M4 Macs being tested ahead of expected October release

Developer test logs suggest Apple is gearing up to release new M4 Mac models about a month after the iPhone 16 event. As we head into the latter half of 2024, while anticipation builds for the iPhone 16 reveal, new Macs are also expected to debut soon after.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is currently testing unreleased Mac models to ensure they work seamlessly with third-party applications. The models being tested are labeled “16,1,” “16,2,” “16,3,” and “16,10.”

These Macs are base models equipped with M4 chips. Three of them feature 10-core CPUs and 10-core GPUs, while the fourth has an eight-core CPU and GPU. All models include either 16 or 32 gigabytes of memory.

This suggests that the models being tested are likely part of a new MacBook Pro lineup. If testing is underway, we could see the new M4 MacBook Pro as early as October.

An October launch would be in line with Apple’s previous pattern of leaving a gap between the base M-series chip and the Pro and Max versions, as seen with the M1 and M2 generations. In October 2023, Apple introduced all three chip tiers at once in the MacBook Air lineup.

While the exact launch timing is uncertain, it’s likely we’ll see updates to the MacBook Pro and Mac mini lines first. The iMac might also get a refresh this fall, but the MacBook Air may not upgrade to the M4 until spring 2025.

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