There is already an M4 chip in the works for Apple’s MacBook Pro according to Gurman

According to reports, Apple has begun developing a new MacBook Pro model that will run on a fourth-generation Apple Silicon Processor. The M3 chip, the company’s first processors based on 3nm technology, was introduced by the Cupertino company last year along with Mac computers. The A17 Pro chip, which powers the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, was also manufactured using same technology. The rumored MacBook Pro and other Mac models this year are expected to run on the upcoming M4 chip.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (via 9to5Mac), Apple has begun developing the next generation of MacBook Pros, which will likely replace the M3-powered 2023 MacBook Pro. A user asked, “[…] maybe I will snap up an M4 MacBook Pro, which by the way, just started formal development.” Gurman answered in the Q&A section of his Power On newsletter.

Although there aren’t many details available, the Apple M4 chip is expected to be comparable to the rumored A18 Pro chip, which is expected to power the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The company’s most recent iMac, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models come with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, while its flagship iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max come with a 3nm A17 Pro chip.

It’s important to remember that, compared to the aforementioned models, Apple has not yet released desktop Mac computers with M3 processors, so it may be some time before it releases its next MacBook Pro model. The business has not yet released any information about the next-generation processor, which may be released in 2025 or even after macOS 15 is released.

The top-of-the-line M3 Max chip from Apple was found to have performance that was comparable to the 2022 M2 Ultra chip and significantly better than that of its predecessor, the M2 Max, according to benchmark results from last year. Apple claimed that the flagship M3 Max chip had “up to 50 percent” more performance over the M2 Max during its “Scary fast” launch event in October 2023. Improved AI performance is also anticipated from the M4 processor series; when macOS 15 and iOS 18 are released later this year, they should both have a number of new AI features.