This week, Apple unveiled its latest M4 silicon for Mac, positioning it as a clear leader over AI PC processors. At the launch event, Apple touted the M4 Pro’s superior performance metrics, indicating it surpasses Intel’s Core Ultra series, particularly in AI tasks. The M4 Max, with its expanded core count and enhanced memory bandwidth, is claimed to be four times faster in specific AI computations.

These advancements are expected to excel in memory-intensive applications, such as large language models, thanks to the chip’s notable bandwidth capacity. However, Apple’s performance comparisons mainly focus on bandwidth-constrained workloads without direct references to competitors like AMD or Qualcomm.

Beyond AI capabilities, the M4 Pro and Max incorporate improvements stemming from their design on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, promising notable CPU performance gains. Users will also benefit from the dramatically improved memory options and Thunderbolt 5 support on the Pro and Max variants.

Accompanying the chip launch are updates to Apple’s MacBook and Mac mini lines. The new MacBook Pro models maintain their familiar design but integrate significant internal enhancements. Memory and graphics have received notable upgrades, catering to professional user demands. Meanwhile, the redesigned, more compact Mac mini balances advanced functionality with reduced physical size, although at the cost of fewer port options.

As Apple continues to innovate, the industry eagerly anticipates the possible announcement of the M4 Ultra, which may soon follow the recent series of product updates.