Apple 'Scary Fast' Mac event 2023: All the key announcements
Apple has unveiled its next-generation M3 chips designed for the latest MacBook Pro models and iMac devices. They are based on 3nm architecture. The new GPU architecture and ray tracing help the chipsets boast up to 2.5x performance than the M1 chipsets. Apple says that the M3 chip series is around 50% faster than the M1 chips and 30% faster than the M2 chips.
Apple M3 Max has a 40-core GPU
The new M3 chips offer a 16-core neural engine, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and advanced media engine with AV1 decode. The base version has an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and up to 24GB of memory. The M3 Pro variant features a 12-core CPU, an 18-core GPU, and boasts up to 36GB of unified RAM. The top-tier M3 Max gets a 16-core CPU, a 40-core GPU, and an impressive up to 128GB of unified memory.
New MacBook Pros debut with M3 power
Apple has also unveiled new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, offering both the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. These laptops feature mini-LED displays, 1080p cameras, six-speaker audio, an impressive 22-hour battery life, and up to 128GB of RAM. They come in a new Space Black finish, designed to resist fingerprints. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip starts at $1,999, while the 16-inch M3 Pro model starts at $2,499.
There's also a 14-inch MacBook Pro with base M3 chip
Apple is also offering a more affordable 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M3 chip, starting at $1,599. This model replaces last year's 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 chip, offering a 60% boost in performance. The Touch Bar model is being phased out in favor of physical keys. However, this entry-level model has limitations, including only 8GB of RAM and color options limited to silver and space gray, with black being exclusive to the higher-end MacBook Pros.
Apple refreshes 24-inch iMac with M3
Apple is elevating the 24-inch iMac's performance with the M3 chip, promising to deliver double the performance of its M1-powered predecessor. This updated iMac boasts a stunning 4.5K Retina display with over a billion colors, Wi-Fi 6E support, and a 1080p webcam. It offers up to 24GB of unified memory and is available in seven vibrant colors. The starting price is $1,299 for the eight-core CPU version and $1,499 for the 10-core chip model.
