Apple's upcoming MacBook Pro models, expected to debut later this year with the new M4 chip, could have more ports, or more likely, the same number of ports, but with a significant increase in bandwidth .
This speculation, and it is just that at this stage, was conveyed in an X-swap discovered by Wccftech, in which an image of the M4 chip is compared to one of the M3.
Well, obviously, we see +2 additional identical blocks, which are labeled TB in image M3. pic.twitter.com/PCDZJ3Z4bXJune 18, 2024
The seemingly fairly clear conclusion here is that the M4 appears to have twice as many Thunderbolt controllers, that is, four of them, instead of two controllers, which is the equipment of the M3.
So the question is, if this turns out to be the case with the M4 silicon, what could Apple plan to achieve by increasing the number of drivers?
Analysis: More powerful ports, not more, most likely
With four Thunderbolt controllers, that raises the possibility that Apple could equip the MacBook Pro with more Thunderbolt ports, possibly increasing the number from three to four.
However, we believe it is less likely than the other scenario we mentioned at the beginning. That is, the number of ports would remain the same, but additional controllers could allow Apple to double the available bandwidth (to 160 Gbps total).
What would that mean in practice for the next-generation M4 MacBook Pro? Well, with more bandwidth to take advantage of with those Thunderbolt connectors, it would make it easier to connect high-resolution monitors that run at faster refresh rates. This is important for creative professionals who use these Apple laptops, as they can run pretty beefy displays.
From what we've heard so far, the next MacBook Pros could continue with the same formula as the current iterations, with the main upgrade being the switch to M4 silicon, but at least this is another seemingly likely benefit for these laptops. which professional users will certainly appreciate.
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