Malcolm Owen
The first wave of M3 models may not include the usual suspects, a report claims, with an M3-equipped Mac mini and upgraded 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro likely to arrive later than originally thought.
Apple is expected to introduce its M3 chip in the fall, along with the first Mac models to use it. While the Mac mini is usually among the first to receive the initial salvo of Apple Silicon chips in a new generation, it may not be the case for the M3.
Writing in his "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman insists it's "a sure thing that an M3 version of the Mac mini is eventually coming." But rather than be in the fall launches, it could possibly be held back until late 2024.
As the M2 Mac mini arrived over two years after the first M1 model, Gurman suspects Apple doesn't believe the Mac mini needs annual or more regular refreshes, unlike some other Mac models like the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
Typically a later-in-cycle release, Gurman also says the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro won't be in the October releases. Since they're going to use the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, a mid-2024 launch is more appropriate.
Of the remaining candidates, Gurman does still think a 13-inch MacBook Pro with M3 will be in the first wave, along with a 13-inch MacBook Air update and a 24-inch iMac.
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26 Comments
I don’t see the point of continuing the 13” MacBook Pro. The M series Apple Silicon chips makes the MacBook Air quite formidable. If you need more power, move up to the 14” or 16” MacBook Pro. Creatives tend to want larger screens. I just can’t imagine a use case where a 13” would be preferred over a 14” for pro users. Not to say that there isn’t a use case. I just don’t see it.
I was hoping to see a late 2023 mbp 16 m3 release. I heard some that have an m1 are waiting for a m3 to upgrade. It would be a nice Christmas gift to myself. Otherwise, early 2024 would be ok as well. I wouldn’t want to wait until the middle of 2024.
These predictions never make sense. Since when does Apple update the same products twice in the same year? Exactly right. Never. The Mini just got the M2 AND a complete overhaul in January--so Apple's going to update it again 9 or 10 months later? Ridiculous. The MBPs just got speed-bumped to the M2 in January--and Apple never makes another processor change this soon. I would have guessed that *maybe* the 13" MBA, which has been out just over 1 year, would have gotten the M3 this fall. But with the release of the 15" M2 model, I don't see Apple having the two sizes of MBAs on different processors--I think both models stick with the M2 until maybe next summer.
Will Pointer Authentification Code (PAC) design flaw be fixed in M3 chip?
Oh no!!! Hunger strike on my horizon until Apple releases these technical marvels. Life isn’t worth living.