Apple continues its week of announcements with the introduction of the latest addition to its first-party silicon lineup: the M4 chip, now available as an upgradeable option for the newly unveiled palm-sized Mac Mini.
This release follows the May debut of the original M4 chip, which notably broke Apple’s typical silicon cycle by launching first in the new iPad Pro before making its way to the Mac lineup.
The M4 chip is a significant advancement as it is the first Apple Silicon to support Thunderbolt 5, which more than doubles data transfer speeds from 120 GB/s to an impressive 273 GB/s. Consequently, the M4 Pro version features five Thunderbolt 5 ports, while the standard M4 model retains Thunderbolt 4.
Built on second-generation 3-nanometer technology, the M4 Pro boasts a robust 14-core CPU configuration comprising 10 performance cores and four efficiency cores. Its GPU can reach up to 20 cores alongside a 16-core Neural Engine. In contrast, the base M4 features a maximum 10-core CPU (with four performance and six efficiency cores), a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.
Apple asserts that this new CPU excels in single-threaded performance tests. Additionally, the GPU doubles the speed of the system’s ray-tracing engine, marking a significant step in Apple’s mission to transform the Mac into a competitive gaming machine.
The enhanced Neural Engine is claimed to be up to twice as fast as its predecessor, which will become increasingly important as Apple Intelligence features roll out for general availability starting Monday.
On pricing, the M4 Pro comes at a premium: the new Mac Mini with M4 starts at $599 while upgrading to the Pro version raises that price to $1,399. Both models are available for pre-order starting Tuesday and will ship on November 8.