All articles tagged with #macs
Bloomberg reports Apple will skip M6 Pro/Max and fast‑track an AI‑focused M7 lineup: a base M6 could ship as early as this year, the M7 base in the first half of 2027, and M7 Pro/Max by late 2027, with the M7 Ultra expected in 2028. The M5 Ultra may be the only near‑term upgrade for high‑end Macs, potentially delaying top‑tier silicon until 2027–28.
Apple raised prices on certain MacBook and iPad models by up to $200, citing soaring memory and storage chip costs driven by the AI boom; examples include the MacBook Pro base model at $1,999 (from $1,699), the MacBook Neo at $699, the iPad Air at $749, and the iPad Pro at $1,199.
Apple has announced that the 11-inch MacBook Air and two other Mac models are now considered obsolete, indicating they are no longer supported or available for sale by the company.
Apple's September 9 event is expected to focus on new iPhone 17 models, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3, while several other products like new Macs, HomePod Touch, and AirPods Max are unlikely to be announced this fall, with some devices delayed until 2026 or later.
Apple plans to integrate its custom 5G modems into future Macs and possibly Vision Pro devices, with cellular-enabled Macs expected by 2026. The company aims to phase out Qualcomm modems, starting with the iPhone SE next year, and eventually include the modems in high-end iPhones and iPads. Additionally, Apple may incorporate the technology into augmented reality glasses in the future.
Apple has secretly included a Thread radio in its latest M3 Mac models and M4 iPad Pros, as well as other recent devices, without disclosing it in the product specs. This hidden component, which was discovered through FCC reports, could enable future smart home integrations via the Home app, potentially revealed in upcoming software updates. Apple has not commented on the discovery.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed a roadmap for the launch of Macs with M4 series chips, starting with a low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro and a 24-inch iMac expected by the end of 2024, followed by high-end MacBook Pros, Mac mini, MacBook Airs, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro with M4 chips in 2025. Gurman emphasized that Apple will focus on the artificial intelligence capabilities of the M4 chip series and suggested that high-end desktops may skip the M3 chip series.
Apple is reportedly planning to release four versions of its M4 chipset, with the top-tier M4 Ultra designed for its most powerful machines. The chipsets are expected to support advanced AI-related functionality, but specific details such as CPU and GPU core counts are currently unknown. The M4 lineup is rumored to include a base chip, higher-end versions, and an M4 Ultra, with the possibility of a larger Neural Engine to handle AI-related tasks. Apple is expected to unveil the chipsets in a manner similar to its previous M3 launch strategy, with more information likely to be revealed in the future.
Apple is reportedly planning to release Macs with M4 processors later this year, with at least three main versions of the M4 expected. The M4 series is anticipated to focus more on artificial intelligence, with plans to update every model of the Mac with one of those chips by early 2025. The company aims to highlight the on-device AI processing capabilities of the M4 chipsets, integrating with the hardware and the latest version of macOS, and is also planning AI-focused upgrades to the processors used in this year's iPhones.
Apple reportedly plans to announce new iPads and Macs through online videos and marketing campaigns instead of a traditional event. The expected products include new iPad Pro models, a new Magic Keyboard, iPad Air models, Apple Pencil, and MacBook Air models. The new iPad Pro models are rumored to be thinner and equipped with an OLED display and a landscape-oriented front camera. The release is anticipated for March or April, coinciding with the launch of a special version of iOS 17.4 with support for the new hardware.
Apple updated an internal support document about "unannounced or unreleased products," coinciding with rumors of new iPads and Macs. The document informs support advisors on how to handle customer inquiries about such products. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman predicts updated iPad Pro, iPad Air, and MacBook Air models by late March, with rumored features including OLED displays, M3 chip, MagSafe wireless charging, and Wi-Fi 6E support. Additionally, the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air are expected to be updated with the M3 chip, and a new iPhone color option may be released in March or April.
Apple is expected to release new Macs this spring, including an M3 upgrade for the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air and a potential M3 Mac mini release. However, it's unlikely that there will be updates for the MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Studio, or Mac Pro at this event.
Capcom has officially launched Resident Evil 4 for select iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, including the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, iPad Pro or Air with M1 or M2 chip, and Mac with M1, M2, or M3 chip. The game requires 70 GB of storage and is available for a limited time at a 50% off launch price. Players can download the game from the App Store and experience the modernized gameplay, reimagined storyline, and detailed graphics of this survival horror classic.
Apple's macOS Sonoma 14.1 includes a new system daemon called 'liquiddetectiond' that can detect if a Mac's USB-C port has been damaged by liquid. This will help Apple determine if customers are making false warranty claims for liquid damage. The daemon collects data in the background and does not provide alerts to users. It is unclear if the daemon will be available for all Mac models compatible with macOS Sonoma.
Macs equipped with the standard M3 chip officially support only one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, according to Apple's tech specs. This limitation has existed since the first Apple silicon Macs with the M1 chip were released in 2020. However, users can connect multiple external displays to M1, M2, and M3 Macs with DisplayLink adapters as an unofficial workaround. The higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 Pro chip support up to two external displays, while the M3 Max chip supports up to four external displays. The new MacBook Pro models are now available to order, with most configurations arriving on November 7. M3 Max configurations will be available later in November.