We’ve Got Some Mac Gossip!

One of the fascinating aspects of being fans and users of Apple products is trying to understand what future products the company has lined up. Whilst we have seen the Mac Pro hit our shores in recent months, the rest of the Mac line up is showing signs of age.

So what drives the upgrade path and what can we expect throughout 2014? A significant factor in Apple launching new Mac products is the availability of new processors from Intel.

If we start with the Mac Mini, a model that has not been upgraded since late 2012, the picture is somewhat unclear. Historically, the processors that go into the 13” MacBook Pros follow into the mini within a couple of months but this has not happened. Whilst rumours exist on the internet that a new Mac mini is imminent, there is nothing from a reliable source. Therefore, the future for this little powerhouse is very much unknown.

Moving onto the MacBook Air, this model uses the latest Haswell processors but at lower end of the scale. It is believed that Intel will launch a Haswell refresh in late 2014, which would be an obvious refresh point for the Air. Although, it is worth mentioning that the high end i7 processor upgrade path is not so clear at the moment.

However, the biggest rumour about the Air could be regarding a 12” Retina MacBook that could replace the existing MacBook Air line up.

For the MacBook Pro with Retina Display range, the general consensus seems to be that they too may get the upgraded Haswell chips towards the end of this year. Most commentators believe that Intel’s next generation chips, Broadwell, are lined up for the range but these have recently been delayed until 2015, meaning that the Haswell refresh will be important.

Our most popular model the iMac, is almost certainly going to get a Haswell refresh, with the current processors being replaced by a direct upgrade. One exception is on the low-end 21.5-inch iMac. This uses a special i5 processor, enhanced with Intel’s top-of-the-line Iris 5200 integrated graphics, to allow that machine to forego a discrete graphics chip. At present there has been no confirmation of plans for Intel to launch a corresponding i5-4590R chip as part of the Haswell refresh.

As for the Mac Pro the main issue is not about upgrading but getting a smooth flow of this popular new machine. New orders are currently shipping in April and many customers are keen to get their hands on Apple’s most powerful desktop ever.

So with Apple’s upgrade path directly linked to Intel’s it would appear that 2014 may be a relatively quiet year. On the other hand with Apple, constantly telling us that they are excited about the new and innovative products that they are working on perhaps they may just surprise us once again.

If you would like to discuss any of the current or future Mac line up feel free to call us on 0121 285 0098 or email info@localhost