Apple is gearing up to overhaul its MacBook portfolio with the introduction of the Apple Silicon M4 chipset for macOS and the MacBook Pro family. While the current MacBook Pro models are the most advanced macOS laptops yet, they may be replaced before the end of the year, as the digital revolution of 2024 is set to take place in the summer. The M3 platform, which was updated in late 2023, lacks Artificial Intelligence capabilities present in ARM chipsets for smartphones by competitors such as Qualcomm and Samsung. The upcoming M4 chipset is expected to focus on AI hardware improvements, with key enhancements that will be crucial for the MacBook Pro lineup.
Microsoft is also entering the scene with its Windows laptops using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chipset, which promises similar performance and power benefits as Apple’s Silicon driving macOS hardware. Several Windows manufacturers are expected to release laptops with the X Elite chipset, with Microsoft’s new Surface devices set to exclusively use the ARM-based chipset. With AI-focused hardware becoming a key component in chipsets, Apple is expected to upgrade its MacBook Pro lineup quickly, along with the iMac and macMini, all using the M4 chipset. However, there seems to be no mention of a MacBook Air update, possibly due to the limited supply of the new chipsets.
According to Apple reporter Mark Gurman, Apple plans to update the MacBook Air lineup with the M4 chipset around spring 2025, keeping the M3 MacBook Air as the leading consumer-focused laptop for now. The MacBook Pro models are expected to receive the M4 upgrade by the end of 2024 for the low-end variant, and by the end of 2024 and early 2025 for the premium models. Apple aims to transition its entire Mac range to the M4 chipset as soon as possible, in order to offer AI capabilities at every price point. This move is in line with the company’s strategy to revitalize its Mac sales, which fell by 27 percent in the previous financial year.
With Apple’s focus on AI capabilities in its new MacBook lineup, the company aims to entice consumers to join the macOS platform and upgrade from existing hardware. The upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference in June will showcase Apple’s vision of AI on its mobile platforms, including MacOS. As the Windows ecosystem prepares to introduce its own AI system and upgraded ARM experience, consumers are advised to hold off on major purchases to compare the offerings of Apple and Microsoft in terms of AI capabilities and performance improvements. It will be interesting to see how Apple responds to the challenge posed by Microsoft and ARM on Windows systems this summer.
