New MacBook Airs and 13-Inch MacBook Pro Will Reportedly Feature M3 Chip

[MacRumors]

Apple's next-generation 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models will both be equipped with an M3 chip, according to 9to5Mac sources. The report claims that Apple is also planning to release an updated version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip.

The unannounced M3 chip will have an 8-core CPU like the M2 chip, according to the report, but the chip is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's latest 3nm process for further performance and power efficiency improvements. The M2 chip and its higher-end Pro and Max variants are built on TSMC's second-generation 5nm process.

The report doesn't indicate when the trio of MacBooks will be announced, but speculates that WWDC 2023 in June would be an ideal time for Apple to announce the M3 chip and the first Macs powered by the chip. Apple introduced the existing MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro alongside the M2 chip at WWDC 2022 last year.

On Sunday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said it was "plausible" that at least the new 13-inch MacBook Air would be equipped with the M3 chip. He said that Apple would likely launch both the 13-inch and 15-inch models "between late spring and summer."

There have been conflicting reports about whether the new MacBook Airs will be equipped with the M2 chip or the M3 chip and when they will be released. Just hours ago, display industry analyst Ross Young reiterated his expectation that the 15-inch MacBook Air will launch in April, but timing remains a question mark at this point.

Article Link: New MacBook Airs and 13-Inch MacBook Pro Will Reportedly Feature M3 Chip

 

[dantracht]

Glad I skipped that M2. Not that it’s a bad machine, but still, to be supplanted so soon….

 

[DaveP]

Glad I skipped that M2. Not that it’s a bad machine, but still, to be supplanted so soon….

M3 might be supplanted in the same amount of time... Bigger question is what sort of improvements there will be.

 

[PineappleCake]

The touch bar lives...

 

[AppleTech22]

Spring, Summer
M2, M3

 

[James Godfrey]

I honestly don’t think M3 is until the end of the year… so your telling me through a combination of site refreshed and WWDC, we are going to get all this new hardware including MacBook airs, Mac Pro and a Headset, plus all the new softwares plus an in depth look at reality OS plus an announcement of M3… nah…

In my honest opinion due to the fact that M2 only launched 9 months ago, I think the larger Air will come with M2, with M3 launching late this year in the iMac with both the Airs refreshing next spring.

It wouldn’t even surprise me if Apple are combating supply chain issues by starting production of hardware a lot earlier than normal (look at how many iPhone leaks we have had this early which isn’t the norm), and these Airs will come at the end of the year alongside a refreshed iMac.

 

[iObama]

I guess more than one external display is considered a "Pro" feature now? 😞

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I really wish M3 Chip was on Macbook Pro 14" - Macbook Pro 16" for this year. We need an M3 iMac tho

 

[Apple_Robert]

Glad I skipped that M2. Not that it’s a bad machine, but still, to be supplanted so soon….

Unless you constantly buy every release, your glee about getting the latest M3 will be short lived.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

They're never gonna get rid of the Touch Bar MacBook Pro, are they?

 

[oneMadRssn]

Dammit guys, that's like 50% more Ms than the M2 Macbook Air. It will be worthless after this.

 

[Macalway]

Oh, my goodness!

I'm going to be broke

"You're out"
"And they pull you back in"

 

[JCCL]

And guess what, the one afterwards will have the M4!

 

[newyorksole]

let’s gooo! my first ever laptop is imminent.
🙌🏾

 

[greenbreadmmm]

I honestly don’t think M3 is until the end of the year… so your telling me through a combination of site refreshed and WWDC, we are going to get all this new hardware including MacBook airs, Mac Pro and a Headset, plus all the new softwares plus an in depth look at reality OS plus an announcement of M3… nah…

In my honest opinion due to the fact that M2 only launched 9 months ago, I think the larger Air will come with M2, with M3 launching late this year in the iMac with both the Airs refreshing next spring.

It wouldn’t even surprise me if Apple are combating supply chain issues by starting production of hardware a lot earlier than normal (look at how many iPhone leaks we have had this early which isn’t the norm), and these Airs will come at the end of the year alongside a refreshed iMac.

Apple began mass production of 3nm chips end of December and you think we wont see M3 until end of the year?

 

[scouser75]

I really wish M3 Chip was on Macbook Pro 14" - Macbook Pro 16" for this year. We need an M3 iMac tho

I've just got a 16" MBP M2 1TB. Find the screen great but the weight is off putting to travel with, especially with that brick of a charger.

If the Air is an M3 and performance is good, worth considering a swappsy?

 

[James Godfrey]

Apple began mass production of 3nm chips end of December and you think we wont see M3 until end of the year?

Yes I do, apple are likely trying to combat supply chain issues by starting mass production earlier than usual.

The roll out of the M1 line up took 16 months to complete, remember M2 is literally only 9 months old at this point.

 

[Chazak]

I sure hope this is correct. If it is, I am in as soon as preorders start.

 

[Macalway]

Yes I do, apple are likely trying to combat supply chain issues by starting mass production earlier than usual

Well being a depressing pessimist myself, I woulds say yes. But these rumors are getting more frequent.

Who knows.

 

[tstafford]

M2 MBA owner here. Will upgrade if it has both a better screen and battery life. Speed improvement does nothing for me.

 

[coolfactor]

1. Copy and Paste paste article.
2. Replace M2 with M3.

🤣 I wish my job was this easy! 🤣

 

[James Godfrey]

Well being a depressing pessimist myself, I woulds say yes. But these rumors are getting more frequent.

Who knows.

Yeah the rumours are all over the place but it makes sense for Apple to bring the larger Air with M2, then refresh both sizes a year from now alongside the M3 iPad Pros in Spring 2024.

Otherwise if they launch M3 now you have to ask yourself what chip the new iPad Pros in spring next year is going to have… and one things for sure it won’t be M4.

 

[greenbreadmmm]

Yes I do, apple are likely trying to combat supply chain issues by starting mass production earlier than usual

So in this scenario, Apple is going to spend all this capital to sit on millions in state of the art chips for 6+ months to make sure they dont have shortages of a laptop at launch? While also allowing the tech to become less impressive as competition has more time to catch up?

VS

Selling these chips and devices to bolster their quarterly earnings as soon as possible?

 

[surfzen21]

Is it going to be M2 or M3, April or June?

Too many conflicting rumors. I cant take it!!!

 

[ScreenSavers]

Hurry up with the 15” MacBook Air already Apple.