Macs are set for a major makeover, but not in the way you might expect. With Apple Intelligence arriving on the iPhone and iPad, Macs are next in line to receive Apple’s generative AI features. This update will include the new M4 processor, promising a significant performance boost and increased memory—both of which should provide a substantial upgrade for Mac computers. The way Apple SVP Greg Joswiak teased the arrival of new computers expected to be announced in the final week of October (starting Monday) suggests that the new Macs will feature powerful improvements on both the hardware and software fronts compared to older devices.
In brief, here’s the list of Macs set to get a brand-new chip and Apple Intelligence capabilities.
A brand new Mac Mini with all-new design
The Mac mini is expected to get a big design change. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
The Mac mini has long been considered a DIY computer—designed with a small footprint so users could bring their own display, keyboard, and mouse—since Steve Jobs unveiled it back in 2005. The idea of creating a compact computer running a full version of macOS has been successful. However, over time, the Mac mini has been somewhat sidelined and neglected. While the M1 chip did breathe new life into the device, it wasn’t enough to reignite consumer excitement.
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Now, the Mac mini is finally evolving—and it’s expected to be a big moment. Speculation is rife that the new Mac mini will closely resemble an Apple TV (yes, that small), marking a departure from its current design. Despite its compact size, this smaller Mac will reportedly be as powerful as a high-performance Mac, with Apple launching it in two variants, including an M4 Pro version. This model is expected to feature five USB-C ports, two of which will be located on the front of the device.
With these changes, the Mac mini will no longer be a stripped-down Mac. However, it remains to be seen who Apple will target with this updated Mac mini—perhaps average users looking for an affordable Mac they can work on, or those who want a device they can connect to a TV.
MacBook Pros with newer M4 chips
Upcoming Macs will support Apple Intelligence. (Image credit: Apple)
Apple has already demonstrated it has the hardware to run cutting-edge AI models and applications on Macs equipped with M3 Pro and Max chips. Now, with the launch of Apple Intelligence, the company will showcase how its hardware and software work together to deliver an enhanced AI experience on the Mac. And what better way to highlight Apple’s engineering prowess than with the MacBook Pro, the company’s flagship laptop aimed at pro-consumers, designers, and creators. The new 14-inch and 16-inch models are expected to receive a chip upgrade with the M4 generation. However, the focus will be on how Apple improves the entry-level 14-inch Pro. Leaks suggest a space-black 14-inch Pro with a base M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a third Thunderbolt port, which would address many of the complaints users had with the M3 version.
The MacBook Pro M3 looks almost identical to the M1/M2 MacBook Pro. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
A quick run-down of the new Macs:
- MacBook Pro: 14 and 16 inch. models, M4/M4 Pro/M4 Max chip, 16+GB RAM, 10-core CPU and GPU, three Thunderbolt 4 ports.
- Mac mini: Smaller footprint than the current model, M4 or M4 Pro chip, no USB-A ports, five USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and an internal power supply.
- iMac: No major design changes; all-in-one design, M4 processors.
iMac with a new chip
A visitor tries the iMac at Apple’s flagship store in Mumbai, India. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/ Indian Express)
The iMac, Apple’s all-in-one desktop, has been somewhat neglected for a while, even though it received a major design overhaul in 2021. This week’s announcement isn’t expected to change that significantly, but the iMac is likely to get a performance bump from the M3 to the M4 chip. However, the real highlight may be new accessories (Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard) that are expected to use USB-C instead of Lightning. Currently, they’re the only products in Apple’s lineup still using the Lightning port. Hopefully, we’ll finally see a redesign of the Magic Mouse, which has long been criticised for a peculiar design flaw.
Intelligent Macs
We first saw Apple Intelligence at WWDC earlier this year, and since then, Apple has rolled out a select few AI features in beta. In fact, the first wave of Apple Intelligence arrived in October via updates for iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Apple Intelligence is set to launch “this fall” across compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs in select countries.
Apple Intelligence isn’t a standalone feature but rather a set of capabilities designed for its devices. It includes a variety of helpful AI features, such as Writing Tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing, as well as a brand-new Siri. Additionally, new features in the Photos app, such as Clean Up (similar to Google’s Magic Eraser), and live transcriptions of phone calls and voice memos are included. Other features, like ChatGPT search integrations, Genmoji custom emojis, Image Playground generative art, and Visual Intelligence image searching, are expected to roll out later this year.
6 min read
The Mac mini is expected to get a big design change. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Upcoming Macs will support Apple Intelligence. (Image credit: Apple)
The MacBook Pro M3 looks almost identical to the M1/M2 MacBook Pro. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/
A visitor tries the iMac at Apple’s flagship store in 
