Don’t buy a Mac right now

This time it’s official: Apple will introduce several new Macs equipped with M4 chips in the last week of October, in an unusual special way. And they look much better than current models.

If you were planning to get a new Mac right now, you would do well to postpone your purchase for a few days. Indeed, as several converging rumors have suggested for several weeks, Apple will refresh its range of computers at the end of October with several new models.

And if the back-to-school speculations hesitated on the date, it was once again Mark Gurman, the famous Bloomberg journalist always very well informed about Apple’s projects – and nicknamed Guru Man by certain mischievous minds – who raised the secret via a message published on X on October 22. THE leaker then spoke of a strange meeting set for Wednesday October 30 in Cupertino, Apple’s headquarters. An unusual day for a large conference, Apple having the habit of holding its famous keynotes on Tuesday, in big show mode, with a live online video broadcast, as is now the tradition.

The explanation for this strange summons arrived a few days later, on October 24, again in a curious way, via a message posted on X by Greg Joswiak, marketing director at Apple. If the content remains mysterious – Apple likes to keep its projects and announcements secret – there is no longer room for doubt. And we should indeed be entitled to a burst of new Macs.

But, and this is clearly the big surprise, these new features should not be the subject of great mass. It seems that Apple would prefer to make several announcements during the week, starting Monday, October 28, probably through press releases and videos. A slightly strange communication when we know that the Apple firm is fond of the spectacular presentations that made its reputation during the time of the late Steve Jobs. In the absence of any official comment, it is difficult to know for Tim Cook, the current boss of Apple, would have opted for another method of communication this time. And it’s certainly not because of this little gestural tic that we noticed in all the keynotes (see our article)! Perhaps simply to avoid ostentatious excess at a time when the company seems to be marking time with several setbacks (disappointing sales of iPhone 16 and Vision Pro, sales of Macs at half mast, cessation of the autonomous car project, etc.).

Mac 2024: M4 chips on all levels

Main expected novelty: the arrival of the M4 chip in different versions. As a reminder, this processor, more powerful than the M3, was initially introduced last May on the iPad Pro, the brand’s very high-end tablet. And given its rather exceptional performance, it was eagerly awaited on Apple computers which had been deprived of it until now, the most powerful being “only” equipped with the “big arm” version of the M3, the M3 Max.

In fact, according to expert predictions, Apple should unveil new products in several ranges: laptops, with new MacBook Pros, but also desktop computers, with new versions of the iMac, the all-in-one integrated into a screen, and the Mac mini, the famous miniature model. Common point, the M4 chip, in perhaps three versions (simple, Pro and Max) with, as a result, a significant increase in performance compared to the M3.

New Mac M4: 16 GB of RAM at least?

For the occasion, Apple should also increase the basic RAM. Instead of the 8 GB delivered as standard with the cheapest configurations – a quantity that is too tight today and notoriously too low for the future, especially with the arrival of Apple Intelligence, the in-house AI that risks showing itself greedy in hardware resources – Apple should finally equip all its models with at least 16 GB. It was about time! However, some fear that the company will be satisfied with 12 GB, which would be a bit petty.

Furthermore, the brand should completely review the design of the Mac mini, which has not changed for ages and which is starting to become a juggernaut next to the ultra-compact mini PCs offered by manufacturers like Geekom, Beelink or Minisforum. Rumors suggest a miniature box the size of the Apple TV, with modernized connectivity.

In total, Gurman thinks that Apple will present new products in three ranges: 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max, 24-inch iMac with M4 and Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro. The Mac Studio, the ultra high-end model intended for creatives, would not be there, even if many expect an evolution with the supercharged M4 (M4 Ultra?).

Furthermore, many observers predict that Apple will take advantage of this week of pearl announcements to present new versions of accessories from the Magic range (Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad), which would move from the proprietary Lightning port to the socket universal USB-C to comply with new European regulations.

The big unknown remains prices. Apple is not in the habit of selling off its products, and Macs are no exception to the rule. Except that with Mac sales having been in decline since the start of the year, while awaiting the release of new models, we can hope that the brand will calm down its financial ardor a little. Probably not on the MacBook Pros, which should remain quite expensive laptops, but perhaps on the iMac M4 and on the Mac mini M4, which could well become a bestseller if it meets user expectations. Remember that the current Mac mini, equipped with a simple M2 chip, is the brand’s cheapest computer at 699 euros – and less during promotions. One thing is certain: now is not the time to buy a Mac! Better to wait for official announcements in a few days. And rush on the old models which will be sold off during Black Friday.