlier today, and it includes some of the best prices we've ever seen on multiple AirPods models. There's also a new record low price on the USB-C AirPods Max among the deals.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Starting with the return of the all-time low price on the AirPods Pro 2, you can get this model for $168.99 today, down from $249.00. It's been a few months since we last tracked this deal for the AirPods Pro 2, and it's a great deal for the Pro-model AirPods.

For the AirPods Max models, we're tracking two record low prices on Amazon. You can get the 2020 Lightning models for $394.99 and the brand new 2024 USB-C models for $499.99, both down from $549.00.

Finally, there's the AirPods 3 for $129.99 ($39 off) and AirPods 4 for $119.00 ($10 off). In regards to the AirPods 3, this is a second-best price on the model.

Our full Prime Day article has more information about the discounts on MacBooks, iPads, and more. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event is in full swing today, offering customers the first chance to get some holiday shopping done early. Similar to the first Prime Day, it will last for two days (October 8-9) and you can find a large selection of deals across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

For our coverage, we're focusing entirely on Apple and Apple-related discounts that can be purchased during this 48-hour event on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook Air.

As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated throughout the event, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles this week.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Big Deal Days requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime offers a one month free trial, and otherwise costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year.

AirPods

Starting with AirPods, you'll find a wide selection of solid deals across the AirPods lineup on Amazon during Prime Day. This includes a $10 discount on the new AirPods 4 at $119.00, as well as an all-time price of $168.99 price on the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple Watch

SE

Apple's 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE is available for $169.99 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This is an all-time low price on the wearable. This deal is available in all three aluminum color options, and only Amazon has the discount.

You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE on sale right now, available for $199.99 on Amazon, down from $279.00. This is another best-ever price on the Apple Watch SE for Prime Day.

Ultra 2

Amazon has further discounted the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Black this week. You can get a few models of the Black Titanium watch for $729.99, down from $799.00. This beats the sale price we tracked last week by about $15, and marks a new all-time low price for the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The models on sale include the Black Titanium Case with Dark Green Alpine Loop (S) and the Black Titanium Case with Dark Green Alpine Loop (M).

9th Gen iPad

You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad for $199.99 in both colors, down from $329.00. This is a match of the record low price on this version of the 2021 tablet, and it's a deal we haven't seen in a few weeks.

10th Gen iPad

Moving to the newer models, Amazon has the 64GB Wi-Fi 10th generation iPad for $299.00 in every color, down from $349.00. You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $447.00, down from $499.00. In regards to the 256GB model, this is a best-ever price on the tablet.

Cellular models are also seeing all-time low prices during Prime Day. The 64GB Cellular 10th generation iPad has hit $449.00 ($50 off), while the 256GB Cellular model is available for $598.00 ($51 off).

M4 iPad Pro

For the newest M4 iPad Pros, Amazon is offering up to $200 off select models of both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro. Deals are primarily focused on Wi-Fi models, but you can find a few cellular tablets on sale at this time as well. Many of these deals also require you to clip an on-page coupon to see the final deal price.

11-Inch

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $849.00 ($150 off)
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,049.00 ($150 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,449.00 ($150 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,589.00 ($110 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,840.00 ($156 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,949.00 ($150 off)

13-Inch

• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,149.00 ($150 off)
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,349.00 ($150 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,749.00 ($150 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi with Nano-Texture Glass - $1,844.00 ($156 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $2,099.00 ($200 off)

M2 MacBook Air

Starting with the 256GB 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, you can get this model for $749.00 in three colors, down from $999.00. For more storage, Amazon has the 512GB model of the same computer for $949.00, down from $1,199.00.

Although Apple updated the MacBook Air back in March, it kept these 13-inch M2 models around as a low-cost option for customers. This means that the M2 MacBook Air should be perfect for anyone who doesn't care about owning newest generation notebook, but would rather save money while still getting a reliable computer.

M3 MacBook Pro

The cheapest M3 MacBook Pro model you'll find right now is on the 14-inch M3 Pro 512GB model, priced at $1,299.00. That's a $300 discount and the best price we've ever tracked, but you can also find a few other solid markdowns on more 14-inch MacBook Pros and 16-inch MacBook Pros at Amazon.

14-inch

• M3 512GB - $1,299.00 ($300 off)
• M3 1TB - $1,499.00 ($300 off)
• M3 Pro 512GB - $1,699.00 ($300 off)
• M3 Max 1TB - $2,899.00 ($300 off)

16-inch

• M3 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB - $2,999.00 ($500 off)

Apple Pencil

Apple Pencil deals include low prices on the Apple Pencil 2 at $89.99 and Apple Pencil Pro at $97.00.

Magic Keyboard

You can get the 11-inch Magic Keyboard in Black for $273.99, down from $299.00. This is an all-time low price on the accessory.

Amazon also has the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard on sale, available for $319.00 in Black and White, down from $349.00. These are also record low prices on the Magic Keyboard, and you'll find similar delivery estimates of mid October for these models.

MagSafe Charger

Amazon recently introduced a few deals on Apple's new lineup of MagSafe Chargers, including the 1-meter model for $32.78 and 2-meter model for $44.00. Although these discounts represent just a few dollars in savings, they are the first notable sales on the 2024 MagSafe Chargers and the best deals you'll find online right now.

The new MagSafe Chargers provide overall faster charging speeds with compatible iPhone models. When paired with a 30W power adapter, iPhone 16 models can charge at up to 25W wirelessly over MagSafe, which is 10W faster than a regular non-MagSafe Qi2 wireless charger.

Apple Studio Display

Amazon has $306 off the Apple Studio Display for Prime Day, starting at $1,294.00 for the standard glass option. For this model, this is a new all-time low price.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Apple's upcoming entry-level M4 14-inch MacBook Pro may be capable of supporting up to two external displays with the lid open, up from one display supported in the current M3 model, if recent leaks are anything to go by.

Apple's existing M3 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, not three Thunderbolt 4 ports like the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by M3 Pro and M3 Max chips.

Apart from fewer USB-C ports, the lack of Thunderbolt 4 support on the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M3 chip means it only supports one display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz (or one display with up to 4K resolution at 120Hz over HDMI) when the lid is open. Currently the only way to support to two external displays simultaneously is with the lid closed, based on the resolution (up to 6K) and refresh rate (up to 60Hz) of each external display.

However, assuming the alleged Russian leaks of Apple's unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 chip are reliable, the new M4 variant of Apple's entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will come with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, as opposed to the two Thunderbolt 3 / USB4 ports found on the current model. This would mean it can support two external displays with the lid open instead of just one.

While the upgrade from two TB3 ports to three TB4 ports has yet to be confirmed, such a change would better align the entry-level machine's capabilities with Apple's more powerful MacBook Pro models.

Here's a reminder of the different display configurations possible on the M3 Pro and M3 Max models:

M3 Pro MacBook Pro:

Supports up to two external displays:

• Two 6K displays at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, or
• One 6K display at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one 4K display at 144Hz over HDMI

M3 Max MacBook Pro:

Supports up to four external displays:

• Three 6K displays at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one 4K display at 144Hz over HDMI, or
• Two 6K displays at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one 8K display at 60Hz over HDMI, or
• Two 6K displays at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one 4K display at 240Hz over HDMI

Additional features for both M3 Pro and M3 Max:

• Native DisplayPort over USB-C support
• HDMI port supports either:
  • One 8K display at 60Hz, or
  • One 4K display at 240Hz

We should know for certain what the specs are for the base M4 14-inch MacBook Pro before the month is out. Apple is expected to announce new iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro models with M4 chips towards the end of October, with at least some of the new Macs rumored to be released on November 1.

If you're looking for a silly Halloween costume idea, Siri has some suggestions for you. Apple's personal assistant is equipped with a long list of costume suggestions that are updated on a yearly basis.

‌Siri‌'s suggestions often involve puns, some of which are clever and some of which are downright silly. Some of ‌Siri‌'s costume ideas:

• Dress up like a cat, put on an eyepatch, and be Nick Furry.
• If you wear a white sheet and draw tattoos all over your face, you'd be Ghost Malone.
• You could be a disembodied voice. Oh no wait. That's kind of my thing.
• Dress in yellow and white, then put on some little red horns, and be a deviled egg.
• Jump up and down, over and over, and shake your fist. You can tell people you're antigravity.

Asking ‌Siri‌ for a Halloween costume idea is a feature that's been around for almost a decade now, but it's easy to forget the option exists, and there are also typically new costume suggestions to see each year.

In addition to suggesting Halloween costumes, ‌Siri‌ can also read a selection of Halloween poems to you.

‌Siri‌ can give costume suggestions on iOS 17, iOS 18, and earlier versions of iOS, as well as macOS and Apple Watch.

We're nearing the end of the iOS 18.1 beta testing process, but Apple is continuing to make tweaks to refine built-in features ahead of when the software launches. With testing winding down, there are fewer new additions, but Apple has made changes worth noting. The new beta is available for both developers and public beta testers.

Control Center

In the Control Center, Apple has added new separate toggles for Satellite and AirDrop, so these can be added to Control Center setups as individual buttons for the first time.

Prior to now, Satellite and AirDrop were only accessible through the all-in-one Connectivity control. With these additions, there are separate Control Center options for all of the following connectivity features:

• Airplane Mode
• Cellular Data
• Personal Hotspot
• AirDrop
• Bluetooth
• Satellite
• VPN
• Wi-Fi

Apple has also added new Measure and Level controls to the Control Center. Measure opens up the Measure app, while Level opens up the Measure app to the included Level feature.

Notification Summaries

The Notification Summary feature that is part of Apple Intelligence includes a minor update in the latest beta. When you have a notification stack with a count on it on the Lock Screen, the number now takes on the color of your wallpaper.

Apple Music

Apple Music now has an option to share ‌Apple Music‌ songs directly on TikTok. To do so, tap on Share Song and then choose TikTok from the list of apps.

Sleep Apnea Detection

If you've been running iOS 18.1 since before the Apple Watch Series 10 models came out, the sixth beta of iOS 18.1 finally adds support for sleep apnea detection and breathing disturbances readings.

After updating to iOS 18.1, you can go to the Health app and search for Breathing Disturbances to find the setting to turn on sleep apnea alerts. Sleep apnea notifications won't be sent until the Apple Watch has collected at least 10 days of Breathing Disturbance information, according to Apple. Data is analyzed every 30 days, and an alert is sent at that point.

Data for sleep apnea detection and Breathing Disturbance information is not collected until the update is installed and sleep apnea alerts are turned on.

Many people already had access to sleep apnea alerts through the base iOS 18 update, but people who were running the betas were never able to download the software that added alerts back in September.

Wallet App

In the Wallet app, if you have an Apple Card and your Daily Cash goes to a savings account, you'll no longer see the savings account balance on the main ‌Apple Card‌ screen. Instead, you can tap on the savings button to get your current account balance.

Camera Control

On the iPhone 16 models, if you hold down the Camera Control button with a light press, you will now see a bar underneath the adjustment options. It's not clear what the bar is for, but perhaps it's meant to let users know that more options are available with a swipe.

Apple Intelligence Splash Screens

With the launch of iOS 18.1 creeping closer, there are now splash screens introducing the new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in many apps. In Mail, for example, Apple highlights Message Summaries, Priority Messages, and Smart Replies. In the App Store app, the splash screen lets users know that natural language search is available in the ‌App Store‌ and Apple Arcade.

Release Date

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to release iOS 18.1 on Monday, October 28.

Mac Studio and Mac Pro machines that are equipped with Apple's next-generation M4 chips will be some of the last Macs to be refreshed with the new chip technology, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in this week's Power On newsletter.

The ‌Mac Studio‌ is set to come out somewhere around the middle of the year in 2025, which could mean a June debut at WWDC, while the ‌Mac Pro‌ will come out sometime in the second half of 2025. The distinction between the middle of the year and the second half of 2025 suggests the ‌Mac Pro‌ is likely to launch around fall 2025.

Both the ‌Mac Pro‌ and the ‌Mac Studio‌ will use Apple's M4 Ultra chips, which have yet to be announced. So far, we've only seen the standard M4 chip, which has come out in the iPad Pro.

Apple is gearing up to release new MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac machines with M4 chips in October, with the MacBook Air to follow sometime in early 2025.

Apple is planning to launch the first M4 Macs in early November, and new benchmarks for one of the upcoming models surfaced on Geekbench, giving us some insight into how the M4 Mac will perform compared to the M4 iPad Pro and prior-generation M3 Macs.

The "Mac16,1" that was benchmarked features a 10-core CPU and it earned a single-core score of 3864 and a multi-core score of 15288.

Comparatively, the base M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ with 9-core CPU has an aggregate single-core score of 3647, and a multi-core score of 13135. The ‌iPad Pro‌ models have either a 9-core CPU or a 10-core CPU depending on storage capacity, and 10-core models have higher multi-core scores of around 14500 on Geekbench.

When pitting the M4 against the M3 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU that was used in last year's Macs, single-core performance is up 26.7 percent, and multi-core performance is up 30.6 percent. The M3 iMac, for example, has a single-core score of 3048, and a multi-core score of 11708.

In the ‌iPad Pro‌, Apple said the M4 was up to 25 percent faster than the M3, and M4 performance in Macs will be the same or better. Note that this is just one benchmark, so there will be some variability in scores when the machines are actually released.

Metal scores for one of the new M4 Macs also surfaced today, and GPU performance is roughly on par with the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ chip. Mac16,1, which has 16GB RAM, earned a Metal score of 57603. The M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ has a Metal score of 53374. The M4 Macs will likely perform a little bit better due to thermal differences, but again, there is variance in scores.

The M4 chip showing up on Geekbench is the standard M4, and it will be used in the Mac mini and 14-inch MacBook Pro models. We are also expecting to see M4 Pro and M4 Max chips for the higher-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ and ‌Mac mini‌ models, and benchmark results for those machines have not yet surfaced. The M3 chip had a Metal score of 47414, suggesting GPU performance will improve around 20 percent year-over-year.

Apple will likely hold a small event to announce the new M4 Macs toward the end of October, with a launch to follow on November 1.

Alleged photos and videos of an unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 chip continue to surface on social media, in what could be the worst product leak for Apple since an employee accidentally left an iPhone 4 prototype at a bar in California in 2010.

The latest video of what could be a next-generation MacBook Pro was shared on YouTube Shorts today by Russian channel Romancev768, just one day after another Russian channel shared a similar video. The clip shows a box for a 14-inch MacBook Pro that is apparently configured with an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a Space Black finish.

According to the "About This Mac" software menu shown in the video, the MacBook Pro in the video is allegedly an unreleased November 2024 model.

Given this MacBook Pro has the standard M4 chip, instead of a higher-end M4 Pro or M4 Max chip, the leaked unit could be the next entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro. If so, that means the minimum amount of RAM for the MacBook Pro lineup would be doubled from 8GB to 16GB, as previously rumored. A third Thunderbolt 4 port would also be an upgrade for the base model, as the current entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is equipped with only two Thunderbolt 3 ports. Last, Space Black would be a new color option for the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, as the base model is currently only offered in Space Gray and Silver.

All other specifications listed on the box are familiar, including the display size and resolution, and other ports like MagSafe 3, HDMI, and an SD card slot. In addition, the 14-inch MacBook Pro does not appear to have any noticeable design changes.

Photos of this alleged MacBook Pro box were first shared by the leaker "ShrimpApplePro" on social media platform X last week. At the time, the authenticity of the photos was debated, particularly because the box reuses the same MacBook Pro graphic that appears on the current-generation MacBook Pro boxes. The two unboxing videos increase the likelihood of these leaks being legitimate, but there is no definitive proof.

The source of these leaks is unclear. Last week, "ShrimpApplePro" claimed that at least one of the unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro units was apparently being offered for sale in a private Facebook group. In a follow-up post on X on Sunday, the leaker claimed that he saw someone online who was apparently advertising 200 of the unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro units for sale, leading him to believe this leak originates from a warehouse. It is unclear if these details are accurate, but this whole situation is clearly very sketchy.

Even if these leaks are fake, some of the specifications shown are likely accurate regardless. For example, the M4 chip already debuted in the iPad Pro earlier this year, and from that we know that the chip is indeed available with up to a 10-core CPU.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Sunday said that he expects Apple to announce the first Macs with the M4 series of chips around the end of October, including a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, a redesigned Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chips, and an iMac with the M4 chip. He said Apple plans to release "at least some" of these Macs on Friday, November 1.

Gurman previously said that Apple would likely hold an October event this year to announce the new Macs, similar to how it introduced the current MacBook Pro and iMac models with M3 chips during a virtual event on October 30 last year. Apple has yet to announce an October event this year, however, and press releases are always possible instead.

Apple is well known for having a culture of secrecy, so this magnitude of leak is rarely seen for its products. As previously mentioned, this could be the most significant leak for Apple since Gizmodo obtained and shared photos of an iPhone 4 prototype that a then-employee of the company accidentally left behind at a bar in California. In that case, Apple got law enforcement involved, but how it acts this time around remains to be seen.