Gurman: Refreshed High-End MacBook Pro and Mac Mini With M3 Chips to Launch Next Year

[MacRumors]

The Mac mini and high-end MacBook Pro will not be among the first wave of Macs to launch with the M3 chip later this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that he believes "it's a sure thing that an M3 version of the Mac mini is eventually coming," but it is not imminent or far into development. As such, he claims that the machine is not expected to emerge until late 2024 at the earliest and will not be in the first series of M3 Macs to be released.

Likewise, new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will not be among the first M3 Macs to debut in October later this year. These machines are expected to feature the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips and will "probably" launch by the middle of 2024 at the latest.

He also noted that the M2 Mac mini launched more than two years after the M1 version was introduced, suggesting that Apple does not see the Mac mini as a device that requires annual refreshes. This is contrasted by the high-end MacBook Pro, a far more popular device, with a refresh cycle of around every four or five quarters.

Last week, Gurman said the first Macs with an M3 chip could launch as early as October of this year. The first models with the M3 chip will likely be the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 24-inch iMac. The M3 chip is widely expected to be fabricated using TSMC's 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the 5nm-based M2 chip in existing devices.

Article Link: Gurman: Refreshed High-End MacBook Pro and Mac Mini With M3 Chips to Launch Next Year

 

[EugW]

If any M3 series Mac is released in 2023, I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

I’m not expecting M3 to be manufactured on TSMC N3B, but on N3E instead. N3E is coming this fall, but it may be too late for a release of M3 Macs this fall.

 

[JWD]

No love for the Mini for MANY years, how things have changed! Nice Apple! Bring it back with a faster SSD.

 

[dantracht]

Pretty obvious stuff here from Gurman. Must be a slow week.

 

[madmin]

When I read these articles I hear Mark Grrrrrrman

 

[AppleTO]

No love for the Mini for MANY years, how things have changed! Nice Apple! Bring it back with a faster SSD.

It received an M2 and M2 Pro back in January. I’d say that was pretty significant.

 

[Corefile]

Max Tech said that the yield on M3 chips is lousy so that to make enough iPhone chips there won't be any 2023 Macs with M3.

 

[Warped9]

Seems to make sense. The M1 MacBook Air and iMac are two of Apple’s devices that have yet to see an upgrade since they were introduced with M1. They’re long overdue. But how long will the wedge shaped MacBook Air stay in production?—I thought the new M2 Air was meant to eventually displace the iconic wedge Air.

The MacBook Pro 13 is a puzzler. Is it getting the M3 as is (current design with touch bar) or is it going to be redesigned, which we haven’t heard about?

 

[everlast3434]

Rumour from me!

Refreshed MacBook Pros with M4 chips to launch in 2025.

 

[Warped9]

Max Tech said that the yield on M3 chips is lousy so that to make enough iPhone chips there won't be any 2023 Macs with M3.

I’ve seen his videos and nowhere do I recall him saying that. He said the performances gains might be somewhat disappointing and not as high as earlier expected, but they could still be respectable. Thats far from saying they’d be lousy. He thinks it’s more likely M3 Macs won’t be until 2024, but he doesn’t rule out them coming earlier.

 

[sleven]

Seems to make sense. The M1 MacBook Air and iMac are two of Apple’s devices that have yet to see an upgrade since they were introduced with M1. They’re long overdue. But how long will the wedge shaped MacBook Air stay in production?—I thought the new M2 Air was meant to eventually displace the iconic wedge Air.

The MacBook Pro 13 is a puzzler. Is it getting the M3 as is (current design with touch bar) or is it going to be redesigned, which we haven’t heard about?

I’m with you, I’d love to know how many people are actually picking up the 13” MBP w/Touchbar. Apple was pretty quick to get rid of the “mini” iPhone because of sales. Is this laptop really selling that many, or does it actually fill a particular segment of customers that it’s worth keeping around?

 

[Born Again]

Anyone know if Gurman has success in the lottery? His predictions blow my mind.

 

[MayaUser]

Ofc, first A17, next M3 then M3 pro and Max

 

[DaveCummings]

I’ve seen his videos and nowhere do I recall him saying that. He said the performances gains might be somewhat disappointing and not as high as earlier expected, but they could still be respectable. Thats far from saying they’d be lousy. He thinks it’s more likely M3 Macs won’t be until 2024, but he doesn’t rule out them coming earlier.

I’d think the M3 Macs wouldn’t come out until ‘24, because the 15 inch M2 MacBook Air just came out and I’d think releasing an M3 13 in MacBook Air would really screw with sales of the 15 inch.

 

[macman01101]

Anyone know if Gurman has success in the lottery? His predictions blow my mind.

He’s never reported winning. It’s unknown how many times he has attempted to play or purchased a partial ticket with a group / coworkers. So no success to date.

 

[EugW]

Anyone know if Gurman has success in the lottery? His predictions blow my mind.

For those interested:

Source Leaderboard - AppleTrack

Top Apple Sources in 2022 # Name Accuracy 1 🐟 Ross Young 92.9% 2 🏀 Mark Gurman 86.5% 3 📉 Trendforce 84.5% 4 🎧 52audio 83.3% 5 🕘 9to5Mac 82.8% 6 ❓ MacRumors 72.7% 7 🇨🇳 China Times 72.7% 8 👨‍💻 Ming-Chi Kuo 72.5% 9 🧻 Jon Prosser 69.1% 10 🍍 Max Weinbach 69% 11 […]

appletrack.com

Mark Gurman: 86.5% accurate - AppleTrack

Since Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman began his career reporting on Apple rumors as a teenager at 9to5Mac, he has leaked countless products and even more features: he’s now widely regarded as one of the greatest Apple leakers of all-time. Rumor list 2022 ⏳ iOS 16 public beta releasing alongside beta 3 ⏳...

appletrack.com

Despite his decent track record, I’m still betting on M3 not coming until 2024.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Gurman said that he believes "it's a sure thing that an M3 version of the Mac mini is eventually coming,"

Pretty obvious stuff here from Gurman. Must be a slow week.

He has to continuously put something out, even if it’s, essentially, “Sign up for my Power On newsletter!” If he doesn’t, folks may forget he has a Power On newsletter.

All Powered On and stuff.

 

[CWallace]

No love for the Mini for MANY years, how things have changed! Nice Apple! Bring it back with a faster SSD.

As noted, the mini received both M2 and M2 Pro recently.

And the Pro/Max SoCs do not launch beside the base SoC, so makes sense to hold off the mini refresh until they can give it both M3 and M3 Pro next year. Not like it sells that many, anyway.

The MacBook Pro 13 is a puzzler. Is it getting the M3 as is (current design with touch bar) or is it going to be redesigned, which we haven’t heard about?

The 13.3" MBP is the "IT Shop Special" so it is updated more or less annually to coincide with enterprise / corporate customer annual buying cycles. And I expect those shops like it just the way it is (especially the discounted price at the volumes they buy)

 

[bluecoast]

Makes sense.

If the yields of M3 are low and / or they are still ramping up production, the iMac absolutely needs refresh, but presumably it is now one of their lower selling Macs.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I’m ready for a M3 16” MacBook Pro but I would like it to be in different colors besides silver and space gray, please.

 

[lazyrighteye]

It received an M2 and M2 Pro back in January. I’d say that was pretty significant.

I’m pretty sure they were accounting for that in their enthusiastic “how things have changed!” comment.

 

[switz]

The Phoenix, AZ TSMC fabrication plant lacks qualified installers, so TSMC stated the plant will not come on line in 2024 and is hoping for 2025.

That may significantly shift Apple's plans because if the chips are not in the pipeline, electronic devices don't get build or sold. Remember the huge parking lots of cars built but lacked key chips. I have no clue as to where those partially built vehicles are now.

I am not holding my breath for M3 in the non-iPhone product line this year. It will be interesting to watch and see if the next generation iPhones actually come out on the usual time. Fortunately, Apple used chip names instead of years to name their electronics. That hides when the device in hand was actually built...

 

[boswald]

It’s good to see the little ol’ mini getting some love. It’s a good machine for those of us who just want a decent computer to browse around with. I had a 2008 mini and loved it.

 

[loby]

I think Apple is "done" for awhile concerning Macs, or at least until October with an updated iMac or earlier for the school year (including updated iPads etc.). Maybe some watch thing or iPhone in September, new macOS in October, along with iOS, etc. Nows some accessories updates throughout the rest of the year, like maybe the home pod mini or something or Apple TV with an upgrade or ear pods things or new watch color bands etc. just to keep people into Apple with the latest and greatest for something..it feed the stockholders for the quarter.

Ok...can I collect some cash now on my predictions?

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Max Tech said that the yield on M3 chips is lousy so that to make enough iPhone chips there won't be any 2023 Macs with M3.

As it’s consistently been every year, and with good reason, iPhone is by far Apple’s number one priority on all fronts.

This is why, although not named “M3” or “M-anything” at all, iPhones are first in line to jump to the new chip generation.

Apple always needs to gauge yield and demand post September iPhone launch before launching Macs with the new chip generation is finalized.

Although probably it hasn’t been this dire in any previous years(?), Apple would not hesitate to postpone all the M3 Macs for several months if it struggled to meet iPhone 15 demand.

If this rumor of not being able to meet iPhone demand this September is true, then M3 Macs will most certainly have to wait to 2024.