In October 2023, Apple unveiled the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max, as well as the new MacBook Pro lineup. However, some may have deduced that the corporation hurriedly released the updated models right before the end of the year to boost the anticipated yearly sales figures. According to this timeline, the new M4 MacBook Pro won’t be released until the following year. However, a Q&A session revealed that “formal development” of the portable Mac has begun, suggesting that Apple is trying to get an advantage over rivals.
According to Apple’s current launch schedule, the M4 MacBook Pro won’t be available before H1 2025.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg began the Q&A session by focusing on the Apple Car, although the reporter also discussed the M4 MacBook Pro and other subjects. The technology giant “just started formal development” on the new silicon and the next model, was the only information released from that session. Based on the company’s past releases—the M1 was revealed in November 2020, the M2 chip in June 2022, and the M3 in October 2023—it appears that Apple usually waits about 18 months to release a new SoC.
If the firm continues on this current course, the M4’s release date may not occur until the first half of 2025. Furthermore, our team is confident that the next chipset will make use of TSMC’s N3E technology, as the M3 was mass produced on the company’s first-generation 3nm process. This is also referred to as the second-generation 3nm node and is anticipated to be used later this year by companies like MediaTek and Qualcomm for their respective smartphone silicon. The same technology is reportedly utilised by Apple for the A18 Pro, which powers the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
It is anticipated that volume wafer manufacturing using this technique won’t start before the latter part of 2025, for those who are curious about when the new M4 will be mass produced using the 2nm process. This indicates that Apple is expected to begin producing its cutting-edge chips, which are most likely going to be saved for the iPhone 17 series, soon after the new MacBook Pro is introduced. Apple must first release the M3 Ultra, and an earlier estimate suggests that the workstation-class hardware may arrive in mid-2024. Only then will the corporation be able to combine its resources and expertise on the M4 MacBook Pro. That is, before we even get to witness a new Mac in action.
