Update October 27 with details on the full range of Mac updates.
While Apple’s iPhone is expected to be updated yearly, and for the update to happen in the second Tuesday of September, there is less certainty around updates to Apple’s MacBook Pro laptops. It’s generally accepted that mid- to late-October is the traditional launch window for new MacBooks. Still, Apple has happily launched macOS hardware throughout the year—May’s Worldwide Developer Conference and the mid-cycle iPhone update in March are other popular spots in the calendar.
Nevertheless, the Apple community has pencilled in October 2024 as the moment for launching the next generation of MacBook laptops. Apple’s Apple SVP Geg Joswiak teased the week beginning October 28th for a raft of new products, including both the macOS hardware and an update to macOS itself.
This matches up with industry reporting that the new MacBook Pro laptops will be announced this Monday, alongside an update to macOS for both the new and existing Mac hardware.
Macbook Pro
Arguably, Apple will be offering at least five different MacBook options. Putting aside the various levels of memory and storage that could be on offer, there should be 14-inch and 16-inch models running both the M4 Pro and M4 Max chipsets. These should be regarded as the professional MacBook Pro laptops that will be going on sale.
The fifth model is the consumer-focused version. This should also ship with the 14-inch design but comes with the vanilla M4 chipset. While it will be the entry-level MacBook Pro, many consider this to be a false economy. In previous years, the vanilla MacBook Pro has been an uprated MacBook Air with active cooling to drop the operating temperature of the M4 chipset to allow it to run faster.
Frankly, if you need the extra power, go for the full-throated (and more expensive) M4 Pro and M4 Max models. And if you need value for money, either wait for the M4 MacBook Air (likely to arrive in March 2025) or consider the current M3 MacBook Air.
macOS Sequoia 15.1
Apple released macOS 15 to the public in September, offering the Sequoia suffix for the public to use instead of the version number. Yet the upcoming point update takes it to macOS 15.1, not macOS Sequoia.One. I’ll leave that choice to the branding department.
Two key quality-of-life features will be added to macOS. Drag and Drop support is being added to the iPhone Mirroring app, which will allow the easy moment of files between a Mac and an iPhone (assuming both are running the latest version of the respective operating systems),
The second is the ability to activate low-power mode quickly. While the option has been present for several years, it’s not easily accessed or buried as it is in the system settings. That’s going to change and put it just two clicks away.
It’s also worth noting that with macOS Sequoia, Apple is backporting it to run on Intel-based Macs, but the number of features that are only available to those running Macs with Apple Silicon is increasing. Given many of those machines are approaching five years old, moving from active feature support to maintenance support is fair.
Apple is also expected to update iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, HomePod Software and visionOS.
Apple Intelligence
The most significant addition to macOS Sequoia is Apple Intelligence. The use of generative artificial intelligence in consumer hardware has exploded in the last eighteen months, with smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops all picking up software to help compose, edit, and enhance many areas of creative life. It’s a field where Apple has not yet made a public offering.
The iPhone 16 family launch leaned heavily into the awkward backronym of Apple Intelligence, even though the iOS software was not yet ready for the public. The same is true with macOS, although the gap will be far less pronounced—with macOS Sequoia15.1 available to the public at some point during next week for existing hardware and no doubt shipping in the new MacBook Pro laptops to those who pick up some of the first units going on sale.
As with Apple Intelligence on iOS, this week’s release is a subset of the software suite. ChatGPT integration is expected to be released in macOS Sequoia (probably in December), while the first-generation suite will be feature-complete in March 2025.
Beyond The MacBook Pro
Apple is launching additional Mac hardware at the event; the iMac and Mac Mini are expected to pick up M4-powered updates. The relevant desktop accessories are also picking up design changes, with the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard set to switch to USB-C.
Update: Sunday October 27:
Alongside the eager-awaited MacBook Pro laptops, Apple will bring updates to the desktop with new versions of the iMac and the MacMini.
Writing for Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman reports on Apple’s silicon choices for new hardware. The iMac remains in its place as the consumer-focused desktop Mac. It will come with the entry-level M4 chipset and, given the extra cooling that a desktop can offer, should offer similar, if not slightly higher, performance to the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro.
The Mac Mini will have two processor choices. The first will see it match the iMac with the same M4 chipset, while those needing more power—more workstation than homestation—can look forward to a version with the M4 Pro chipset.
While the M4 chipset has shipped within the iPad Pro since May, the hardware launched at this week’s event will be the first moment for the MacOS community to run the M4 family in the hardware where many think they should have debuted.
A Renewed MacBook Pro Focus
Following the launch of Apple Silicon and the subsequent transition from x86 to ARM, the Mac platform has been awarded a lot of attention by Apple’s PR team, resulting in big moments over the last four years. With the release of the 15-inch MacBook Air in June 2023, the portfolio had been fully refreshed, and attention could be directed elsewhere.
Yet, this round of MacBook updates will receive more attention as Apple looks to establish itself as a player in the generative AI field. I’d expect the presentation to lean heavily into the AI features, even if the full power of Apple Intelligence will not be available to the public for another six months.
Now read the latest Macbook Pro, iPhone and iPad headlines in Forbes’ weekly Apple Loop news digest…
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