Apple’s M4 MacBook Air and New iPad are Coming Soon: Report

Apple is close to production on a new generation of MacBook Airs powered by M4 chips, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the updated models, expected to launch between January and March 2025, will maintain the design introduced in 2022 but incorporate the latest M4 chips. Manufacturing of the 13-inch and 15-inch versions, codenamed J713 and J715, is set to begin soon.

Gurman’s report highlights Apple’s strategy to upgrade its entire Mac lineup to the M4 chip. This will include new MacBook Pros, Mac minis, and iMacs, scheduled for release next week. However, the company has apparently delayed the rollout of the Mac Studio, codenamed J575, with its launch now expected between March and June 2025.

Apple is also working on an M4 version of the Mac Pro, which will feature significant upgrades such as ray tracing for enhanced graphics and improvements to the Neural Engine for AI tasks.

The company’s broader spring release schedule will include a revamped iPhone SE, updated iPad Air models, new iPad keyboards, and entry-level iPads, codenamed J481 and J482. AI is expected to be a central focus across these new products, with the M4 chip’s enhanced capabilities playing a prominent role in next week’s announcements.

One of the more notable design changes will come to the Mac mini, which will receive its first external overhaul in over a decade. The new model will be smaller, resembling an Apple TV’s smaller square puck design.

According to Gurman, Apple plans to hold hands-on demos for select video creators in L.A. next week instead, skipping a special event.

In addition to its Mac upgrades, Apple is reportedly developing next year’s iPhone lineup, including a thinner model to replace the iPhone 16 Plus. The company is also working on a new smart home device that will have a small screen for 2025.