Rumoured Apple Macbook Pro M4 laptops went on sale online in Russia

Photo: Apple

In what can be considered the biggest Apple leak since the iPhone 4 landed in the hands of Gizmodo, Apple's yet-to-be-unveiled M4-powered MacBook Pro was recently spotted for sale on a Russian classified ads website. The computer, which Apple will supposedly unveil later this month, showed up on Avito (Russia's Craiglist) with an asking price of 720,000 rubles (around CA$10,264). The listings have since been taken down for violating the site's policy on selling "nonexistent products."

In the same week, two Russian YouTubers shared an unboxing of the alleged laptop, which showed three Thunderbolt 4 ports and a baseline configuration of 16GB of RAM. What's more curious is how these devices made their way to Russia, given the strict sanctions the US has imposed on the country. MacRumors speculates that a batch of laptops made in China was somehow intercepted and smuggled into Russia. It's doubtful we'll get official statements on these leaked models, and it's unclear if they are the real thing. But it does remind us that new MacBook Pros are coming real soon.

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Apple's AI push reportedly starts with the iPad Pro

Apple’s Johny Srouji introduces new Mac chips (Photo: Brooks Kraft/Apple)

Apple is accelerating its chip development, with the next-generation M4 set to debut this year in iMacs, MacBook Pros, and Mac minis. The M4 boasts a significantly upgraded Neural Engine, paving the way for powerful new AI features. But there's more: there's a strong possibility the upcoming iPad Pro will also sport the M4, making it Apple's first truly AI-powered device. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman talks about the possibility in the newest edition of his Power On newsletter.

This strategic move aligns with the booming AI trend in tech. By supposedly unveiling the iPad Pro before its June Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple can showcase its AI chip strategy without overshadowing other announcements. 

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Apple reportedly accelerates Mac refresh with AI-focused M4 chip

Image: Apple

While the M3 chips in Macs just launched a few months ago, Apple is wasting no time. They're supposedly gearing up for an annual Mac refresh cycle, mirroring their iPhone strategy. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, new M4-powered Macs are on the horizon, arriving later this year.

The M4 chip prioritizes on-device artificial intelligence, requiring significant processing power. Apple plans three variations: a base "Donan" chip, higher-performance "Brava" chips replacing M3 Pro and Max, and a potential "Hidra" for an M4 Ultra (though an M3 Ultra never materialized outside of the company). Notably, this marks the first time all Macs will transition to a new chip generation simultaneously. Previously, some models skipped chip iterations.

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Apple already eyes M4 chip for future MacBook Pro

Photo: Apple

Apple recently equipped the new MacBook Air and the latest MacBook Pro lineup with the M3 chip, boasting 3nm technology akin to the iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro chip. There are also the M3 Pro and M3 Max variants catering to high-performance needs in the MacBook Pro. However, the whispers of the next generation are already swirling. 

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