MacRumors

Apple this week debuted its M4 Mac models, unveiling the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. So how do the three latest-generation Apple silicon chips compare and which should you choose?

The MacBook Pro is the only product line currently available with a choice of all three M4 chips, but you will also have to choose between the M4 and M4 Pro chip when buying a Mac mini. All of the differences between the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips are listed below:

M4	M4 Pro	M4 Max
Up to 10 CPU cores (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores)	Up to 14 CPU cores (10 performance + 4 efficiency cores)	Up to 16 CPU cores (12 performance + 4 efficiency cores)
Up to 10 GPU cores	Up to 20 GPU cores	Up to 40 GPU cores
120GB/s memory bandwidth	273GB/s memory bandwidth	546GB/s memory bandwidth
Up to 32GB memory	Up to 64GB memory	Up to 128GB memory
Media Engine with one video encode engine and one ProRes accelerator	Media Engine with one video encode engine and one ProRes accelerator	Media Engine with two video encode engines and two ProRes accelerators
Thunderbolt 4 support (up to 40Gb/s)	Thunderbolt 5 support (up to 120Gb/s)	Thunderbolt 5 support (up to 120Gb/s)
11- and 13-inch iPad Pro (2024) 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ (2024) ‌Mac mini‌ (2024) iMac (2024)	14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ (2024) 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ (2024) ‌Mac mini‌ (2024)	14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ (2024) 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ (2024)

Benchmarks for the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips are yet to be seen, but performance is likely to scale similarly to the M3 series of chips.

The M4 chip is an ideal choice for everyday users who need dependable performance for typical productivity tasks, web browsing, and media consumption. With up to 10 CPU and GPU cores and support for up to 32GB of memory, it easily handles lightweight workflows without draining battery life excessively. Devices like the ‌iPad Pro‌, 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, ‌Mac mini‌, and ‌iMac‌ offer this chip, providing great value for those prioritizing efficiency over intensive workflows.

For users who frequently handle intensive applications and multitasking but don't have extreme performance demands, the M4 Pro strikes an excellent balance. With its added CPU and GPU cores, faster memory bandwidth, and support for Thunderbolt 5, the M4 Pro is a smart choice for video editing, graphic design, and advanced multitasking. It's available in both the ‌Mac mini‌ and the 14- and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

Finally, the M4 Max is engineered for power users with high-performance needs, such as 3D rendering, complex data processing, or heavy-duty video production. With up to 16 CPU cores, 40 GPU cores, and 128GB of unified memory, the M4 Max is equipped to handle the most intensive workflows. It's a good fit for those who require top-tier performance across the CPU and GPU. It is currently exclusively available in Apple's 14- and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

At least one iPhone 17 model launching next year will be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

All current iPhone models are equipped with a combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip supplied by Broadcom, but Kuo expects Apple to equip "nearly all" of its products with its own in-house Wi-Fi chip "within about three years." The analyst said this move would reduce Apple's component costs and further bolster Apple's hardware and software integration.

All four iPhone 16 models already support Wi-Fi 7 with Broadcom's chip, but with some limited specifications. Kuo said Apple's in-house Wi-Fi chip will support "the latest Wi-Fi 7 spec," but he did not provide any further details. The chip will be manufactured with TSMC's 7nm manufacturing process known as N7, he added.

Kuo has aligned with information shared last year by Jeff Pu, another analyst who covers companies within Apple's supply chain. Pu said the iPhone 17 Pro models would be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, and he said the in-house chip would expand to the entire iPhone 18 lineup the following year.

Apple is also expected to launch its own 5G chip next year, starting in the next iPhone SE and the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 model at a minimum. There have been conflicting rumors about whether the Apple-designed 5G and Wi-Fi chips will be separate chips, or one combined chip with 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS capabilities.

Wi-Fi 7 allows for data transmission over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously with a supported router, resulting in faster Wi-Fi speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity. Wi-Fi 7 can provide peak speeds of over 40 Gbps, a 4× increase over Wi-Fi 6E, if a device supports the maximum specifications.

Nintendo has released Nintendo Music, a new music streaming app that gives Nintendo Switch Online subscribers access to soundtracks from the company's extensive game library.

The app features music from popular Nintendo franchises including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon. Songs are organized by game, character, and themed playlists like "boss battles" and "victory themes." Nintendo has also included mood-based playlists featuring relaxing or upbeat tracks.

There's a spoiler prevention feature that allows users to hide soundtracks from games they haven't completed, thereby avoiding potential story reveals through music. The app also includes an extended play function that can loop selected tracks for up to 60 minutes of continuous playback.

Nintendo Music supports both streaming and offline listening through downloads, and users can create custom playlists in addition to accessing Nintendo's curated collections. Character-specific playlists are available as well, such as a collection of K.K. Slider's performances from Animal Crossing.

Access to Nintendo Music requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, but it can be used by members on a free trial. The service is additionally available to all users included in a Switch Online Family membership plan.

The app's release comes as Nintendo has taken a stricter stance on unofficial uploads of its music to platforms like YouTube, indicating this may be part of a strategy to provide official access to its game soundtracks. Nintendo Music is available now as a free download on the App Store in supported regions. [Direct Link]

Apple CEO Tim Cook today said his company will be making a donation of an unspecified amount towards relief efforts on the ground in Valencia, Spain, following deadly flash floods in the region caused by torrential rainfall on Tuesday.

"We're thinking of all those impacted by the devastating flash floods in the region of Valencia, Spain," said Cook, in a social media post. "Apple will be making a donation to help with relief efforts on the ground."

Apple has donated to the Red Cross for relief efforts on many occasions.

Over the past five weeks, Apple similarly pledged to donate towards relief efforts in the U.S. following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today said the Vision Pro will be launching in South Korea and the United Arab Emirates on Friday, November 15.

In a press release for South Korea, Apple said the Vision Pro will be available to pre-order there starting Monday, November 4 at 10 a.m. local time. In another press release, Apple said pre-orders in the United Arab Emirates begin on the same day at 5 a.m. local time.

Apple now has localized Vision Pro and visionOS 2 pages in South Korea and the United Arab Emirates with more details. In South Korea, Apple said customers will be able to schedule a 30-minute Vision Pro demo at an Apple Store in the country. Apple said it plans to share more details about this experience after pre-orders begin.

Apple first released the Vision Pro in the U.S. in February, with pricing starting at $3,499. In June and July, the headset launched in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the U.K., China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. With the additions of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, the headset will be available in 12 countries and regions.

In July, research firm IDC estimated that Vision Pro sales would total less than 500,000 units this year. In a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that the Vision Pro is not a mass-market product due to its high price.

"At $3,500, it's not a mass-market product," said Cook. "Right now, it's an early-adopter product. People who want to have tomorrow's technology today—that's who it's for. Fortunately, there's enough people who are in that camp that it's exciting."

Apple introduced new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro models this week, adding faster and more efficient M4 chips, along with some other updates like Thunderbolt 5 and nano-texture display options for some models. One upgrade we thought we might see was support for the latest Wi-Fi specification, but the new machines did not get a Wi-Fi 7 upgrade.

All of the new M4 Macs continue to offer Wi-Fi 6E, and while it does allow for access to the 6GHz band on supported Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers, it's not the latest and greatest technology.

It is surprising that Apple opted out of updating the new machines with Wi-Fi 7 because all of the iPhone 16 models that came out in September feature Wi-Fi 7 chips from Broadcom. The iPhones support the 802.11be Wi-Fi 7 standard with 2x2 MIMO, but there is a caveat with the ‌iPhone 16‌ models that takes a little bit of the sting away from not getting Wi-Fi 7 in Macs.

Apple's Wi-Fi specifications page confirms that the Wi-Fi 7 chips in the ‌iPhone 16‌ models have a maximum physical layer data rate of 2400Mb/s and a maximum channel bandwidth of 160MHz, which is the same performance as the Wi-Fi 6E chips in the iPhone 15 Pro models and the M3 Mac models with Wi-Fi 6E on 6GHz networks (Apple's chart hasn't been updated for M4, but presumably the Wi-Fi 6E chips have not changed).

Wi-Fi 7 in the ‌iPhone 16‌ models does up the maximum data rate when connected to 5GHz bands compared to the Wi-Fi 6E chips used in Macs and iPads, but Apple does not support the full 320MHz bandwidth with its Wi-Fi 7 implementation. Wi-Fi 7 offers up to 320MHz bandwidth to accommodate more devices, but Apple has limited bandwidth to 160MHz, so ‌iPhone 16‌ models don't take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7 despite having a Wi-Fi 7 chip. That limitation has been a disappointment, but the ‌iPhone 16‌ models do support Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for connecting to multiple bands at the same time for faster data transmission and lower latency on supported networks.

Apple certainly could have opted for a Wi-Fi 7 chip without limitations in the M4 Mac models, especially for the more expensive M4 Pro and M4 Max machines, but that didn't happen. Given that people often keep Macs for several years, it is curious that Apple opted not to offer this bit of future proofing in the Mac line. MLO would have been nice to have for gaming applications, streaming, and video conferencing, especially as people upgrade their networks in the coming years.

Customers who plan on purchasing one of the new M4 Macs should know that these machines continue to offer Wi-Fi 6E features and lack the faster speeds and the latency benefits that come with Wi-Fi 7.

After announcing new iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro models this week, Apple invited selected journalists and content creators to check out the products in person.

The Verge attended the gathering, and it has now shared hands-on photos of the dramatically smaller Mac mini, the refreshed color options for the iMac, the updated Magic accessories with USB-C ports, and more. We have highlighted a few of these photos below, and we encourage you to check out their article for a complete gallery.

There are also some hands-on videos, including ones from Brian Tong and AppleDsign:

All of the products are available to order now. The new Magic accessories have already started arriving to customers, and the new Macs launch Friday, November 8.

All new MacBook Pro and iMac models unveiled this week feature an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with Center Stage and Desk View support.

Apple says the new camera provides "enhanced video quality in challenging lighting conditions."

Center Stage is a feature that automatically keeps you centered in the camera's view as you move around, while Desk View can show others on a video call both a view of your face and an overhead view of your desk at the same time.

Center Stage is available in video calling apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The feature was previously limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to Apple's external Studio Display. The new MacBook Pro and iMac models are the first Macs to support Center Stage without needing to rely on a Studio Display.

The new MacBook Pro and iMac models are available to order now and will begin arriving to customers on Friday, November 8.

The new MacBook Pro models unveiled today feature display brightness enhancements in both bright outdoor lighting and low lighting.

Apple's tech specs page says all of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models have a peak display brightness of 1,000 nits for standard content in bright outdoor lighting, such as on a sunny day. The previous-generation MacBook Pro models have a peak display brightness of 600 nits for standard content, in any lighting conditions.

Keep in mind that apps like Vivid allow you to unlock full-screen HDR brightness levels of up to 1,000 nits at any time on MacBook Pro models with the Liquid Retina XDR display, but this will obviously drain your battery faster.

Just like all iPhone 16 models and select Apple Watch models, Apple's website says the latest MacBook Pro displays can dim to one nit in "low-light situations." The minimum brightness for previous-generation MacBook Pro models was two nits.

Display brightness specifications for HDR content have not changed on the latest MacBook Pro models compared to the previous models.

The new MacBook Pro models can be pre-ordered now and launch on Friday, November 8. To learn more about other new features, read our earlier coverage of Apple's announcements for the base 14-inch MacBook Pro and the higher-end MacBook Pros.

Apple today introduced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips. Although these computers were just announced, Best Buy is already providing early pre-order discounts exclusively to My Best Buy Plus and Total members at up to $150 off.

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

Discounts start at $50 off for the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro (10-core/512GB), available at $1,549.00 for My Best Buy Plus/Total members. Best Buy also has numerous 16-inch M4 Pro/M4 Max models on sale, including the 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro (16-core/1TB) for $3,849.00 for members, down from $3,999.00.

The new M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models feature a minimum of 24GB of Unified Memory, as well as three Thunderbolt 5 ports. All models of the computer include an improved Liquid Retina XDR display, new 12MP Center Stage camera, improved battery life, a MagSafe 3 port, a headphone jack, and support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

You can read more about the new MacBook Pro in our dedicated post. Apple today also updated the MacBook Air line with increased 16GB of RAM, but we haven't tracked discounts yet on these new models.

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

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Customers who have pre-ordered an M4 iMac, Mac mini, or MacBook Pro will need to update to the latest version of macOS Sequoia after receiving their machines on Friday, November 8.

Apple today released ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 (build number 24B2083) for the new M4 Mac models, which are shipping with a special version of ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.0 (build number 24A8332).

Out of the box, the M4 ‌iMac‌, ‌Mac mini‌, and ‌MacBook Pro‌ will not support Apple Intelligence, so to get ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features, customers will need to install ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1. Restoring from a backup of a machine already running ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 will also necessitate a software upgrade during the transfer process.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 introduces the first Apple Intelligence capabilities, adding Writing Tools, new Siri features and design, notification summaries, smart replies, and more. The update also includes drag and drop for iPhone Mirroring and it enables hearing health features for the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple this week announced new iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro models, and they are all available with a minimum of 16GB of RAM. Apple also announced that the MacBook Air lineup now starts with 16GB of RAM too, at no additional cost, and this means that the entire Mac lineup now starts with at least 16GB of RAM.

Until now, the iMac, Mac mini, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air all started with 8GB of RAM, leading to criticism from some Apple customers in recent years.

Last year, an Apple marketing employee attempted to argue that 8GB of RAM in a Mac was probably analogous to 16GB of RAM in Windows PCs, given how efficient the unified memory is in M-series chips. Whether you believed that or not, you can rest assured that any new Mac sold by Apple today actually comes with a minimum of 16GB of RAM.

The latest Mac Studio and Mac Pro already started with 32GB and 64GB of RAM, respectively.

Apple this week made three key Mac product announcements: new iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro models. These machines bring the M4 chip series to Apple's Mac lineup for the first time, but each in its own way offers several new features and changes that go beyond processors.

Below, we've compiled a recap of all the highlights.

New iMac

Apple on Monday announced its latest 24-inch iMac, bringing the M4 chip to the all-in-one desktop computer. The iMac with M4 delivers up to 1.7x faster performance for daily productivity tasks and 2.1x faster speeds for demanding workflows like photo editing and gaming, according to Apple.

The base model now includes 16GB of RAM, double the amount of the previous entry-level configuration, with an option for up to 32GB. For the M4 iMac models with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, all four of the USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4 transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s. The prior-generation M3 iMac with four ports had two Thunderbolt 3 ports and two USB-3 ports. The 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU models only have two ports, but both of those are Thunderbolt 4. All of the USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports also support USB 4 and USB 3.1 Gen 2.

Key features of the new iMac include:

• New 12MP front camera with Center Stage and Desk View support.
• New color options including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue.
• Optional nano-texture display for further reduced glare (+$200).
• Four Thunderbolt 4 ports on higher-end models (up from two Thunderbolt 3 ports).
• Support for up to an 8K external display at 60Hz with M4 chip with 10-core CPU/GPU.

The updated iMac is available to order now. Pricing starts at $1,299 for the 8-core CPU/GPU version, while the 10-core CPU/GPU models with four ports are priced starting at $1,499. The first orders will arrive to customers and in-store availability will begin on Friday, November 8.

New Mac mini

Apple on Tuesday introduced completely redesigned Mac mini models featuring the company's latest M4 and M4 Pro chips. The new Mac mini boasts a dramatically smaller footprint, enhanced connectivity, and significant performance gains over the previous generation.

The new machine's enclosure measures just five inches square, thanks to a new thermal architecture that guides air through the device's foot to efficiently cool the system. As part of the redesign, Apple has relocated the power button to the bottom of the enclosure.

Here are the standout features of the redesigned Mac mini:

• M4 chip with up to 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, or M4 Pro chip with up to 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU.
• Up to 64GB memory on M4 Pro model, with 16GB now standard on base M4 model.
• Two USB-C ports on the front and three Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back (M4 Pro model). The M4 model continues to have Thunderbolt 4 ports.
• Up to 2x faster GPU performance than M1 model with M4 Pro.
• Apple's first carbon-neutral Mac.

The base model with M4 chip starts at just $599, making it Apple's most affordable Mac. Pre-orders for the new Mac mini are open now, with availability beginning Friday, November 8.

New MacBook Pro

Apple on Wednesday announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, alongside a new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M4 chip.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, and is up to 1.8x faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 for tasks like editing gigapixel photos, while more demanding workloads like rendering complex scenes in Blender are up to 3.4x faster, according to Apple. It also features up to 24 hours of battery life, the longest ever in a Mac.

Key enhancements in the new base model M4 MacBook Pro include:

• 16GB of unified memory now standard, doubling the previous base configuration.
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, up from two Thunderbolt 3 ports in the predecessor.
• Support for up to two 6K external displays, even with the laptop lid open.
• Space Black color option, previously exclusive to higher-end models with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips.

Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip offers up to a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, delivering up to 3x faster performance than the M1 Pro, while the M4 Max model boasts up to a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, providing a 3.5x boost over the M1 Max. Both models now include a minimum of 24GB of unified memory, with the M4 Max supporting up to 128GB.

Key enhancements in the new M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models include:

• Three Thunderbolt 5 ports with speeds up to 120 Gb/s and support for native DisplayPort 2.1 output.
• Improved Liquid Retina XDR display with nano-texture glass option for enhanced viewing in bright environments.
• 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View for simultaneous face and desk visibility during video calls.
• 14 inch: Up to 22 hours of battery life on M4 Pro model and 18 hours on M4 Max.
• 16-inch: Up to 24 hours of battery life on M4 Pro model and 21 hours on M4 Max.
• Support for up to two 6K external displays on M4 Pro and four displays (three 6K over Thunderbolt, one 8K over HDMI) on M4 Max.

The updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are available to order now, with prices starting at $1,599. The first orders will reach customers and stores on Friday, November 8.

Other Notable Highlights This Week

• MacBook Air Now Starts With Increased 16GB of RAM With No Price Bump
• Apple Updates Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad With USB-C Ports
• Mac Pro Now Comes With USB-C Accessories, Including Magic Mouse and Keyboard
• Apple Now Selling Thunderbolt 5 Cable for M4 Mac Mini and MacBook Pro
• Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.1 With Apple Intelligence
• Apple Releases iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 With Apple Intelligence
• Apple Confirms iOS 18.2 With Image Playground, Genmoji and Siri ChatGPT Integration Will Launch in December

What excited you most about Apple's announcements this week? Let us know in the comments.

Apple's new MacBook Pro models feature longer battery life thanks to the efficiency enhancements of the M4 family of chips, with some models and configurations reaching up to 24 hours—the longest ever offered in a Mac.

The biggest improvements come to models configured with either the M4 or M4 Pro chip, with M4 Max models seeing either the same or slightly worse battery life than their predecessors. The battery life of the latest MacBook Pro models compared to models from the past three years are listed below:

16-Inch MacBook Pro Battery Life

	M1 (2021)	M2 (2022)	M3 (2023)	M4 (2024)
Pro	21 hours	22 hours	22 hours	24 hours
Max	21 hours	22 hours	22 hours	21 hours

13- and 14-Inch MacBook Pro Battery Life

	‌M1‌ (2020–2021)	‌M2‌ (2022)	M3 (2023)	M4 (2024)
(Standard)	20 hours	[N/A]	22 hours	24 hours
Pro	17 hours	18 hours	18 hours	22 hours
Max	17 hours	18 hours	18 hours	18 hours

The new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models are available to pre-order starting today and they will be available beginning Friday, November 8. Pricing starts at $1,599 for the 14-inch model and $2,499 for the 16-inch model.

Apple just unveiled the first Mac mini redesign in over a decade. The previous major updates to the device were the transition to Apple silicon in 2020 and the option of a Pro-grade chip in 2023, so how does the latest model compare to its two immediate predecessors?

The new ‌Mac mini‌ looks dramatically different to previous models thanks to a markedly smaller enclosure and two front USB-C ports, but it is also much more powerful thanks to the M4 and M4 Pro chips. All of the hardware differences between the 2020, 2023, and 2024 ‌Mac mini‌ models are detailed below:

‌Mac mini‌ (late 2020)	‌Mac mini‌ (early 2023)	‌Mac mini‌ (late 2024)
Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm)	Height: 1.41 inches (3.58 cm)	Height: 2.0 inches (5.0 cm)
Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm)	Width: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm)	Width: 5.0 inches (12.7 cm)
Depth: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm)	Depth: 7.75 inches (19.70 cm)	Depth: 5.0 inches (12.7 cm)
Weight: 2.6 pounds (1.18 kg)	Weight (M2): 2.6 pounds (1.18 kg) Weight (M2 Pro): 2.8 pounds (1.28 kg)	Weight (M4): 1.5 pounds (0.67 kg) Weight (M4 Pro): 1.6 pounds (0.73 kg)
Thermal design with rear air intake and exhaust	Thermal design with rear air intake and exhaust	New thermal design that drives air up through the base
Rear power button	Rear power button	Bottom power button
Wi-Fi 6	Wi-Fi 6E	Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
3.5mm headphone jack	3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones	3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
HDMI 2.0	M2: HDMI 2.0 M2 Pro: HDMI 2.1	HDMI 2.1
Two rear USB-A ports	Two rear USB-A ports	Two front USB-C ports
Two Thunderbolt 3/USB4 USB-C ports	M2: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports M2 Pro: Four Thunderbolt 4 ports	M4: Three Thunderbolt 4 ports M4 Pro: Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
Maximum of two external displays	Maximum of three external displays	Maximum of three external displays
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage	M2: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage M2 Pro: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB storage	M4: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage M4 Pro: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB storage

The chips offered across the three ‌Mac mini‌ generations are a key point of difference. These changes are outlined below:

‌Mac mini‌ (late 2020)	‌Mac mini‌ (early 2023)	‌Mac mini‌ (late 2024)
M1 chip (made with TSMC's 5nm (N5) process)	M2 or ‌M2‌ Pro chip (made with TSMC's enhanced 5nm (N5P) process)	M4 or M4 Pro chip (made with TSMC's enhanced 3nm (N3E) process)
8 CPU cores (4 performance + 4 efficiency)	M2: 8 CPU cores (4 performance + 4 efficiency) M2 Pro: 10 or 12 CPU cores (6 or 8 performance + 4 efficiency)	M4: 10 CPU cores (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores) M4 Pro: 12 or 14 CPU cores (8 or 10 performance + 4 efficiency)
3.23 GHz maximum CPU clock speed	3.50 GHz maximum CPU clock speed	4.30 GHz maximum CPU clock speed
8 GPU cores	M2: 10 GPU cores M2 Pro: 16 or 19 GPU cores	M4: 10 GPU cores M4 Pro: 16 or 20 GPU cores
		Updated GPU architecture with improved efficiency
		Hardware-accelerated ray-tracing
		Dynamic caching
Video decode engine	Higher-bandwidth video decode engine	Higher-bandwidth video decode engine
Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC	Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW	Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW
	ProRes encode and decode engine	ProRes encode and decode engine
		Support for AV1 decode
LPDDR4X memory	LPDDR5 memory	LPDDR5X memory
68.25GB/s memory bandwidth	M2: 100GB/s memory bandwidth M2 Pro: 200GB/s memory bandwidth	M4: 120GB/s memory bandwidth M4 Pro: 273GB/s memory bandwidth
8GB or 16GB memory	M2: 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB memory M2 Pro: 16GB or 32GB memory	M4: 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB memory M4 Pro: 24GB, 48GB, or 64GB memory
16-core Neural Engine, 11 trillion operations per second	16-core Neural Engine, 15.8 trillion operations per second	16-core Neural Engine, 38 trillion operations per second
		Dedicated display engine

The M4 and M4 Pro ‌Mac mini‌ represent the most significant update to Apple's compact desktop in years, marking an evolution not only in performance but in design and functionality as well. The new, dramatically smaller enclosure, improved thermal design, and front USB-C ports are standout changes that make the M4 Mac mini much more versatile. For users who prioritize compactness and connectivity without sacrificing power, these design upgrades alone make the 2024 ‌Mac mini‌ an appealing choice.

In terms of performance, the M4 and M4 Pro chips offer substantial advancements. With higher clock speeds, more efficient core architecture, and memory bandwidth improvements, the ‌M4 Mac mini‌ brings noticeable gains in performance over the ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ models. The new chips also introduce hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, support for AV1 decoding, and an updated GPU architecture, which are particularly beneficial for users in graphic design, video editing, and other GPU-intensive tasks. Paired with LPDDR5X memory, these upgrades make the ‌Mac mini‌ more competitive than ever, even nearing the capabilities of the Mac Studio for many professional workflows.

For ‌M1‌ ‌Mac mini‌ users, the latest model is a compelling upgrade that delivers tangible improvements in speed, graphics capability, and future-proofing. The leap in Neural Engine performance alone, which now handles 38 trillion operations per second, will significantly enhance AI-driven tasks and applications. Even ‌M2‌ ‌Mac mini‌ users may find the M4 and M4 Pro models tempting, given the design overhaul and even more high-end configuration options.

However, ‌M2‌ Pro users who already have a higher-spec configuration may not find the jump to the latest model as essential, especially if their needs are already being met by their current machine's power and capabilities. For these users, it might be worth waiting for an even more transformative update later down the line.

What is clear is that the M4 and M4 Pro ‌Mac mini‌ provide a noteworthy upgrade for users seeking a high-performance, compact, and cost-effective desktop Mac. The latest generation blurs the line between the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌, delivering substantial power and formidable specifications in a much smaller footprint. It stands out as one of the best-value options for desktop computing in Apple's lineup, making it an excellent choice for many users.

Apple's new MacBook Pro models are available with a nano-texture display option—the first time the option has ever been available on an Apple laptop.

First introduced with the Pro Display XDR in 2019, nano-texture glass is etched at a nanometer scale, which is meant to preserve image quality while scattering ambient light to cut down on glare. It is the most matte display type that Apple makes, and Apple claims that it is useful for high-end, color-managed workflows or demanding ambient lighting environments.

The new MacBook Pro introduces an all-new nano-texture display option that dramatically reduces glare and distractions from reflections. In bright lighting conditions, the new MacBook Pro can now show SDR content at up to 1,000 nits and still displays HDR content at up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness. All together, it’s a game-changing experience for users working outdoors.

Earlier this week, Apple reintroduced the nano-texture display option to the iMac. The MacBook Pro's nano-texture glass is a build-to-order option that costs $150, configurable at the point of purchase. It is now available across the Pro Display XDR, Studio Display, ‌iMac‌, ‌MacBook Pro‌, and iPad Pro.

Apple today shared a 17-minute announcement video on YouTube for the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, which feature M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chip options, Thunderbolt 5 support for higher-end configurations, and more.

To learn more, read our coverage of Apple's announcements for the base 14-inch MacBook Pro and the higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch models.

Apple also shared an ad for the M4 chip, which is shown after the end credits in the full 17-minute announcement video as well:

The new MacBook Pro models are available to pre-order today and launch on Friday, November 8.

Be sure to check out Apple's video announcement for the new iMac and the new Mac mini if you missed those earlier this week.

Apple today in its new MacBook Pro press release announced that the MacBook Air lineup now starts with 16GB of RAM, up from 8GB previously.

This change applies to the 13-inch model with the M2 chip, the 13-inch model with the M3 chip, and the 15-inch model with the M3 chip.

In the U.S., the MacBook Air lineup continues to start at $999, so there is no price increase associated with the boost in RAM.

Apple:

MacBook Air is the world's most popular laptop, and with Apple Intelligence, it's even better. Now, models with M2 and M3 double the starting memory to 16GB, while keeping the starting price at just $999 — a terrific value for the world's best-selling laptop.

In addition, the highest-end MacBook Air configurations now include 24GB of RAM at no extra cost, as part of a corresponding lineup adjustment.

This increase comes after Apple announced new iMac, Mac mini, and base 14-inch MacBook Pro models this week with a minimum of 16GB of RAM as well, ending the 8GB of RAM era for the Mac after years of criticism from a vocal contingent.

No other changes beyond RAM were announced for the MacBook Air today.

The latest 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M3 chip were released in March, and new models with the M4 chip are expected in March again next year.