Latest MacBook Pro release date: Apple’s ambitious plans

Updated October 27 with details on the full range of Mac updates.

While Apple’s iPhone is expected to be updated every year and the update will occur on the second Tuesday in September, there is less certainty about updates to Apple’s MacBook Pro laptops. It is generally accepted that mid-October is the traditional launch window for new MacBooks. Still, Apple has happily released macOS hardware throughout the year: May’s Worldwide Developers Conference and March’s iPhone mid-cycle update are other popular times on the calendar.

Nevertheless, the Apple community has chosen October 2024 as the time to launch the next generation of MacBook laptops. Geg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president, unveiled a series of new products in the week beginning October 28, including macOS hardware and an update to macOS itself.

This lines up with industry reports that new MacBook Pro laptops will be announced this Monday, alongside a macOS update for new and existing Mac hardware.

MacBook Pro

Arguably, Apple will offer at least five different MacBook options. Aside from the different memory and storage tiers that could be offered, there should be 14- and 16-inch models running both the M4 Pro and M4 Max chipsets. These should be considered the professional MacBook Pro laptops that will go on sale.

The fifth model is the consumer-oriented version. This one should also come with the 14-inch design, but comes with the Vanilla M4 chipset. Although this is the entry-level MacBook Pro, many consider this to be a false economy. In previous years, the vanilla MacBook Pro was an upgraded MacBook Air with active cooling to lower the operating temperature of the M4 chipset to allow it to run faster.

Frankly, if you need the extra power, go for the full-throat (and more expensive) M4 Pro and M4 Max models. And if you need good value, wait for the MacBook Air M4 (probably arriving in March 2025) or consider the current MacBook Air M3.

macOS Sequoia 15.1

Apple released macOS 15 to the public in September, offering the public the Sequoia suffix in place of the version number. However, the next point update brings it to macOS 15.1, not macOS Sequoia.One. I will leave this choice to the brand service.

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 files to be easily transferred between a Mac and an iPhone (assuming both are running the latest version of their respective operating systems),

The second is the ability to quickly activate low power mode. Although the option has been around for several years, it is not easily accessible or buried as it is in the system settings. This will change and put it in just two clicks.

It’s also worth noting that with macOS Sequoia, Apple is backporting it to work on Intel-based Macs, but the number of features that are only available to those running Macs with Apple Silicon is increasing. Since many of these machines are almost five years old, it’s fair to move from active feature support to maintenance support.

Apple is also expected to update iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, HomePod Software and visionOS.

Apple Intelligence

The most important addition to macOS Sequoia is Apple Intelligence. The use of generative artificial intelligence in consumer hardware has exploded over the past eighteen months, with smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops all adopting software to help them compose, edit and enhance content. many areas of creative life. This is an area where Apple has yet to make a public offering.

The launch of the iPhone 16 family relied heavily on the clunky 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 much less pronounced: macOS Sequoia 15.1 will be available to the public at some point over the next week for existing hardware and will undoubtedly ship with the new laptops MacBook Pro to those who buy it. of the first units put on sale.

As with Apple Intelligence on iOS, this week’s release is a subset of the software suite. The ChatGPT integration is expected to be released in macOS Sequoia (likely in December), while the first generation suite will be complete in March 2025.

Beyond the MacBook Pro

Apple launches additional Mac hardware at event; The iMac and Mac Mini are expected to receive M4-based updates. Affected desk accessories are also getting design changes, with the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard set to switch to USB-C.

Updated: Sunday October 27:

Alongside the highly anticipated MacBook Pro laptops, Apple will bring updates to the desktop with new versions of the iMac and 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 a consumer-focused desktop Mac. It will come with the entry-level M4 chipset and, given the extra cooling a desktop can offer, should offer similar or even slightly better performance than the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro.

The Mac Mini will have two processor choices. The former will see it match the iMac with the same M4 chipset, while those who need more power (more workstation than dock) can expect a version with the M4 Pro chipset .

While the M4 chipset has been in the iPad Pro since May, the hardware launched at this week’s event will be the first time for the macOS community to run the M4 family in hardware where many believe they would have had to make their debut.

A renewed MacBook Pro

Following the launch of Apple Silicon and the subsequent transition from x86 to ARM, the Mac platform received a lot of attention from Apple’s public relations team, resulting in large moments over the past four years. With the release of the 15-inch MacBook Air in June 2023, the portfolio was completely refreshed and the focus could be shifted elsewhere.

Still, this round of MacBook updates will receive more attention as Apple looks to establish itself as a player in the generative AI space. I would expect the presentation to lean heavily on AI capabilities, although the full power of Apple Intelligence won’t 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 roundup…