The Apple M3 chip has been MIA thru 2023, with many expecting it to debut in 2024 as we near the end of the year. But now that Apple has announced its Scary Fast event, there is a lot of anticipation that the Apple M3 chip might still make a 2023 appearance.
Apple's M2 chips have already set the tech world alight, powering a range of devices from the Apple MacBook Air to the iPad Pro 12.9. Yet, the tech giant isn't one to rest on its laurels. As the calendar inches closer to year's end, buzz around the M3 chip's imminent arrival intensifies.
Even as many marvel at the M2's jaw-dropping specifications — boasting up to 100GB/s memory bandwidth and a staggering 24GB RAM in its base model — Apple's innovation train doesn't seem to be slowing. The Apple M2 Pro and M2 Max already pushed boundaries, and the Apple M2 Ultra is one of the best processors ever made.
But as the tech community eagerly anticipates, the question on everyone's mind is: Which Apple devices will the M3 chip call home? Although the full picture remains slightly obscured, we're not entirely left guessing, as the best Macbook and Macs will likely see an upgrade. There's even talk that the new iMac (2023) and Apple iMac Pro (2023) will make a debut as well with the new hardware.
Apple's strategic shift from Intel to its proprietary silicon, initiated with the M1, has arguably been a game-changer. Dive in as we unpack what we've gleaned so far about the M3, the next chapter in Apple's silicon saga.
Apple M3: Release Date
Earlier rumors had suggested that the M3 chip could debut in the upcoming 15-inch MacBook Air. But with that laptop set to be announced at WWDC 2023 on June 5, that now isn't thought to be the case after all with Apple choosing to go with the M2. You can now tune into our WWDC 2023 live blog and also find out how to watch the WWDC 2023 keynote, to find out for sure.
Right now, the current wisdom is that the M3 chip will arrive inside a new 2023 Mac later in 2023 at best, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting that mass production could begin in the second half of the year. As for what Mac will receive the M3, Gurman has already pointed the finger at the 24-inch iMac. Apple's all-in-one currently ships with the M1, and he believes it will skip the M2 entirely.
As for when that will happen, Gurman has suggested a launch in late 2023 or early 2024 could be on the cards. That could perhaps jive well with Kuo's mass production estimates – assuming that the iMac would be the first outing for the M3, of course. That's something that we don't know for certain at this point.
Apple M3: Price
Apple of course won't sell the M3 as a standalone product because Macs and their chips simply can't be upgraded that way – they're all far too integrated for that.
That means that pricing for the M3 is essentially non-existent and whatever Macs do sport an M3 in the future will likely replace their M2 or M1-powered counterparts at the same price point.
That being said, the current global economic situation and fluctuating currencies could mean some price increases in specific territories. Whether that comes down to the M3 specifically, however, we might never know.
Assuming Apple's previous prices hold true, getting into an M3 will likely cost around $1,199 / £1,249 / AU$1,899 if you're buying a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Air. There could also be a 13-inch MacBook Pro with the same chip priced around $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$1,999.
The wildcard here is the Mac mini, a machine that now sells with an M2 for $599 / £649 / AU$999. But when Apple will refresh that particular model is hard to guess given its previous release cadence. The Mac mini is also very different from an Apple laptop, of course.
Apple M3: Specs and Performance
It's difficult to know exactly what the M3 chips will offer, but there are some assumptions we can make based on previous reports.
At the top of that list is the fact that these will be the first Mac chips produced by TSMC's 3nm manufacturing process. Some reports have it skipping that entirely and going with the newer N3E process instead, but time will tell.
If those reports are accurate, we can likely expect even better power management and, as a result, longer battery life. And it isn't as if Apple's current portable lineup suffers in that regard, making the M3 all the more exciting.
In terms of performance, we'll know more when the chips are actually confirmed. However, some expect higher-end M3 chips to have up to 40 CPU cores. To put that into perspective, the current highest-spec chip is the M2 Max with a comparatively paltry 12 CPU cores.
As for versions, we would likely expect Apple to ship a base model M3 followed by M3 Pro and M3 Max options for its high-end laptops. Then, M3 Ultra chips (likely effectively two M3 Max chips bonded together) will no doubt be offered in a refreshed Mac Studio and Mac Pro, should those things ever happen.
None of that is guaranteed, however. The Mac Studio still hasn't been refreshed since its introduction and there is no M2 Ultra to speak of right now. And the Mac Pro? That's anyone's guess – it's the last Mac to run Intel chips and could just as likely use M2 Ultra chips as wait for the M3 Ultra.
The only thing we do know about the Mac Pro right now is that we probably wouldn't suggest that anyone buys one until that Apple silicon transition is finally complete.