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

[James Godfrey]

Yeah fair enough. So the timeline was:

- M1 Macbook Air (Nov 2020)
- M1 Pro / Max 14"/16" Macbook Pros (Oct 2021)
- M1 Ultra Mac Studio (Mar 2022)
- M2 Macbook Air (Jul 2022)
- M2 Pro / Max Macbook Pros (Jan 2023)

I would add that the M1 Ultra Mac Studio was already 1.5yrs after the first M1 Macbook Air announcement... And I think the consensus was that the Macbook Pros and Mac Studios were supposed to come out earlier but for supply chain issues... (Before the M1 Pro MBPs came out, there was conjecture on whether they'd go straight to M2 Pro given it was almost a year...) But you're right, Apple did something similar.

I think most likely timeline from here:
- 15" MBA (w/ M2) and Mac Pro (w/ M2 "Ultra+") released this summer
- M3 Refreshed 13" and 15" MBA released early 2024 (so >6 months later)
- M3 Pro / Max Macbook Pros (Q2/mid-2024)

This is exactly how I think it’s going to pan out in all honesty….

M3 is likely going to launch late 2023 in the iMac and possibly the 13” MacBook Pro.

If this 15” MBA was having M3 it would almost certainly have an event, the fact that it’s going to launch as a site refresh shows that it is simply going to be the current 13” Air in a bigger form factor and that’s pretty much it…

Apple quite clearly does not feel this product is event worthy… as let’s be honest here… if this had M3 Apple could have quite easily had an event this spring launching:

M3 Chip
Mac Pro
15” Air
HomePod (2nd Gen)
New iPhone Colour option

But the fact that they’re not having an event shows that everything theyre launching is not event worthy… and an M3 15” MacBook Air definitely would be event worthy, an M2 15” Air definitely not.

 

[spnc]

This is exactly how I think it’s going to pan out in all honesty….

M3 is likely going to launch late 2023 in the iMac and possibly the 13” MacBook Pro.

If this 15” MBA was having M3 it would almost certainly have an event, the fact that it’s going to launch as a site refresh shows that it is simply going to be the current 13” Air in a bigger form factor and that’s pretty much it…

Apple quite clearly does not feel this product is event worthy… as let’s be honest here… if this had M3 Apple could have quite easily had an event this spring launching:

M3 Chip
Mac Pro
15” Air
HomePod (2nd Gen)
New iPhone Colour option

But the fact that they’re not having an event shows that everything theyre launching is not event worthy… and an M3 15” MacBook Air definitely would be event worthy, an M2 15” Air definitely not.

Absolutely. M3 won't happen so soon lol

These leakers are delusional. Check your sources MR

 

[Warped9]

I suspect M3 is coming sooner than what many seem to think.

 

[seek3r]

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?

FWIW a 65w charger is about the min that will power that machine and charge easily at the same time while using as long as it’s not under sustained heavy load, and charge reasonably fast otherwise, so you can pick up a GaN 65w charger, much smaller than even the smallest 100w+ chargers) from like anker and travel with that if that compromise is ok (that’s what I do btw)

 

[amazingrando]

I suppose there's no chance that we'll get ProMotion 120Hz on the MBA, even if it sticks with traditional LCD. I wonder what the real party trick will be beyond the M3.

 

[AdamNC]

Not sure how I feel about a new chip and such every single year when some things haven't even been upgraded or gotten AS yet. Mac Pro, iMac for example. I mean possible the entry level laptop will be on the 3rd gen of AS before a new AS Mac Pro is even released.... kinda stupid i think.

 

[StoneJack]

Absolutely. M3 won't happen so soon lol

These leakers are delusional. Check your sources MR

Announced June, delivered from late July

 

[NeonNights]

So the just launched MacBook Pro and Mac mini are already "old"?

I don't think it will happen. It would be really silly.

While I agree it feels too soon, there's precedence.

I still clearly remember the excitement of upgrading to a MBP 13 that was just released May 2020, only to feel deflated when the revolutionary M1 was released six months later. I said, screw it I'll take the hit and traded my fairly new MBP for an M1 MBA that November. Honestly the Intel 2020 MBP didn't feel like much of an upgrade over my 2015 MBP, but the M1 MBA was a significant upgrade!

If M3 gets announced at WWDC then that would a six month buffer between the recent Mini/MBP updates. Plus, technically M2 was released Summer 2022. M3 may be released soon, but probably longer wait for the Pro/Max versions.

 

[Queen6]

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?

While the 14"/16" MBP's are great notebooks there's reason why I've stuck with my M1 13" MBP. It's fast, highly portable and still has class leading battery life. Touchbar never use it. I just set up the GUI for my needs and ignore it.

I like the new Air. maybe but not until M3. Always tended to defer to the MBP's, equally with Apple's own silicon performance has sky rocketed. I've never been one to over invest in HW as the next, better faster system is always around the corner, that's just a mugs game...LOL

TBH as there's zero upgrade path post purchase I now think is better to purchase what you need for the task at hand, not what you want. Save on the cash, sell out and then upgrade...

Q-6

 

[Queen6]

Has been since the start of the Apple Silicon era

Stupid thing to gate keep over but it is what it is.

Just Apple flexing to force sales, pretty confident an M1 Air could run dual external displays with ease as it has the power and then some. Very much agree is what it is. If you want to run a modern Mac you have to play ball with Apple.

Not against Windows so when the time comes I'll purchase the best product for my needs. Sadly Apple has become far too locked into itself and no longer serves the customer...

Q-6

 

[Steve121178]

Oh, my goodness!

I'm going to be broke

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

Well, no one's making you buy stuff you can't afford...

 

[TallManNY]

That thing is a DINOSAUR! 😂😂😂

Seriously though, I am hoping my M2 MacBook Air will last at least 5 years, and my M2 Pro Mac mini will last at least 7 years.

At least that long indeed. I know folks who buy Macs for casual use and expect 10 years of use out of them. Personally, with these latest computers, if you didn't buy them with at least 16gb, I think you will find them slowed down by RAM constraints within 5 years. But with 16gb, I think it will be some sort of other bottleneck that becomes the limitation.

 

[spnc]

Announced June, delivered from late July

Not April then

 

[definitive]

Knowing Apple, I have my doubts about a 15" M3 Air. To me, it's more likely that they'll release a 15" M2 (if they do release one in that size), and then a 13" M3 a few months later.

 

[AdamNC]

If completely new models are going to be released every year with all new more powerful CPU’s and such it’s going to turn in the PC nightmare we have now. Apple really needs to got to a 2 year or maybe 3 year plan of new models and software. Otherwise I see quality and reliability going into the *******. And prices going even higher. They will become unattainable for the average consumer.

 

[eric123123]

the only apple product expect this year

 

[dgrossa]

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

If we play the technology waiting game and Moore's Law, we'll wait forever.

 

[Queen6]

If we play the technology waiting game and Moore's Law, we'll wait forever.

Buy what you need, when you need it. Far simpler that way

Q-6

 

[oneMadRssn]

If we play the technology waiting game and Moore's Law, we'll wait forever.

Forget Moore's Law. I think Amdahl's Law is more applicable with the way Apple is going core-crazy.

 

[steve123]

I think Amdahl's Law is more applicable with the way Apple is going core-crazy.

Or maybe Gustafson's Law.

 

[Camarillo Brillo]

I hate these rumors and I should probably just avoid this site and focus on what I actually need for myself…

Is anyone else buying a m2 air right now? Or is this m3 stopping you? I pulled the trigger on one a couple days ago and its due to ship soon, but I can’t decide whether I should cancel/return it because of the incoming m3 or just enjoy it now.
What to do..

 

[NeonNights]

I absolutely do not need to upgrade my M1 MBA at the moment, but I admit I still want to. The benefit of M3 rumors is it keeps me from ordering an M2 now.

 

[steve123]

focus on what I actually need for myself

If what you actually need can wait then I suggest you wait it out. Otherwise, keep the M2, you won't be sorry, M2 is great.

 

[sorgo †]

I absolutely do not need to upgrade my M1 MBA at the moment, but I admit I still want to. The benefit of M3 rumors is it keeps me from ordering an M2 now.

Exact same. Probably won’t end up upgrading since although it would be a nice jump forward it would still really be a waste of money. My M1 Air meets my usually-paltry needs without breaking a sweat.

A 13” M3 Pro would (will) probably be my dream laptop, though…at least until M4, etc.

 

[user_xyz]

Oh, my goodness!

I'm going to be broke

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

You know what they say about a fool and his $$ ?