New MacBook Pros bring welcome surprise

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You won't believe this: The new MacBook Pros, powered by M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, are faster and more power-efficient than ever!

Actually, of course you believe that -- no sane person would expect anything else from the latest Apple silicon processors.

The new laptops feature “the world’s fastest CPU core” while delivering “up to 24 hours of battery life, the longest ever in a Mac,” according to Apple. They also come with a 12MP Center Stage camera. And the high-end models boast Thunderbolt 5 ports for faster throughput.

That all sounds like just what you’d expect from Apple’s pro laptops. However, there was another big surprise in today's M4 MacBook Pro announcement: The base model starts at 16GB of RAM -- double the memory of last year's model.

This seems like a welcome follow-on effect from the launch of Apple Intelligence, the suite of AI-powered tools that Cupertino's touting like the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Apple Intelligence needs capable hardware, and as a result, Apple is abandoning its skimpy ways when it comes to RAM.

Need more proof? Tucked into the M4 MacBook Pro rollout, Apple revealed that it is doubling the RAM in base model M2 and M3 MacBook Airs from 8GB to 16GB -- with no price increase.

Now that's a welcome surprise!

Also in today’s newsletter:

• Our Mac mini comparison shows how the tiny new M4-powered desktop stacks up against its predecessors.

• Did you enjoy Presumed Innocent or The Family Plan on Apple TV+? If so, you’re in luck. There’s interesting news about what’s next for both of them.

• Apple makes it easy to share photos with friends and family members. Here’s how to tap into this useful feature.

• Graphically intensive role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition arrives on Mac early next year.

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

^{A message from Cornbread Hemp}

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^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

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Today’s poll

Results from yesterday’s poll: How many Macs is it reasonable to own?

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