Tag: mac mini

Apple to Skip M3-Powered Mac Mini, Will Launch M4 Model as Soon as Late 2024: Report

Apple is said to be planning an overhaul of its entire Mac line of computers with the in-house M4 chipset capable of delivering artificial intelligence (AI)-based features. The Cupertino, California-based company launched its M3-powered MacBook Pro models and a 24-inch M3 iMac last year, before introducing new MacBook Air models with M3 processor in March. Apple is said to be working on refreshing the Mac mini, as well, but a new report says that the company may skip the M3 generation and launch an updated M4-powered Mac mini in late 2024.

The information comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who had previously reported that Apple could bring an M3-powered Mac mini to market in 2024. In his latest Power On newsletter, however, Gurman claimed that Apple could altogether skip the M3 Mac mini and instead focus on refreshing the model with its next-generation M4 chipset.

In the Q&A section of his newsletter (via MacRumors), Gurman said that he was not expecting an M3 Mac mini to hit the shelves this year. This development comes a week after Gurman had claimed that M4 and M4 Pro-powered Mac mini models would arrive between the end of 2024 and early 2025. In his latest newsletter, he doubles down on the claim, explaining that the possible launch of an M4 Mac mini as soon as the end of 2024 would leave no “room for M3 models to come out before then, so it’s probably safe to say that those Mac desktops will skip the M3 generation.”

Last year in July, Gurman had reported that an M3-powered Mac mini would likely come out in 2024. Since then, Apple has refreshed its Mac lineup with the M3 chip but continues to sell M2 and M2 Pro-powered Mac mini models, launched in January 2023.

Apple debuted its 3nm M3 chipset with new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro variants, alongside a sole 24-inch M3 iMac, at its Scary Fast event in October last year. The new MacBook Pro lineup runs on M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max family of chipsets. Earlier this year in March, the company refreshed its MacBook Air line with the M3 processor, unveiling 13 and 15-inch models.

Apple last updated the Mac mini in January 2023 with M2 and M2 Pro chipsets. Currently, the M2 Mac mini is available in three configurations — M2-powered Mac minis with 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD storage, and 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage; and an M2 Pro-powered Mac mini with 10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Apple intended to overhaul its entire Mac lineup with AI-focussed M4 processor. The company is reportedly nearing production of the next-generation M4 chip, which will likely come in three main variants.

Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company’s latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Apple Plans to Overhaul Entire Mac Line With AI-Focused M4 Chips

Apple, aiming to boost sluggish computer sales, is preparing to overhaul its entire Mac line with a new family of in-house processors designed to highlight artificial intelligence.

The company, which released its first Macs with M3 chips five months ago, is already nearing production of the next generation — the M4 processor — according to people with knowledge of the matter. The new chip will come in at least three main varieties, and Apple is looking to update every Mac model with it, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven’t been announced.

The new Macs are underway at a critical time. After peaking in 2022, Mac sales fell 27 percent in the last fiscal year, which ended in September. In the holiday period, revenue from the computer line was flat. Apple attempted to breathe new life into the Mac business with an M3-focused launch event last October, but those chips didn’t bring major performance improvements over the M2 from the prior year.

Apple also is playing catch-up in AI, where it’s seen as a laggard to Microsoft, Alphabet’s Google and other tech peers. The new chips are part of a broader push to weave AI capabilities into all its products.

Apple is aiming to release the updated computers beginning late this year and extending into early next year. There will be new iMacs, a low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, and Mac minis — all with M4 chips. But the company’s plans could change. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment.

Apple shares climbed 4.3 percent to $175.04 on Thursday in New York, the biggest single-day gain in 11 months. They had been down 13 percent this year through Wednesday’s close.

The move will mark a quick refresh schedule for the iMac and MacBook Pro, as both lines were just updated in October. The Mac mini was last upgraded in January 2023.

Apple is then planning to follow up with more M4 Macs throughout 2025. That includes updates to the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air by the spring, the Mac Studio around the middle of the year, and the Mac Pro later in 2025. The MacBook Air received the M3 chip last month, while the Mac Studio and Mac Pro were updated with M2 processors last year.

The M4 chip line includes an entry-level version dubbed Donan, more powerful models named Brava and a top-end processor codenamed Hidra. The company is planning to highlight the AI processing capabilities of the components and how they’ll integrate with the next version of macOS, which will be announced in June at Apple’s annual developer conference.

The Donan chip is coming to the entry-level MacBook Pro, the new MacBook Airs and a low-end version of the Mac mini, while the Brava chips will run the high-end MacBook Pros and a pricier version of the Mac mini. For the Mac Studio, Apple is testing versions with both a still-unreleased M3-era chip and a variation of the M4 Brava processor.

The highest-end Apple desktop, the Mac Pro, is set to get the new Hidra chip. The Mac Pro remains the lower-selling model in the company’s computer lineup, but it has a vocal fan base. After some customers complained about the specifications of Apple’s in-house chips, the company is looking to beef up that machine next year.

As part of the upgrades, Apple is considering allowing its highest-end Mac desktops to support as much as a half-terabyte of memory. The current Mac Studio and Mac Pro top out at 192 gigabytes — far less capacity than on Apple’s previous Mac Pro, which used an Intel Corp. processor. The earlier machine worked with off-the-shelf memory that could be added later and handle as much as 1.5 terabytes. With Apple’s in-house chips, the memory is more deeply integrated into the main processor, making it harder to add more.

The big focus for Apple this year is to add new artificial intelligence features across its products. The company is planning to preview a slew of new features at its June developer conference. A large swath of those features are designed to run on the devices themselves — rather than in remote servers — and speedier chips will help drive those enhancements. Apple is also planning to make AI-focused upgrades to this year’s iPhone processor.

The company’s switch to in-house chips was part of a long-running initiative known as Apple Silicon. The tech giant started using its own semiconductors in the original iPad and iPhone 4 in 2010, before bringing the technology to the Mac in 2020. The goal has been to better unify its hardware and software with underlying components and move away from processors made by Intel.

So far, the effort has been a success, helping boost performance and ease the redesign of devices such as the latest MacBook Air, iMac and MacBook Pro. Apple’s Mac chips are based on the same underlying Arm Holdings Plc architecture as the processors in the iPhone and iPad, enabling thinner products with better battery life and less need for cooling fans.

© 2024 Bloomberg LP

Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company’s latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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MacBook Pro, Mac mini Refreshed With Apple M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max CPUs

Apple has taken the wraps off its latest-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops as well as the Mac mini desktop computer, now powered by M2-series processors. The long-rumoured 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) models will be available with the newly unveiled M2 Pro and M2 Max processors, while the new Mac mini features the M2 CPU with an option to step up to the M2 Pro. All new models are already available to preorder at official Apple stores including Apple’s online store, and will go on sale from January 24 in India and 26 other countries, with other countries and regions to follow.

MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) and MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) price in India and specifications

Apple has priced the new MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) starting at Rs. 1,99,900 in India while the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023) will be priced starting at Rs. 2,49,900. The company promises up to 22 hours of battery life, which is the longest ever for a Mac laptop. Both models also now support Wi-Fi 6E for faster connectivity and updated HDMI ports allowing for 8K external displays for the first time. Both are still available in Silver and Space Grey.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro will cost Rs. 1,99,900 with an M2 Pro CPU with 10 CPU cores, of which six are performance cores and four are efficiency cores. This configuration has 16 active GPU cores and a 16-core Neural Engine for AI acceleration. 16GB of integrated RAM is standard, but this can be configured to 32GB. You also get a 512GB SSD, configurable to 1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB. 

An option priced at Rs. 2,49,900 will get you a 12-core M2 Pro CPU with eight performance cores and four efficiency cores, plus a 19-core GPU. 16GB of RAM is still standard but you get a 1TB SSD. 

You can step up to the M2 Max CPU which features the same 12-core CPU configuration but a 32-core GPU. RAM is 32GB minimum, and memory bandwidth is doubled from 200GBps to 400GBps. This option will cost Rs. 3,09,900 in India.

As for the 16-inch model, prices start at Rs. 2,49,900 for the 12-core M2 Pro with a 19-core GPU, along with 32GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. There’s a pre-configured option with a 1TB SSD for Rs. 2,69,900. The variant with the 12-core M2 Max processor includes a 38-core GPU but the same other specifications as its smaller counterpart, and is priced at Rs. 3,49,900.

Custom configurations can be ordered with up to 96GB of RAM which will cost Rs. 80,000 more than a 32GB version. 8TB of storage will cost Rs. 2,20,000 more than a unit with 1TB by default. These components are not upgradeable post-purchase.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro models feature a 14.2-inch display with a 3024×1964 native resolution, while the 16-inch models have a 3456×2234 resolution. These are Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR LCD panels, with 120Hz ProMotion and up to 1000nits sustained brightness, plus full P3 colour gamut reproduction. Depending on which variant you choose, you’ll get either a 67W, 96W or 140W USB Type-C charger and a detachable MagSafe 3 cable.  

All new MacBook Pro variants have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI video output, an SDXC card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. There’s also a 1080p webcam, six-speaker sound system. The 14-inch models are 15.5mm thick and weigh up to 1.63kg while the 16-inch models are 16.8mm thick and weigh up to 2.16kg. 

The M2-powered Mac mini has two Thunderbolt 4 ports while the M2 Pro-powered version has four

 

Mac mini (2023) price in India and specifications

The new Mac mini (2023) will cost Rs. 59,900 onwards with the M2 processor and Rs. 1,29,900 onwards with the M2 Pro processor. It is available only in Silver. The base configuration priced at Rs. 59,900 features an M2 CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, plus a 10-core GPU and 16-core neural engine. Memory bandwidth is 100GBps and 8GB of RAM is standard but you can choose 16GB or 24GB at the time of purchase. The 256GB SSD can also be swapped for 512GB, 1TB or 2TB. 

The M2 Pro configuration, for Rs. 1,29,900, will get you a 10-core CPU with six performance cores and four efficiency cores, plus a 16-core GPU. 16GB of RAM is standard, with the option of 32GB, and memory bandwidth is 200GBps. You also get a 512GB SSD. This variant can support up to three external displays while its lower-priced siblings can handle two. 

All Mac mini variants have a built-in speaker and integrated power supply, two or four Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI video output, a Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB Type-A (5Gbps) ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. There’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The device weighs up to 1.28kg. With this launch, Apple has officially discontinued the last Intel-powered Mac mini.

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WWDC 2022 Keynote Today: How to Watch Livestream, What to Expect

WWDC 2022 is set to begin today, June 6. Apple is hosting its WWDC 2022 keynote in the evening (as per the Indian time) virtually to showcase its new software developments. Continuing the trend, the Cupertino company is expected to unveil the next versions of its operating systems that would be titled iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16. Some recent reports suggested that alongside its new software releases, Apple would show off some of its next-generation hardware at the keynote. It could be the new MacBook Air with M2 chip or just some incremental Mac mini and Mac Pro updates.

WWDC 2022 keynote livestream timings, how to watch online

The WWDC 2022 keynote will take place at 10am PT (10:30pm IST) today. The event will be livestreamed through Apple’s YouTube channel. It will also be streamed through the Apple.com website, Apple TV app, and the Apple Developer app. Moreover, you can watch it live from the video player embedded below.

What to expect at WWDC 2022

Similar to past years, Apple at its WWDC keynote is expected to announce a range of software-focussed developments. We can safely expect the launch of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 at the event. Additionally, there are reports to suggest the launch of some new Mac devices at the keynote. These could include the anticipated MacBook Air with M2 chip as well as new Mac mini and Mac Pro models.

iOS 16

One of the biggest attractions of this year’s WWDC is expected to be iOS 16. The new operating system for the iPhone will include updates to notifications as well as new Messages and Health apps, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. On the messaging front, the iOS 16 update is said to bring new audio-centric experiences.

Apple is reported to upgrade the interface of iOS 16 with redesigned app icons, interactive widgets, upgraded theme options, and a floating app window. Further, some improvements are said to be available on the part of the preloaded Camera app. Users could also expect lock screen enhancements such as new wallpapers and widget-like capabilities.

In addition to the regular upgrades, iOS 16 is said to have support for an always-on lock screen experience where the operating system will reduce frame rate significantly to display “glanceable information” when the display is idle. This addition, however, is expected to be enabled exclusively on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max at a later stage.

iPadOS 16

Similar to iOS 16, iPadOS 16 is expected to grab some eyeballs at this year’s WWDC keynote. The new iPadOS version will get an improved multitasking experience that would be similar to that of macOS, Gurman said in his recent newsletter Power On.

Users are reported to be able to resize app windows while using multiple apps at the same time. This would be a step ahead of the existing Split View where two apps can be open simultaneously.

macOS 13

Although there aren’t many reports to suggest what is coming on macOS 13, we can expect some incremental changes. One of them could be an update to the Settings app. Some key preloaded Apple apps on the operating system are also expected to receive a design overhaul this time.

On the part of its naming, macOS 13 may get Mammoth title — based on a region that is in the Sierra Nevada. Apple considered taking names from the mountain range for some of the previous macOS versions as well.

watchOS 9

For Apple Watch users, this year’s WWDC keynote is expected to bring watchOS 9 as an update. The new watchOS release will have improvements that will “affect day-to-day operating and navigation” on the Apple Watch, per Gurman. There could also be the new Health app to improve health tracking on the Watch hardware — alongside the iPhone.

Apple is also said to be working on improving the atrial fibrillation detection feature that would be detailed at the keynote.

tvOS 16

There aren’t any significant details on what exactly we can expect on the part of tvOS 16. However, it is safe to assume that Apple would announce some improvements to retain its users on Apple TV. Some reports in the past also suggested that Apple would bring homeOS as its dedicated smart home operating system. That has not yet officially been announced. Nevertheless, we can expect that tvOS could get some new features to control smart home devices from a TV.

New Mac devices

Although Apple has a history of launching its hardware at dedicated events, recent reports suggested that the company could use its WWDC keynote this time to unveil some new Mac devices. These could include the new MacBook Air that has been a part of the rumour mill for some time. It would come with some new design-level changes including eye-catching shades — alongside the M2 chip. The new Apple silicone is not likely to have significant performance upgrades over the existing M1 series but some improvements to help deliver an improved battery life and an enhanced user experience.

Alongside the new MacBook Air, high-end Mac mini and new Mac Pro are rumoured to be in the works. Both could be shown at the keynote as Apple’s new hardware offerings.

However, for the iPhone and Apple Watch lovers, Apple is expected to host the special event sometime in September only.

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