Η Apple is developing an advanced fourth-generation Apple Silicon chip for the Mac line, with the first M4 Mac models expected to be released in 2024.
What will they include?
M4 Chip
The 13-inch and 15-inch models of the MacBook Air have recently received updates with the M3 chip in March 2024, so it is expected that these will not be the first models to incorporate the new M4 chip. Apple plans to delay the introduction of the M4 chip until 2025, creating a timeframe of about a year between upgrading from the M3 chip to the M4.
See also: Will the new iPad Pro really have the M4 Chip?
According to rumours, the M4 chip will focus on artificial intelligence to support features AI (artificial intelligence) coming with the next round of software updates. Most of the discussions about artificial intelligence have been about iOS 18, but Apple is expected to integrate AI across all its platforms. The M4 chip is expected to have a Neural Engine with more cores, with the Neural Engine handling AI and machine learning tasks. The M3 chip has a 16-core Neural Engine.
While Apple is developing the next-generation M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max and M4 Ultra chips, MacBook Air models are expected to incorporate the base version of the M4 chip. It is likely that at least two versions of the M4 will be introduced, distinguished mainly by the number of GPU cores they include. For example, in the current MacBook Air, the base M3 chip features an 8-core GPU, while there is also an option for a 10-core GPU. The M3 CPU remains the same across all variants, something that is expected to continue with the M4 chips.
The M4 will be built using the Technology Apple's 3-nanometer manufacturing, following in the footsteps of the M3. We don't expect to see the same significant increase in performance between the M3 and M4 as we saw between the M2 and M3, due to the lack of change in node size. However, we still expect to see significant improvements in GPU and CPU speeds.
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Apple redesigned the MacBook Air in 2022, so now we are not expected to see any major changes in its design with the next upgrade of 2025. Usually the company leaves a few years to update the design, so so far there are no rumours of a refreshed look.
Apple looks set to retain the 15.3-inch and 13.6-inch dimensions for its next devices, and is expected to continue to offer the same level of elegance and design in the MacBook Pro, including the Force Touch surface. As for the MacBook Air upgrade for 2025, all indications are that it will focus more on internal improvements.
Read more: New Firmware Version for the USB-C Apple Pencil: what changes?
Release date
According to information by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, it is expected that MacBook Air will receive a major upgrade during the spring of 2025.
Source: macrumors
