Exclusive. During a visit to the Apple Store, that of the Champs-Élysées not to mention it, we learned some juicy information about the future Macs to come, the first models equipped with the M4 chip, but also about the new iPhone 16 Pro. Remember the restricted Wi-Fi 7 chip? Well the real reason is known.
When Apple talks about its future Macs
Yesterday, I went to the Apple Store with my “old” 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019, which no longer holds a charge. Not surprisingly, the Apple employee immediately told me that I needed to change the battery, a service that could cost me up to 300 euros. Frustrated, I then considered purchasing a new model, a MacBook Pro with an M3 chip. In fact, that’s what I had in mind going in, the overheating Intel chip was coming out of my eyes. But, to my surprise, the seller advised me to wait a bit. By insisting (heavily), he discreetly revealed to me that the Parisian Apple Stores were preparing to the arrival of new computers next monthand that they would obviously be equipped with the M4 chip.
Of course, the seller did not know who he was talking to, but this confidence confirms certain persistent rumors. MacBook Pros equipped with the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max chips are expected to be announced soon, as is a new version of the Mac mini. The iMac is not sure. We are also expecting a date for the keynote imminently.
New features expected on Macs with M4 chip
- MacBook Pro : The 14 and 16 inch models are expected to be updated with the new M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. According to the latest information, we shouldn’t expect a major design change before 2026 (and the OLED screen), but performance should be significantly improved thanks to these new chips.
- iMac : An iMac with an M4 chip is also in the works. Again, no major design changes are expected, but the big question remains: will Apple finally abandon the Lightning port in favor of USB-C for the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad ?
- Mac mini : The Mac mini, which hasn’t seen a significant redesign since 2010, could benefit from a complete overhaul. Rumors speak of a much more compact device, almost as small as an Apple TV 4K, and which would abandon USB-A ports in favor of entirely USB-C connectivity.
Uncertain timing for the announcement
Mark Gurman, always well informed about Apple’s plans, initially announced that these new Macs would be presented during a virtual event in October. But recently his talk has become more vague, talking about “a few weeks” and now only “this year.” One thing is certain, these new models should see the light of day before the end of 2024.
To recall, Apple updated its MacBook Pro M3 and iMac M3 during a virtual event on October 30, while the Mac mini was refreshed in January of the previous year. The M4 chip has already appeared in the 2024 iPad Pros launched in May, and it promises up to 25% better multi-core performance compared to the M3 chip.
So, be patient: the first machines equipped with the M4 chip are arriving very soon, in November according to our information.
iPhone 16 Pro WiFi
Another subject, the iPhone 16 Pro and in particular its Wi-Fi chip from Broadcom.
As you now know, Wi-Fi 7 on the iPhone 16 Pro is limited to a maximum speed of 1.7 Gbps, a decision which, according to this genius of the Apple Store on the Champs-Élysées, was taken to preserve the autonomy of the device. This choice of restriction would result from Apple’s desire to maintain the announced record battery, which would not have been possible with full use of the potential of Wi-Fi 7 at 320 MHz. The Genius also explained to me that the Broadcom component integrated into the iPhone 16 Pro does not live up to expectations for optimal connectivity management. According to him, Samsung outperforms Apple in terms of network performance and connectivity. We better understand the pressing need for the Cupertino company to provide a complete component that manages 5G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The first phone to benefit from this would also be the next iPhone SE 4.
