Will the base M3 MacBook Pros get less macOS updates than their M3 Pro and M3 Max counterparts?

[macrumor2018]

I ask this, given the memory modules appear to be different between the M3 and the M3 Pro/Max chips. The M3 comes with 8GB base memory, while the M3 Pro comes with 18GB (not 16GB) base memory, but M2 Pro came with 16GB base memory. Given that 18 is not a multiple of 4 but rather 6, it only makes sense that future M-series chips will come with 12GB base memory.

With that in mind, do you think the base M3 MacBook Pros will get less macOS updates than their M3 Pro and M3 Max counterparts, and Apple will make 12GB ram the base requirement? I'm considering what I should recommend to a friend of mine who wants to get the new 14-inch MacBook Pro.

 

[ipaqrat]

Conventional understanding of general purpose computer architecture holds that these two facets (Physical RAM and OS Updates) are independent of one another. Ordinarily, one would expect ALL system updates and patches to apply to the OS regardless of physical RAM installed. However, having put the question in these terms, can you explain more about the relationship you perceive between RAM and OS Updates?

 

[BeatCrazy]

No of course not.

 

[macrumor2018]

It's more along the lines of the fact that given how far advanced M3 is, Apple may not have any other excuse to drop support for older devices 7-9 years from now apart from the fact that 8GB just won't cut it. And so for any device within a series of Macs that shipped with 8GB as the base configuration (even if the user custom fitted it with 16 or 24GB on purchase) it seems apple would cut the entire lineup of products within said series.

 

[Isamilis]

The machines will receive the same update, but… the lower spec one will experience poorer performance with the newer OS (especially when closed to end of update cycle). When this time comes, the base model will be more usable using the old version of macOS.

 

[casperes1996]

So just to be clear, you can also get an M3 max with 64gb and a 128gb one. Multiples of 8. That is not just more of the 8gb modules either but it’s not based on the more odd 6,12,24,36,48 pattern. So Apple is just mixing and matching here.

Second, if you have a 2017 iMac it doesn’t matter if you have the one with 8gb and an i5 or the one with 128gb and an i9 for official support, it won’t get Sonoma. So I don’t think it will matter with M chips either. It’ll be about other thing. The WiFi and Bluetooth modules, driver maintenance, metal feature levels, Secure Enclave upgrades, neural engine stuff; not just raw performance and ram. And to some degree it will be arbitrary and perhaps possible to continue upgrading with something in spirit like oclp