Now that the processors have been announced, we'll have to wait a few days for the new Macs featuring them to go on sale.
After weeks - months? - of various leaks, Apple has finally announced its new range of processors, which will of course be used in Apple computers. As usual, Apple has divided its new range into three variants, which will be associated with three types of machine, three ways of looking at the personal computer. Unsurprisingly, the chip names are as follows: M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max. " Unsurprising " because, firstly, multiple leaks confirmed this nomenclature some time ago and, secondly, because Apple used the same names as for its previous ranges.
Apple M4 © Apple
The M4 generation thus gives its name to the "base" chip. However, this standard M4 already has a good reserve of power, with a maximum of 10 CPU cores (actually eight or ten, depending on the reference) and 10 graphics cores. Compared with the M1 chip, on applications such as Safari or Excel, Apple claims 1.8x higher performance. The M4 chip will have a maximum of 32 GB of RAM directly integrated into the SoC, and Apple is quoting a speed of 120 Gbps for this memory, while the M4 will be the only chip in the new range to "make do" with Thunderbolt 4.
Apple M4 Pro © Apple
In fact, the other two models feature Thunderbolt 5 with speeds of up to 120 Gbps, no less! The M4 Pro can count on a maximum of 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores, while Apple offers it with a maximum of 64 GB of RAM at 273 Gps. Last but not least, the M4 Max chip can count a whopping 16 CPU cores and, more importantly, 40 GPU cores, while RAM can climb to 128 GB at 546 Gbps. For the latter processor, Apple claims 2.2x the performance of the M1 Max and 2.5x that of Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V, although we don't know exactly why (well, we have an idea) Apple doesn't compare its processor to the most powerful in Intel's range, the Core Ultra 9 288V.
Apple M4 Max © Apple
Apple rounded off its presentation by mentioning the integration of its new processors into its entire range of MacBooks and MacMinis, with the new machines due for release on November 8.
