Apple announced a whole pile of new stuff recently — iPads, Macs, Apple Intelligence, the works! Here’s our roundup.
But, before we get into it: Yes, it appears safe at this point to update to macOS 15.1 Sequoia, and iOS/iPadOS 18.1. As always, before installing, we recommend that you have a current Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner, or BackBlaze backup for your Mac, or an iCloud, iTunes, or iMazing backup for your iPhone or iPad. If you’re not sure, please ask us!
If you update to macOS Sequoia, you may find a new and possibly unwelcome behavior in which your windows automatically stretch or snap to the edges of the screen. If you are finding it a problem, you want to go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock, and turn off the three (or sometimes four) “tiling” options:
And, if you are annoyed by the new default behavior introduced last year in macOS Sonoma in which clicking on the Desktop wallpaper (that is, not on any window) pushes all the windows off the screen, that can also be disabled under Apple Menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock, by setting “Click wallpaper to reveal desktop” to “Only in Stage Manager”:
Apple seems to be regularly introducing new interface changes, in their everlasting quest to simplify and optimize the user experience, but I’m just not sure that they’re hitting their marks. Their hardware just keeps getting better and better, though.
I’m going to be covering Apple Intelligence, and other new features in macOS 15 Sequoia and iOS/iPadOS 18, in future newsletters. The first Apple Intelligence features are being rolled out now, with more to come via OS updates. Apple Intelligence features require a Mac with an M1 chip or newer; an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or any 16; an iPad Pro or Air with an M1 chip or later, or the new iPad mini.
Onward to announcements!
iPad mini (7th generation): Apple’s smallest iPad received its first refresh in three years; it looks the same on the outside, but notable differences are a significantly faster processor, which also allows the device to offer Apple Intelligence features, and smooth scrolling when using the device in portrait mode (the previous version had an issue sometimes referred to as “jelly scrolling”). There are also performance improvements to Wi-Fi and the USB-C port (which most users won’t be able to get much use from), and 128 GB is now the minimum included storage, up from 64 GB. The new iPad mini also supports the Apple Pencil Pro. Touch ID remains embedded in the power button. iPad mini comes in four colors, and starts at $499, and goes up from there for cellular capability and increased storage.
I like the iPad mini; if I want a larger screen, I’d probably rather pull out my Mac than an 11-inch iPad Pro or Air. But the iPad mini feels like a different kind of device, cute and manageable.
iMac with M4 processor: Apple’s iconic all-in-one desktop, seemingly neglected for a while, has been updated with the new, powerful M4 chip and new colors. It retains its ultra-slim profile and 24-inch, “4.5K” screen. Unfortunately, there’s still no “pro” model, no storage greater than 2 TB, no higher end version of the processor — for that, you’re supposed to buy a Mac mini with an Apple Studio Display. But fortunately, 16 GB of memory is now standard (and long overdue), and for everyday computing, the iMac will more than get it done.
The entry model iMac starts at $1,299; unlike before, it is now available in all seven colors, but it still has only two USB-C ports (with Thunderbolt 4/USB4 capability), rather than four, has a less capable (8-core) processor, and it also also lacks an Ethernet port and Touch ID; though these latter two are add-on options when you buy, with Touch ID only being available on the larger keyboard with numeric keypad.
So, while the above is fine as a basic system, I’d probably recommend starting with the $1,499 model, which has four USB-C ports (two of which are Thunderbolt 4/USB4 capable), and which includes a better (10-core) processor, Ethernet, and Touch ID on the standard compact keyboard. Also, a “nano-texture” glass option, formerly reserved for more expensive products, is now offered; it reduces glare and reflectivity, providing a more matte display, via invisible etching of the glass.
The 256 GB of storage in the lowest configurations is pretty tight; it’s sufficient if you’re going to be doing nothing but Web browsing, email, and word processing, but if you want to store any quantity of photos and video, or use professional software, spring for at least the 512 GB model, and consider the 1 TB option. Additional memory helps the computer perform better; the included minimum of 16 GB is reasonable, but if you want to use the computer for many years and ensure the best performance now, I suggest the 24 GB or even the new 32 GB option.
If you already have an iMac with an M1 or M3 chip, and you’re happy with it, then there’s no burning reason to replace it with the new one, unless you’re out of disk space or you want a performance boost. If you have an older 21.5-inch iMac with an Intel chip, the new iMac is an excellent upgrade. If you have an older 27-inch iMac with an Intel chip, you can ride it out a little longer if it’s still performing well for you; if you’re looking to replace it, you’ll have to decide if you’re content with a slightly smaller screen, or want to instead get a two-piece solution (Mac mini plus 27-inch Apple Studio Display).
Redesigned Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro processor: This one is kind of exciting, to me, anyway. This is Apple’s first new computer hardware redesign in a few years, and the first redesign of the Mac mini in 14 years. It’s tiny, not much larger than an Apple TV (perhaps it should be called the Mac nano, but I digress). The back has three USB-C ports (also Thunderbolt/USB4 capable), Ethernet, and HDMI; the front has two USB-C ports (without Thunderbolt/USB4) and a headphone jack. And that’s it; it’s mini. Happily, and unlike the iMac, it is available in an array of configurations, from cheap and cheerful to power user.
The Mac mini with the base M4 chip starts at $599, and for that you get 16 GB of memory (enough) and 256 GB of storage (not much — I recommend you get at least 512 GB; see my above comments about the iMac).
As before, the Mac mini is also available in a high-end configuration, containing a significantly more powerful M4 Pro chip; this is a whole different animal, and is priced like it, starting at $1,399 for 24 GB of memory, 512 GB of storage, and a 12-core processor; when maxed out, it has a 14-core processor, 10Gig Ethernet, 64 GB of memory, and 8 TB of storage, which will set you back $4,699.
Also, the M4 Pro model’s rear USB-C ports support the brand new Thunderbolt 5 protocol, which transmit data to supported devices at 120 Gbps — four times the speed of Thunderbolt 4, and twelve times the speed of USB 3.1 gen 2 (which is what you get on Apple’s 10 Gbps USB-C ports, since they apparently refuse to support the 20 Gbps USB 3.2 gen 2×2 standard).
Keep in mind that the Mac mini is sold à la carte; if you don’t already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor you want to use, you’ll need to buy those. Naturally, the Mac mini goes hand in hand with Apple’s pricey-but-nice 27-inch, 5K Apple Studio Display, and if you buy their current “Magic Keyboard,” you get to enjoy Touch ID as you would on a laptop. I can’t, for the life of me, fathom why Apple doesn’t sell a bundle which just includes all of these things, but, anyway, that’s what you’ll need.
One perk of having a Mac mini versus an iMac is that when the computer needs to be upgraded, you can keep using your existing display, keyboard, and mouse; further, you have your choice of the entire marketplace of displays, such as ultra-wide, curved models for being able to have a LOT of windows open.
If you want more than a Mac mini with M4 Pro chip has to offer — meaning you’re probably a creative production professional — then Apple offers the Mac Studio, or, for niche cases, the similarly capable Mac Pro, but those models were conspicuously missing from recent announcements. They are hard to recommend at this moment unless you need them right now, as they are still being sold with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips. Early testing suggests the M4 Pro might possibly outperform the M2 Max, making the new Mac mini a better choice than the cheaper Studio configurations. Presumably, these professional-grade models will be updated sometime next year.
MacBook Pro with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max processor: The MacBook Pro retains the same design it has had since its M1 iteration, as a chunky, solid, high-performing box, and remains available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. Its entry level model has been improved by providing 16 GB memory standard and a third USB-C port on the right side, like the more expensive models, which also permits charging from either side of the computer. It starts at $1,599 for a perfectly useful 16 GB and 512 GB of storage, and goes way up from there, with M4 Pro (powerful) or M4 Max (very powerful) chip options, as well as increased memory and storage options, plus an option for “nano-texture” (matte, non-reflective) glass. Apple is claiming significant performance and battery life improvements over the original M1 Pro and Max models, but if you’ve got one of those and you’re still happy with it, keep using it. But if you want a performance bump or are hitting the ceiling on disk space, consider one of these new ones.
MacBook Air now standard with 16 GB of memory: The MacBook Air, one of Apple’s best bang-for-buck values for the last several years, has gotten even better, because both its 2022 M2 and 2024 M3 models (the latter available in both 13 and 15-inch sizes) now come with 16 GB of memory standard, with no cost increase. I have long recommended custom building these models with 16 GB of memory, because 8 GB impedes their performance and shortens their usable life. Having 16 GB standard also means they will be easy to buy from a retail store, and they are also likely to be found with significant discounts at vendors like Amazon and Best Buy.
I still consider the MacBook Air to be the nearly perfect everyday laptop, and it’s what I recommend for most people. I do recommend getting at least 512 GB of storage, and consider 1 TB if you have a large photo library or plan on using the computer for several years. You can also ensure greater performance and longevity by opting for 24 GB of memory.
(And, if you really just want a real cheap model to keep in your kitchen for casual web browsing and whatnot, the original 2020 M1 model, with 8 GB memory and 256 GB storage, is still sold via selected retail outlets like Wal-Mart for $649. Don’t expect to use it forever, but it’s a bargain. An even better bargain, only available temporarily, is Amazon selling the 2022 M2 Model with 8 GB memory and 256 GB storage for $699; that may be gone by the time we even have sent this out.)
Apple’s current hardware lineup is really excellent — the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chip at the heart of all the new Mac products are really outstanding, and with 16 GB memory standard across the line, I really don’t think they are selling even one weak computer or mobile device right now. As always, you need to think about your current and future needs when you buy, particularly with regard to storage, but otherwise, you can’t really go wrong.
If you’d like help sorting out your options, we’re here for you, as always!
(November 2024)