New Macs on the Horizon

As hinted by Apple in their event teaser, this showcase will primarily focus on Macs. There will be no mentions of iPads or AirPods; this event is dedicated entirely to Macs. However, these are not just any Macs; they are expected to be exceptionally powerful, thanks to the introduction of M3 chips.

Gurman previously reported that Apple has been testing M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. His newsletter elaborates on the M3 lineup: the basic M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips are all set to be revealed, excluding the M3 Ultra. Built on a 3 nm architecture, the M3 chip will feature 8 CPU cores (4 high-performance and 4 efficiency) along with 10 GPU cores. While these numbers mirror those of the M2 chip, improvements in performance per core are anticipated due to the new design.

The M3 Pro is expected to offer 12 CPU cores (6 high-performance and 6 efficiency) and 18 GPU cores, with potential for a binned version to have up to 2 additional CPU and GPU cores. The M3 Max chip is projected to deliver 16 CPU cores (12 high-performance and 4 efficiency) and a staggering 40 GPU cores, with a binned version possibly featuring 32 GPU cores.

If these predictions hold true, it will mark the first time that the Max chips will have a greater CPU count than the Pro chips in Apple’s M-series lineup.

New MacBook Pro Models

The forthcoming MacBook Pro models are expected to incorporate the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. While enhancements in performance and battery life are anticipated, it is unlikely that we will see any significant design alterations in these MacBooks. Notably, since the M3 chips are derived from the A17 Pro chip used in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, all M3 variants are expected to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

A Fresh 24-inch iMac

Gurman has also reiterated rumors about the introduction of a new 24-inch iMac, which hasn’t seen an update since the “Spring loading” event in April 2021. It is expected that this iMac will feature the M3 processor. Prior to the iPhone 15 launch, colorful USB-C cables were leaked, initially believed to be for the iPhone but are now more likely to be intended for the iMac. This suggests that Apple may also introduce USB-C peripherals alongside the new iMac.

With the iMac launch, updates to the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad are likely, transitioning from Lightning ports to USB-C. Earlier leaks of matching USB-C to USB-C cables have fueled speculation about this change.

What are your expectations for the upcoming Apple event? What features do you hope to see in the new Macs that would entice you to upgrade? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Thank you for reading!

Tobias