In today's Mac mini announcement video, Apple showed off some new capabilities that are coming to the Final Cut Pro video editing software in the future.
Final Cut Pro will soon incorporate AI for generating captions for videos without having to use additional software. Current versions of Final Cut Pro allow you to import captions from another app, use a plug-in, or write them yourself, but soon the software will generate them natively.
The mention of the Final Cut Pro capability is at about 3:50 in the announcement video below.
Apple didn't highlight any other features coming to Final Cut Pro, but there was a short clip of the caption option that also suggests that a new "Magnetic Mask" function is coming, as well as a mention of AI effects.
The 2024 FCP Creative Summit is set to take place in November, and it's likely that we'll hear about new AI features coming to Final Cut Pro at the event.
Apple today released a new firmware update for all AirPods 4 models. The AirPods 4 firmware has a build number of 7B19, up from the previous 7A304 firmware that came out in September.
There is no word yet on what's included in the new AirPods 4 firmware, but it is available for both the standard AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with ANC. This is the second firmware update that the AirPods 4 have received since they launched earlier this year.
Apple recently updated the AirPods Pro 2 to add Hearing Health capabilities like a hearing test, hearing protection, and hearing aid functionality. The AirPods Pro 2 also run the 7B19 firmware, but hearing aid functionality will not be included in the AirPods 4.
Apple doesn't have a way to manually upgrade AirPods software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air when the AirPods are in a charging case and connected to an iOS device or Mac.
Apple today introduced a redesigned Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chip options, and the computer provides two clues about RAM amounts for the next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, which are expected to be announced tomorrow.
First, just like the new iMac, the base-model Mac mini with the M4 chip starts with 16GB of RAM, which is double the 8GB of RAM included in the equivalent previous-generation model. As has already been rumored and leaked, it now looks almost certain that the next base-model 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip will start with 16GB of RAM too. Given that a vocal contingent of Mac fans have long criticized Apple for including only 8GB of RAM with some Macs, the increased 16GB minimum would be a long-awaited change.
Second, all higher-end Mac mini configurations with the M4 Pro chip start with 24GB of RAM, and this upgrade will likely extend to the incoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M4 Pro chip. The current MacBook Pro models with the M3 Pro chip start with 18GB of RAM, so this would amount to a 6GB increase for the new models. The increased unified memory can benefit multitasking and Apple Intelligence performance.
Apple has yet to announce the M4 Max, so it is unclear how much RAM that chip will support.
All of this information will likely be confirmed in less than 24 hours.
With the launch of the M4 Mac mini, Apple says it has reached a milestone in its overarching environmental goal of total carbon neutrality by 2030. The Mac mini is Apple's first carbon neutral Mac to date, and it joins the carbon neutral Series 10 Apple Watch models.
The Mac mini is made from more than 50 percent recycled content overall, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in its enclosure, 100 percent recycled gold plating in its circuit boards, and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets.
Apple claims that the electricity that was used to manufacture the Mac mini is sourced from 100 percent renewable electricity, and the company says that its worldwide clean energy projects address 100 percent of the electricity that customers use to power their Mac mini devices.
Apple updated its shipping methods, and 50 percent of Mac mini computers by weight are shipped using non-air modes of transportation, like ocean freight, from the factory to their next destination. According to Apple, these changes have cut the carbon footprint of the Mac by more than 80 percent, and to make up the remaining emissions, Apple "applies high-quality carbon credits from nature based products" such as those from the Restore Fund. The Restore Fund uses funds from Apple and other companies to invest in carbon removal projects such as reforesting.
Mac mini packaging is fiber based, which Apple says brings it closer to its goal of eliminating plastic from packaging by 2025.
Back in 2020, Apple announced that it was committing to being 100 percent carbon neutral across its entire supply chain by 2030, with net zero climate impact for every Apple product sold. Apple plans to reduce emissions by 75 percent compared with 2015, while using carbon removal solutions for the remaining 25 percent of its carbon footprint.
Apple's global corporate operations are already carbon neutral, and Apple has been making changes as it works toward hitting its 2030 goal.
With the M4 Pro chip, the Mac mini is able to support up to three 6K displays at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or HDMI, an improvement over the previous M2 Pro model. The M2 Pro version of the Mac mini also supported three displays, but it could run only two at 6K 60Hz resolution and one at 4K 60Hz resolution.
Apple's M4 Pro chip alternatively supports one display at 6K resolution over 60Hz and a second display at 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 240Hz.
The standard M4 chip that Apple has used in the Mac mini and the iMac so far is compatible with three displays total, though not three 6K displays. It can drive two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI.
It is also able to power an 8K display at 60Hz or a 4K display at 240Hz alongside a 5K display with a 60Hz refresh rate.
With the M4 Pro chip, the Mac mini can power three of the Pro Display XDR or three of the Studio Display. With the M4 chip, the Mac mini can drive two Pro Display XDRs or three Studio Displays.
The M4 Pro version of the Mac mini is equipped with three Thunderbolt 5 ports, and it is the first Mac that offers Thunderbolt 5 compatibility. The M4 Mac mini has three Thunderbolt 4 ports instead, and both models have two USB-C ports at the front.
The Mac mini received a major update today, with Apple introducing a slimmed down design that shaves more than two inches off of the size so it takes up less space on a desktop or in a rack. Despite the size change, the Mac mini uses Apple's most powerful M-series chips, including the new M4 Pro.
Combining the smaller form factor and updated chips necessitated a redesigned thermal architecture. The foot of the Mac mini allows it to pull in air from the surrounding environment, and the air is able to circulate throughout before being vented back out through the bottom foot.
Apple says that air is guided to each level of the system, and that combined with the power efficiency of the M4 chips, the Mac mini can "breeze through intensive workloads at outrageous speeds."
The redesigned Mac mini measures in at five inches square and two inches tall. It's taller than the prior version, but it is 2.75 inches smaller. Rumors suggested that it could be as small as the Apple TV (which is 3.66 inches), but it ended up being a bit bigger than that.
The M4 Pro hasn't been benchmarked yet, but it has a 14-core CPU and up to a 20-core GPU, which is up to twice as powerful as the M4 GPU. 3D renders in Blender are up to 2.9x faster compared to the M2 Pro and motion graphics render up to 2x faster.
The M4 Pro version of the Mac mini that Apple introduced today uses the latest Thunderbolt 5 technology with transfer speeds of up to 120Gb/s, which means Apple is selling a new Thunderbolt 5 cable to go along with it.
Priced at $69, the new 1 meter Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable supports Thunderbolt 5 data transfers at the maximum speed, but it is also backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB 4, and USB 3. The cable has a braided design for durability purposes, and it is black like prior Thunderbolt cables that Apple has offered.
Apple's new Thunderbolt 5 cable supports up to 240W charging, and it offers DisplayPort 2.1 video output. It is designed to connect displays and other devices to the new M4 Mac mini models and the upcoming MacBook Pro models that we expect to see introduced tomorrow.
The M4 Pro Mac mini supports Thunderbolt 5, which means M4 Pro and M4 Max versions of the MacBook Pro will as well, but it is compatible with all of Apple's USB-C devices. The cable is ideal for connecting the Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, Thunderbolt docks, and external drives.
The M4 Mac mini has an overhauled design that adds more ports in a slimmed down package, and to make everything fit, Apple needed a new place for the power button.
As it turns out, the power button for the device is located on the bottom, so as Mr. Macintosh pointed out, you'll need to tip the Mac mini up in order to turn it on (or off, using the physical button).
Apple has been criticized for questionable button and port placement with other devices such as the Magic Mouse, but accessing the power button is probably not something most people do often with a desktop machine. Macs don't often need to be turned off, and most people put them into a sleep mode rather than shutting them down on a regular basis.
The power button is located on the rear left of the Mac mini when looking at the front of the machine, below the three Thunderbolt ports.
Pricing on the Mac mini starts at $599, and it can be pre-ordered today. It will launch on Friday, November 8.
Apple dropped a surprise today with the announcement of the new redesigned Mac mini when it revealed that the M4 Pro model comes with three Thunderbolt 5 ports, making it the first Mac to support the next-generation connectivity standard.
The newest specification of Thunderbolt offers 80 Gb/s of bi-directional bandwidth, and with Bandwidth Boost it will provide up to 120 Gb/s, enabling triple the maximum bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4 for an optimal display experience.
Given that the current 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips only support the older protocol, you can almost consider it a given that Apple's upcoming MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max will support Thunderbolt 5.
Thunderbolt 5 is fully compatible with USB4, and supports advanced protocols such as PCIe 4.0, allowing faster data access speeds for storage devices and peripherals. In addition, the new standard features support for native DisplayPort 2.1 output over USB‑C. Thanks to Thunderbolt 5, the Mac mini with M4 Pro can also support up to three 6K external displays at 60Hz, so expect similar enhancements to come to the new high-end MacBook Pro models.
Apple is expected to announce the new M4 MacBook Pro models on Wednesday. The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will be equipped with an M4 chip, while the higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch models will offer M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
Oops! Eagle-eyed developer Charlie Joseph today discovered that Apple has leaked its upcoming high-end M4 Max chip through an image uploaded to its website. The discovery was shared with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on social media.
It was already pretty obvious that Apple plans to announce new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips this week, after Apple promised multiple Mac-related announcements this week. Now, the M4 Max chip image reinforces that Apple is gearing up to announce the new laptops imminently. Apple will likely unveil the new MacBook Pro models with a press release and video on Wednesday.
Here is the image of the M4 Max icon, and an Apple.com link to it while it lasts:
This discovery comes after Apple announced the M4 Pro chip alongside the new Mac mini today. Key specifications of the M4 Pro chip include up to a 14-core CPU, up to a 20-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, support for up to 64GB of RAM, support for Thunderbolt 5, and an increased 273GB/s of memory bandwidth. For the M4 Pro chip with a 14-core CPU, there are 10 performance cores and four efficiency cores. M4 Max specifications have not leaked, but it will obviously take performance to an even higher level than the M4 Pro chip.
Apple is expected to announce a base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
No major external design changes have been rumored for the MacBook Pro lineup this year, with more significant improvements such as an OLED display and thinner design not expected until 2026 at the earliest. However, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to gain an additional Thunderbolt port compared to the current model, based on alleged leaks earlier this month. Those same leaks revealed that the MacBook Pro lineup might finally start with 16GB of RAM, instead of 8GB. We've already seen this trend with the new iMac and Mac mini, which both have a minimum of 16GB of RAM for all configurations.
Apple today shared a 12-minute announcement video on YouTube for the new Mac mini, providing an overview of the computer's new features and changes, including a smaller design, two front-facing USB-C ports, M4 and M4 Pro chip options, Thunderbolt 5 support for higher-end configurations with the M4 Pro chip, and more.
Apple's new redesigned Mac mini with M4 Pro chip features three Thunderbolt 5 ports, the newest specification of Thunderbolt that offers speeds of up to 120 Gb/s with Bandwidth Boost, which is triple the maximum bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4.
The new standard also features support for native DisplayPort 2.1 output over USB‑C. Thunderbolt 5 is fully compatible with USB4, and supports advanced protocols such as PCIe 4.0, allowing faster data access speeds for storage devices and peripherals.
In contrast, the new Mac mini with M4 chip includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports. Front ports on both models include two USB-C ports that support USB 3, and an audio jack with support for high-impedance headphones.
Both models also come standard with Gigabit Ethernet, configurable up to 10Gb Ethernet for faster networking speeds, and an HDMI port for easy connection to a TV or HDMI display without an adapter. With M4, Mac mini can support up to two 6K displays and up to one 5K display, and with M4 Pro, it can support up to three 6K displays at 60Hz for a total of over 60 million pixels.
The new Mac mini with M4 starts with 16GB of memory for $599, while the M4 Pro models start with 24GB for $1,399. The new models are available to pre-order today with launch day arriving on Friday, November 8.
Apple today unveiled the M4 Pro chip, with key specifications including up to a 14-core CPU, up to a 20-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and support for up to 64GB of RAM. For the 14-core CPU, there are 10 performance cores and four efficiency cores.
The previous-generation M3 Pro chip has up to a 12-core CPU and up to an 18-core GPU.
Apple says the M4 Pro chip features "the world's fastest CPU core" with "lightning-fast single-threaded performance." It also advertises the M4 Pro chip's graphics performance as being up to twice as fast as the standard M4 chip.
Apple has not provided any direct comparisons between the M4 Pro and M3 Pro chips, so we will have to wait for benchmark results for that. However, in its Mac mini video announcement, Apple says the M4 Pro chip's multi-core CPU performance is up to 1.6x faster than the M2 Pro chip and up to 1.9x faster than the M1 Pro chip.
Other specifications for the M4 Pro chip include Thunderbolt 5 support with up to 120 Gb/s data transfer speeds, and an increased 273GB/s of memory bandwidth. That is a 75% increase in memory bandwidth compared to the M3 Pro chip.
The first Mac equipped with the M4 Pro chip is the new Mac mini, also announced today. Apple is also expected to introduce updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chip options later this week.
Apple today announced fully redesigned Mac mini models featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips, a considerably smaller casing, two front-facing USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, and more.
The product refresh marks the first time the Mac mini has been redesigned in over a decade. The enclosure now measures just five by five inches and contains a new thermal architecture where air is guided up through the device's foot to different levels of the system.
The new Mac mini can be configured with either the M4 or M4 Pro chip, with the latter allowing for a 14-core CPU, a 20-core GPU, and up to 64GB of memory. The Mac mini with the M4 chip features a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and now starts with 16GB of unified memory as standard. The M4 Pro features 273GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Apple says that the M4 Mac mini is up to 1.8x faster in CPU performance and 2.2x faster in GPU performance than the M1 model from 2020. With up to 20 cores, the M4 Pro's GPU is said to be up to twice as powerful as the GPU in the standard M4. Both chips bring hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the Mac mini for the first time, alongside a considerably more powerful Neural Engine.
The M4 Pro model offers two USB-C ports on the front and three Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back. This is the first time a Mac has featured Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, which delivers up to 120 Gb/s data transfer speeds—more than doubling the throughput of Thunderbolt 4. The M4 model continues to have Thunderbolt 4 ports.
The new machine is also Apple's first carbon-neutral Mac. The M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini is available to pre-order today with a starting price of $599, with launch set to take place on November 8.
Amazon today has a big selection of discounts on Apple's M2 iPad Air, with savings of about $100 across nearly every model. Only Amazon is offering these deals right now, and you'll find early November delivery dates for most of the tablets.
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Below we've collected every Wi-Fi model of the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models on sale. In most cases, you'll find all four colors on sale for every model. There are some cellular devices being marked down as well on Amazon this week, with the same $100 discounts.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
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Apple's manufacturing partner Foxconn is conducting early development of the base iPhone 17 at a factory in Bengaluru, India, according to The Information's Wayne Ma. This is considered to be a "milestone" for Apple's manufacturing efforts in India.
The paywalled report said this iPhone 17 model has already passed an early development stage, as Apple evaluates whether India-based engineers can develop iPhone prototypes that match the quality of those built at its California headquarters. Apple's goal is to start developing new iPhones as early as possible in locations closer to where final assembly takes place, which could result in lower operating costs for the company.
The report does not reveal any new features or changes planned for the iPhone 17, but Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu outlined some features that he expects for the base model in a research note earlier this month:
6.1-inch display
A19 chip
8GB of RAM
An upgraded 24-megapixel front camera
Two rear cameras, including a 48-megapixel Fusion and 12-megapixel Ultra Wide
Aluminum casing
Based on these specs, the base iPhone 17 will not be a major upgrade over the iPhone 16.
The primary development locations for the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will still be in China, according to the report. Pu believes the ultra-thin iPhone 17 will feature a single 48-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of RAM, and more, while the iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to feature a 48-megapixel Telephoto camera, 12GB of RAM, and more. The devices should launch next September.
Popular calendar app Fantastical is expanding beyond the Apple ecosystem for the first time, bringing the full Fantastical experience to Windows. Support for Windows has been a top-requested feature for quite some time, primarily from Apple users who have the need to use Windows for work, software availability, or other reasons, so Flexibits has spent the past three years building Fantastical for Windows from the ground up for a fully native experience.
While Apple's Calendar app has improved significantly in recent years, multi-award-winning Fantastical has remained popular as a third-party option due to its support for natural language parsing, the ability to manage tasks and reminders from Google Tasks, Microsoft 365, and Todoist, scheduling features like Openings that let you open up calendar time slots for others to book and Proposals that let organizers poll potential attendees to determine the best time for an event, glanceable weather information tied to event location, and more.
Fantastical for Windows arrives as part of Fantastical 4.0, which is available for free with limited features across Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. A Flexibits Premium subscription priced at $6.99 per month or $56.99 per year (a 14-day free trial is available) is required to unlock all features, and the new Windows app is covered under that same subscription with no increase in pricing. Flexibits Premium for Families offers up to five family members full access to Fantastical across all platforms for $10.49 per month or $89.99 per year.
Also included in a Flexibits Premium subscription is full feature unlock for Cardhop, a Contacts app alternative that works across Apple's platforms with natural language parsing, widgets, Shortcuts support, simple contact card sharing, business card scanning, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Flexibits. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple's iPhone exports from India reached nearly $6 billion in the six months through September, representing a 33% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Bloomberg. The growth puts Apple on track to exceed its fiscal 2024 export target of $10 billion from the region.
The increase in exports is a result of Apple's expanding manufacturing network in India, where the company has benefited from local subsidies, skilled labor, and improving technological infrastructure. Apple's three key iPhone suppliers in the country are Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics.
Foxconn's Chennai-based unit leads production and accounts for half of India's iPhone exports. Tata Electronics, which acquired Wistron's manufacturing facility last year, exported approximately $1.7 billion in iPhones from its Karnataka factory between April and September.
The growth in iPhone manufacturing has significantly impacted India's export economy, according to the report. Smartphones have become the country's top export to the United States, and reached $2.88 billion in the first five months of the fiscal year – a dramatic increase from just $5.2 million in annual smartphone exports to the US five years ago.
Apple has since deepened its commitment to Indian manufacturing, producing iPhone 15 Pro models in the country. Apple has also expanded its retail presence by opening stores in Mumbai and New Delhi, which contributed to record annual revenue of $8 billion in India through March.
Apple's manufacturing expansion in India underlines Apple's strategy to diversify its supply chain and reduce its dependence on China, where geopolitical tensions with the US and economic challenges remain. That said, China remains Apple's primary manufacturing hub, and the company has also significantly expanded its research and development capabilities in what is the world's largest smartphone market.
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