For what seems to be the first time in ages, Apple is reportedly set to refresh its entire Mac lineup with the M4 chip, assuming the rumors are accurate. While there have been instances in the past where this was nearly realized, it hasn’t occurred in the last decade.
This fall, Apple unveiled the first M4 Macs: the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini. These updates included several significant enhancements, such as additional (and faster) Thunderbolt ports, nano-texture display options, and upgrades to the Center Stage camera.
These upgrades addressed a large portion of the Mac lineup, leaving only the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro pending updates. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the MacBook Air is expected to receive the M4 chip in spring, while the Mac Studio and Mac Pro are anticipated to follow by mid-2025. If these projections are accurate, every Mac model will soon be current.
Historical Mac Refreshes
There have been few instances where the entire Mac lineup has been refreshed simultaneously. We were quite close with the M1 chip, where nearly all Macs received it over an 18-month timeframe, with the exception of the Mac Pro. In fact, the infrequent refresh cycle of the Mac Pro serves as a key benchmark for these updates.
The most recent refresh of the Mac Pro happened in 2023, which featured the M2 Ultra chip. Most Macs upgraded to the M2 series, starting with the MacBook Air and 13″ MacBook Pro at WWDC22, and followed by the Mac mini and MacBook Pro in January 2023, completing with the Mac Studio and Mac Pro at WWDC23. However, there was no iMac refresh for the M2 line, creating an incomplete cycle.
Looking back to 2019—when we first saw the latest Mac Pro design—Apple refreshed most Mac models that year as well, starting with both sizes of the iMac early in the year, then introducing the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro mid-year, with the all-new 16” MacBook Pro and the corresponding Mac Pro following at year-end.
Yet again, there was no update for the iMac Pro or Mac mini, making 2019 another imperfect update cycle. Even if we were to count the Mac mini, which had a late-2018 release, the lack of an iMac Pro refresh would still render it an incomplete timeline.
While I could delve into further details, I’ll keep it concise. The last occurrence where every Mac received an update within a rolling 12-month window was in 2013, when Apple unveiled the trashcan Mac Pro alongside updates to the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini within that year.
Conclusion
So, provided the rumors are accurate, the M4 chip will mark the first major update in over a decade where Apple refreshes its entire Mac lineup. The MacBook Air seems assured of an upgrade, as do the Mac Studio and Mac Pro. Let’s hope Apple remains on course with these plans, and it should all look promising.
What are your thoughts on Apple’s upcoming M4 Mac lineup? Share your opinions in the comments.
Follow StrongChimp: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram
: . More.
