This week Apple is preparing to surprise the public with a series of announcements related to the new generation of Macs based on the M4 chip. Despite the absence of an official event, Greg Joswiak, Apple marketing executive, has hinted that there will be news on various fronts, all focused on the Mac universe. Here’s what we expect to see.
RAM, starting from 16GB
An important innovation is the adoption of 16GB of RAM as the base configuration for M4 Macs, a notable improvement compared to the 8GB offered on entry-level models of recent years. This memory expansion is not only a response to the needs of the most demanding users, but also aligns with the needs of new artificial intelligence technologies, which are increasingly demanding in terms of memory resources. The new iMac, Mac mini and 14-inch MacBook Pro in basic configuration will thus be able to more fluidly support heavy workloads and innovative applications.
Multiple Thunderbolt ports
With the move to the M4 chip, Apple could increase the number of Thunderbolt ports available on devices. An analysis of images of the new chip suggests the presence of four Thunderbolt controllers, compared to two in previous M3 generations. This will allow new Macs to offer greater connectivity. The 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 is expected to include three Thunderbolt ports, while the new iMac could come with four, with a more versatile port configuration than the current combination of USB-C and Thunderbolt.
A more compact and modern Mac mini
Among the expected innovations, a significant update for the Mac mini also stands out, which according to some sources could undergo the biggest restyling in its history. In addition to becoming even more compact, the new model should lose support for USB-A ports in favor of a greater number of USB-C ports. Furthermore, it should feature some front ports, similar to those already seen on the Mac Studio, making it more practical and functional. This model will likely be the cheapest Mac in Apple’s lineup, but with updated features and design.
Magic accessories with USB-C
Following European regulations requiring the adoption of USB-C, Apple may finally update its line of Magic accessories, including Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad. With the release of the new iMac, it is plausible that Apple will eliminate the Lightning connector from its desktop accessories, adopting the USB-C standard. This change would improve compatibility and standardize the charging experience across Apple devices.
M4 Max and Wi-Fi 7
Although the base M4 chip has already been introduced with the iPad Pro, Apple has not yet revealed the M4 Pro and M4 Max versions. These high-end chips, which are expected to debut in new MacBook Pros later this month, will be based on TSMC’s 3nm process, the same one used for the A18. Although no specific details on the number of cores have yet been leaked, you can expect higher performance and better energy efficiency. A further innovative feature that Apple could introduce with the M4 line is support for Wi-Fi 7, already present in the iPhone 16. This connectivity standard offers speeds of up to 46 Gbps, five times faster than Wi-Fi 6E, and can operate on 320 MHz channels, reducing interference and improving connection stability.
