The Apple MacBook Pro M4 leaks have recently exploded β and another heavy hint has just emerged that the laptop is about to arrive
There are currently strong rumors that Apple’s MacBook Pro models will launch with the M4 chip, and yet another piece of evidence has surfaced to reinforce this idea.
This is supply chain chatter revealed by DigiTimes (in a report on the notebook market in general, highlighted by MacRumors).
DigiTimes informs us: βApple is expected to unveil new MacBook Pro models equipped with the latest M4 chip in October, which could boost supplies of related parts. This trend is clearly visible in the sales reports of component manufacturers such as Jarllytec and Shin Zu Shing for September.β
The latest rumors are in line with the late October launch mentioned here – which should mean we’ll be receiving Apple’s press invites very soon – and this would theoretically come before the November 1st on-sale date.
If the information from the study is correct, we can expect MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac models with M4 chips to hit the market at the end of this month. Next year it’ll be the MacBook Air’s turn to get an M4 makeover, plus the Mac Pro and Mac Studio β at least in theory.
Analysis: A veritable avalanche of leaks
So who are the companies mentioned in this latest supply chain leak? Jarllytec is a Taiwan-based company that makes hinge mechanisms for notebooks (nice ones), and has made them for MacBooks before (for a long time, in fact). Shin Zu Shing also supplies components for Apple’s laptops (and has reportedly recently benefited from a shift in Apple orders, with the The company dumped a previous supplier).
Apparently, then, these companies’ respective revenue figures provide some telling hints about the impending arrival of MacBook Pro M4 models, presumably due to sizable shipments of various related components.
There are plenty of other signs that a MacBook Pro launch is imminent, including a rather dizzying stream of M4 MacBook Pro leaks, including a slew of spilled photos and videos and even a report that the laptop is already on the black market is sold. Also, current inventory levels of the MacBook Pro (and other Macs) are reportedly dwindling, as you would expect just before the release of new models.
At this point, it would be a serious surprise β a shock, even β if the next generation MacBook Pro it didn’t show up. After all, this is the much more rumored device than the other M4 Macs that Apple is expected to launch later in October. The not-so-great news for MacBook Pro fans is that not that many changes are expected in the new version of Apple’s laptop, aside from the addition of the M4 SoC.