Apple computers with the M4 chip may highlight AI features and are expected to hit the market by the end of 2024.

Apple's M3 chip is still relatively new, but the tech giant appears to be gearing up to update its entire Mac lineup with the Apple M4 processor. There are reports that the M4 processor will come in "at least three main varieties" and is "nearing production." This new chip will emphasize artificial intelligence capabilities—undoubtedly, to compete with the plethora of "AI laptops" on the market.

Apple plans to release the first computers with the M4 by the end of 2024, with more to follow in early 2025. This includes new models of the iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and MacBook Air. New versions of the Mac Studio and Mac Pro are also anticipated.

Our current understanding of the Apple M4 comes from recent reports by Apple tipster Mark Gurman. Therefore, we should take everything we're about to discuss with a grain of caution. Here's what we know so far about the Apple M4 chip.

According to Gurman, we won't have to wait long for Macs with the M4 chip. The first wave of M4 Macs is expected to arrive later this year—likely around October and November, as we've seen in the past. Gurman believes that this will include new iMacs, a lower-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, and a Mac mini—all equipped with the M4 chip. Of course, this is subject to change.More M4 computers will be shipped throughout 2025. This includes the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models updated in the spring, the Mac Studio in mid-2025, and the Mac Pro in the second half of 2025.

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Currently, the entry-level M3 iMac 2023 is priced at $1,299, while the 14-inch MacBook Pro is priced at $1,599. The 13-inch MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Air laptops are priced at $1,099 and $1,299, respectively. The 3-inch MacBook Pro with the M14 Pro starts at $1,999, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499.

Gurman did not discuss pricing, but Apple is likely not to increase costs too much.

The M4 chip series mainly includes three specifications: an entry-level version named Donan, a more powerful model named Brava, and a high-end chip code-named Hidra. Reports suggest that Apple plans to highlight the new chips' AI processing capabilities and how they will integrate with the upcoming version of macOS.

Gurman's report states that the entry-level MacBook Pro, the new MacBook Air, and the lower-end Mac mini will use the Donan chip (possibly the entry-level M4 chip). The Brava chip will power the higher-end MacBook Pro and the more expensive Mac mini models. The new Mac Pro, Apple's highest-end desktop, will be equipped with the powerful Hidra chip.

Apple is also testing different versions of the Mac Studio, one with the unannounced M3 chip (perhaps the M3 Ultra) and another with a variant of the M4 Brava processor.

Speaking of the Mac Studio M4, Apple is considering allowing it to support up to 500GB of memory. In comparison, the current Mac Studio and Mac Pro support up to 192GB of unified memory.

Gurman indicates that Apple's M-series chips have featured a neural engine from the start. With AI PCs now all the rage globally, it's no surprise that the company wants to boast about the AI capabilities of the M-series—just as we saw with the launch of the M3 chip. To this end, Apple plans to add new AI features to its products.

Reports suggest that Apple plans to preview "a range of new features" at WWDC 2024. Most of these features are designed to run on the device rather than on remote cloud servers. If this is the case, then the M4 chip can more efficiently power these tasks.

If Mark Gurman's sources are correct, it won't be long before we see what the reported M4 chip can do.Get to know the M3 Series performance

On the morning of October 31, 2023, at 8 o'clock, Apple held a new Mac launch event.

At the beginning of the launch event, Apple dropped a bombshell, introducing three M3 processors, namely the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max, all of which are built on a 3nm process technology.

Details of the three processors are as follows:

The M3 features up to an 8-core CPU (4+4), 10-core GPU, and 24GB of unified memory, which is 65% faster than the M1;

The M3 Pro features up to a 12-core CPU (6+6), 18-core GPU, and 36GB of unified memory, which is 40% faster than the M1 Pro;

The M3 Max features up to a 16-core CPU (12+4), 40-core GPU, and 128GB of unified memory, which is 80% faster than the M1 Max.

In terms of AI, the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max all have an enhanced Neural Engine that accelerates powerful machine learning (ML) models. The Neural Engine is 60% faster than the M1 series chips, making AI/ML workflows faster while keeping data on the device to protect privacy. Powerful artificial intelligence image processing tools, such as noise reduction and super-resolution in Topaz, are faster. Scene editing detection in Adobe Premiere and Smart Conform in Final Cut Pro have also seen performance improvements.

All three chips in the M3 series also feature advanced media engines that provide hardware acceleration for the most popular video codecs, including H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW. The media engine also supports AV1 decoding for the first time, enabling energy-saving playback for streaming services and further extending battery life.Please provide the text you would like me to translate into English.