- Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ event is set to kick off on October 30th at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET.
- New MacBook Pro models with anticipated M3 Pro and M3 Max processors are expected to be announced.
- A new iMac with a redesigned stand and base M3 chip will also be unveiled.
Apple’s highly anticipated ‘Scary Fast’ event is set to kick off on Monday, October 30th at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET. According to Bloomberg, Apple will announce new MacBook Pro models with the M3 Pro and M3 Max processors, which will feature up to 14 and 16 CPU cores respectively, as well as up to 30 and 40 GPU cores.
A new iMac with a redesigned stand and base M3 chip will also be unveiled. Apple is expected to release new Mac accessories with USB-C over Lightning.
The past two years, Apple Inc. has taken center stage in the world of computer and chip industries. Their bold decision to pivot away from Intel Corp. processors in favor of in-house technology marked a pivotal moment. Apple made a bold claim, touting the rapid performance enhancements across its Mac lineup, and this claim was substantiated by a surge in product sales, primarily fueled by a pandemic-induced tech spending frenzy.
Fast forward to 2023, and the Mac’s once-blazing allure seems to have waned. The Covid-era tech boom has fizzled out, and computer demand has dwindled. Adding to this, Apple is now confronted by formidable competitors.
Intel, a company that has grappled with its own set of challenges, is staging a comeback. Qualcomm Inc., a mobile chip titan, is encroaching into the laptop processor arena, trumpeting its ability to outclass Apple’s M2 chip. On another front, Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. are earnestly working on their own computer processors, harnessing technology licensed from Arm Holdings Plc.
Compounding Apple’s hurdles, the release of long-awaited Mac updates has been disappointingly tardy. The eagerly awaited 15-inch MacBook Air, featuring the M2 chip, finally saw the light of day a year later than initially projected. The M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pros were unveiled months behind schedule, and the inaugural Mac Pro tower incorporating in-house silicon was endowed with a chip that offered less performance than originally promised.
However, as the tech world eagerly anticipates Apple’s next move, a glimmer of hope is on the horizon. This Monday evening, Apple is slated to unveil not one, but three groundbreaking Mac chips – the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. In addition to this chip revelation, Apple is set to transition to a more advanced 3-nanometer production technology. Major overhauls are also in the pipeline for the high-end MacBook Pros, and the iMac, having languished since spring 2021, is due for its first update.
The M3 chip family is poised to make substantial leaps beyond the M2, promising vastly improved speeds and enhanced efficiency, translating to extended battery life for Mac notebooks. Here’s a comprehensive look at what each component brings to the table:
M3: The central processing unit is set to dazzle with eight cores, with four dedicated to high-performance tasks and the remaining four focusing on background functions. It mirrors the core count of the M2, but it’s expected to introduce enhanced memory configurations and significantly elevate core performance.
M3 Pro: This chip has undergone rigorous testing in multiple configurations, with one variant boasting 12 CPU cores (comprising six for high-performance tasks and six for efficiency) along with an impressive 18 graphics cores. Higher-end versions of the M3 Pro are rumored to up the ante with 14 CPU cores and a whopping 20 graphics cores.
M3 Max: Like its counterparts, the M3 Max has also undergone a battery of tests in various configurations. One version features 16 CPU cores, with 12 earmarked for high-performance tasks and four for efficiency, coupled with a remarkable 40 graphics cores. An alternate, albeit slightly less potent version, still packs a substantial punch with 32 graphics cores.
Announcing three new chips concurrently is no small feat, even for a powerhouse like Apple. What makes this announcement truly remarkable is the fact that these products are based on cutting-edge 3-nanometer technology, a milestone that other manufacturers have struggled to achieve.
This flurry of activity also underscores Apple’s capability to expedite the development of major chip generations. The M2 processor was unveiled a mere 19 months after the debut of the first M1, and with the forthcoming M3, this gap is set to narrow to around 16 months.
The accelerated pace of computer updates is evident as well. The previous MacBook Pro models, featuring the M2 chips, made their debut in January, and remarkably, the new iterations are arriving less than 10 months later. It’s essential to note that this accelerated schedule resulted from the delayed release of the previous generation. Still, Apple ensured that the introduction of the M3 version remained on track.
Another noteworthy development set to unfold on Monday pertains to the iMac. The current iteration is still running on the M1 chip, and the forthcoming update is anticipated to revive its prominence within Apple’s product lineup. This marks a significant year for the iMac, which not only embodies a quarter-century of existence but also serves as the catalyst for Apple’s resurgence in the late 1990s.
While Monday’s presentation may not be the same mainstream allure as an iPhone or Apple Watch launch, it will offer a deep dive into technical aspects such as chip speeds and specifications. Real innovations, however, are not expected to feature any groundbreaking new designs, bur enough to reestablish Apple’s dominance in the realm of computer chips, solidifying Cupertino’s place at the forefront of the tech industry.
To watch the event, you can go to the Apple Events website, or YouTube. Apple TV app, and podcasts replay if you missed the event. Â
Â
