While gaming has not traditionally been a strong suit for Apple’s Mac computers, the advancements in the Metal architecture have brought some unexpected developments. The forthcoming M4-series machines, including the Mac mini, are set to make a bold impression.
In the latest issue of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reveals that for the first time, Apple’s entry-level desktop will support ray tracing—a sophisticated lighting technique that dramatically enhances visual realism in video games.
However, ray tracing can be demanding on hardware, requiring both a robust CPU and GPU to achieve optimal performance in high-end games. In simple terms, a dedicated GPU is essential to fully harness ray tracing features like realistic shadows and reflections in gaming.
Since Apple transitioned to M-series chips, the possibility of including a dedicated GPU in its Mac lineup has been largely ruled out. Nonetheless, it appears Apple is preparing to make a substantial change; this could be revealed in the upcoming announcement of the new M4 Macs.
The introduction of ray tracing support will undoubtedly excite gamers. However, a significant hurdle remains: the limited availability of games compatible with this feature.
As noted by Bloomberg, this development could greatly benefit gamers—especially if Apple succeeds in expanding the Mac’s gaming library. Over recent years, Apple has managed to secure titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, and entries from the Resident Evil series for Mac.
These efforts are commendable, but they still fall short of the broad selection offered by platforms like Steam for Windows. Additionally, games adapted for the Metal architecture have not yet matched the performance levels of those designed specifically for x86 systems.
Besides the Mac mini, the M4-powered versions of the Mac Studio and Mac Pro are also anticipated to feature ray tracing capabilities in the near future. However, the situation surrounding the Mac mini is particularly intriguing.
Next week, Apple is rumored to unveil a redesigned Mac mini that will feature a more compact design and an updated port configuration. It will be interesting to see how the company manages heat dissipation within a smaller frame while still delivering ray tracing capabilities.
Moreover, Apple seems poised to increase its RAM offerings, with reports suggesting that low-end Macs could ship with at least 16 gigabytes of memory for the first time.
Additionally, Apple is expected to only include the higher-end variant of the M4 chip in the upcoming lineup, opting for the 10-core version instead of the previous 9-core model.
Regarding other hardware, leaks indicate that the refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops will maintain a familiar design, with no significant aesthetic changes anticipated for the updated iMac either.