Apple unveils M4 Pro & M4 Max chips with new features

Apple has introduced two new chips, M4 Pro and M4 Max, designed to enhance the performance of the Mac family of computers.

The M4 Pro and M4 Max chips are built using second-generation 3-nanometer technology, promising improvements in both performance and power efficiency. According to Apple, the CPUs within the M4 family boast the fastest CPU core in the world, offering significant advancements in single-threaded and multithreaded performance. The GPUs also see enhancements with faster cores and a significantly improved ray-tracing engine. For the first time, the new chips enable Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and increased memory bandwidth by as much as 75%.

Johny Srouji, Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, commented, "Apple silicon has taken the Mac to unprecedented heights, and the rapid pace of innovation continues with M4 Pro and M4 Max. With the world's fastest CPU core, immensely more powerful GPUs, and the fastest Neural Engine ever, the power-efficient performance and capabilities of the M4 family extend its lead as the most advanced line-up of chips in the industry."

The M4 chip, already part of Apple's offerings, features a 10-core CPU with both performance and efficiency cores. Multitasking is notably enhanced, with speeds up to 1.8 times faster than previous models. Its 10-core GPU enhances graphic performance, making tasks such as photo editing and gaming especially smooth. Additionally, the Neural Engine improves AI workload efficiency.

The M4 model supports connectivity for up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports and multiple display compatibility, with options for up to 32 GB of unified memory and a memory bandwidth of 120GB/s.

In comparison, the M4 Pro is designed to take on more demanding workloads. It features a 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU, offering double the graphics performance of the M4 and significantly exceeding the performance of competing AI PC chips. The Pro model supports up to 64GB of memory, further enhancing memory bandwidth and transfer speeds through Thunderbolt 5.

The M4 Max represents the pinnacle of performance for pro laptops, intended for high-demand tasks undertaken by data scientists and creative professionals. It boasts a 16-core CPU and a 40-core GPU, providing it with the capability to handle large-scale AI models and complex rendering tasks with ease. Memory support extends up to 128GB, with very high data transfer rates enhanced by Thunderbolt 5.

Apple has also highlighted the new chips' environmental benefits. The energy-efficient design improves battery life and reduces energy use across portable and desktop Mac systems. Apple reiterates its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality across its footprint by 2030.

Apple's new silicon also integrates with Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that runs on Mac devices with M1 and later. In the coming months, Apple Intelligence aims to broaden its language support and introduce new features, spearheading a new era of user interaction with computers through advanced generative models and privacy-focused design.