According to rumors, Apple will be holding a Mac event in the coming weeks. Below are the expected upgrades on their way:

• A new low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip.
• New high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, each with two pro-level M4 chip options.
• A new iMac with the M4 chip.
• A revamped, smaller Mac mini in M4 and M4 Pro chip variations.

The upgrades will definitely provide Apple with a boost in sales, as Q2-24 shipments were close to being stagnant as a new report from Canalys reveals in the chart below. Apple grew a mere half of a percent year-over-year, keeping them firmly in fourth spot.

Canalys analysis reveals PC shipments to the United States grew 4% year-on-year to 18.9 million units in Q2 2024. Notebook demand was especially strong, with shipments posting an annual growth rate of more than 5%. Total PC shipments to the US are expected to rise 6% to just under 70 million units in 2024 before growing another 6% to 74 million units in 2025.

The US is also set to lead in AI-capable PC adoption, which will bring additional momentum to the refresh cycle. “Processor vendor and OEM roadmap development will increase on-device AI availability more broadly across product portfolios from the second half of 2024 onwards,” said Davis.

Apple's first Macs with AI-focused M4 chips and Apple Intelligence will be a boost for Mac shipments in Q4-24. Q3-2024 Mac stats may lag as Apple fans await new systems in Q4.