The 24-Inch M3 iMac.

Apple in October 2023 introduced a refreshed 24-inch M3 iMac, an overhaul of the colorful desktop machine that first came out in 2021. The iMac now features an Apple-designed M3 Arm-based chip that replaces the M1 chip and brings significant speed and efficiency improvements.

The M3 chip is Apple's first 3-nanometer chip, built on a more advanced node. The M3 has an 8-core CPU with four high-efficiency cores and four high-performance cores along with an integrated GPU that has up to 10 cores. The M3 is also used in the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the latest MacBook Air models.

Apple’s top-tier desktop, the Mac Pro, is about to get a serious upgrade with the new Hidra chip. Even though the Mac Pro isn’t a big seller in Apple’s computer lineup, it’s got a loyal following of users who swear by it.

The leak comes from ShrimpApplePro on X, but keep in mind that the details haven’t been confirmed since someone passed the info along to them. Assuming the rumor holds up, the upcoming chip will feature a 10-core CPU, a nice bump from the M3 chip’s 8-core setup. If you’re into high-end gaming, content creation, or using resource-heavy applications, having more cores could really pay off. Fingers crossed that it will also provide a solid alternative to Nvidia GPUs for running local LLMs. There’s a huge need for more competition in that space.

Past rumors suggested future Macs will start with 16GB of RAM, and the packaging for the next 14-inch MacBook Pro seems to back that up. It’s a great option for those who run multiple programs or use heavy apps. I usually recommend 16GB of RAM for casual gamers, multitaskers, or anyone using apps like Photoshop or Premiere. It’s perfect for keeping things running smoothly without any hiccups.

The M4 chip is the first Apple processor designed specifically for AI from the ground up. It boasts a CPU that’s 50% faster than the M2. With Apple putting a strong emphasis on AI, it makes total sense to bump up the minimum RAM. Plus, it’s 2024, so any laptop with “Pro” in its name should definitely come with more than 8GB of RAM!