Kuo: First MacBooks With M3 Chip Unlikely to Launch This Year

[MacRumors]

Apple is unlikely to release any new MacBook models with the M3 chip this year, according to information shared today by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

"It seems that Apple will not launch new MacBook models (equipped with M3 series processors) before the end of this year," Kuo wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said an Apple event in October of this year could feature the first Macs with the M3 chip. He said Macs that were candidates for the M3 chip included the 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 24-inch iMac. Kuo only ruled out new MacBooks, so there is still potential for a new iMac this year.

The as-yet-unannounced M3 chip is widely expected to be fabricated with TSMC's 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the current 5nm-based M2 chip, which debuted in June 2022.

Article Link: Kuo: First MacBooks With M3 Chip Unlikely to Launch This Year

 

[groove-agent]

That sucks. I was really looking forward to a new M3 MBP for the new school year. Hardware raytracing lets goooooooo!

What happened to the good ol' days when there were new laptops for the school season? I guess Apple's complacency has driven them to the point of "it's ready when it's ready". Good on them that they have the ability to take their time with limited competition.

 

[Dwalls90]

Duh. Said everyone with a brain for the last year.

 

[floral]

Good! Still being the """best""" chip for a bit, sir M2.

 

[greenbreadmmm]

I wonder if this has to do with getting m3 made on the N3E node vs changing mid cycle?

 

[Zevertan]

Kuo vs Gurman - Let the battle begin!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

M3 Macbook Pro 14" & 16" will be released in the 1st quarter of 2024.

I was hoping for the M3 iMac to launch this year. Is the M3 iMac not happening this year?

 

[VisceralRealist]

Not surprised. M3 Macs this year meant one of two unlikely situations would occur:

1. 13" MBA is updated to M3, but 15" isn't, causing the larger MBA to be a generation of Apple Silicon behind its smaller counterpart.
2. Both MBAs are updated to M3, giving the M2 15" one of the shortest lifespans of any MacBook ever.

 

[macsplusmacs]

kinda hoping for m3 this year so I could buy an m4 sooner.

oh well. lot more things in the world to worry about.

 

[jz0309]

Doesn’t sound like news anyway…

 

[vegetassj4]

Come on Apple, get the lead out. We should be on M6 by now.

 

[picxar]

Haha knew it 😂 made no sense, after they updated nearly every mac at wwdc

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Would Apple roll out M3 iMac BEFORE MBs? I have to think NO.

So would an October Mac event then be about an M2 iMac? Seems like a "NO" too (press release level change vs. an hour or two show for mostly one Mac).

Would an October event roll out a resurrected M2 PRO & MAX iMac "bigger"? 27"-32" with PRO & MAX chip options and priced accordingly (much, MUCH higher than traditional pricing for iMac 27")? This seems streaming "show" worthy and some of the show could also cover a matching ASD if this iMac Pro is bigger than 27".

Or no October Mac event at all because almost everything is already M2??? Update iMac to M2 with press release and that's it for Mac until 2024?

 

[Mr. Dee]

It just makes logical sense. How can you introduce a new model MacBook with M2 just this past summer, then update a few months later? Apple is using an approach where products get some time to shine. The M3 iMac will be that product. Its also sustainable and I believe social anthropologists within the company and really explaining to the leadership that a lot of users are chasing feeds and speeds just for the sake of it.

Your YouTube video that you are trying to render faster is really not that important to humanity, seriously.

 

[giggles]

The story never passed the sniff test of basic reasoning.

13.6" M3 Air with the freshly released 15.3" M2 Air staying on M2 was always a dumb rumor.

They will both be updated to M3 at the exact same time, but it can't happen when the 15.3" M2 Air is still fresh.

What's left in terms of laptops? The unimportant 13.3" touchbar MBP. Why should it get the latest and greatest 3nm chip before the super popular Macbook Airs?

 

[NT1440]

That sucks. I was really looking forward to a new M3 MBP for the new school year. Hardware raytracing lets goooooooo!

What happened to the good ol' days when there were new laptops for the school season? I guess Apple's complacency has driven them to the point of "it's ready when it's ready". Good on them that they have the ability to take their time with limited competition.

There’s only so much 3 nm fabrication available. IF true, it’s because they have to pump out tens of millions of a17 processors.

 

[timber]

Apple will probably want all of TSMC best efforts on the iPhone A chips.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

I think the release timeline for M-series Macs was dictated somewhat by supply chain disruption over the last 3 years. Maybe this will be an opportunity to start a regular schedule — every Mac, every new chip, released at the same time. Maybe this becomes the spring event and each year or two. So 3 events each year — spring, summer, fall.

 

[Chuckeee]

Would Apple roll out M3 iMac BEFORE MBs? I have to think NO.

I would think it is at least possible, the M1 iMac looks like the odd man out in the current Apple Mac line, releasing an updated iMac would not impact MB sales, while it might impact mini sales, it would be up selling (and that’s a good thing).

And if there really is a limit on M3 production, just releasing an iMac would be good press

 

[neilw]

Would Apple roll out M3 iMac BEFORE MBs? I have to think NO.

Why not?

Unlike the Macbooks, the iMac is very much (over)due for an update.

And the volume of iMacs is much lower than Macbooks, so they're more likely to be able to keep up with supply.

All product lines are not always updated in perfect synchrony.

 

[jz0309]

Would Apple roll out M3 iMac BEFORE MBs? I have to think NO.

So would an October Mac event then be about an M2 iMac? Seems like a "NO" too (press release level change).

Would an October event roll out a resurrected M2 PRO & MAX iMac "bigger"? 27"-32" with PRO & MAX chip options and priced accordingly (much, MUCH higher than traditional pricing for iMac 27")?

Or no October Mac event at all because almost everything is already M2???

My take: no M3 no October event

 

[neilw]

I think the release timeline for M-series Macs was dictated somewhat by supply chain disruption over the last 3 years. Maybe this will be an opportunity to start a regular schedule — every Mac, every new chip, released at the same time. Maybe this becomes the spring event and each year or two. So 3 events each year — spring, summer, fall.

Never.

Logistically, releasing all CPU variants at the same time makes no sense.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Too soon. They just released the 15” MacBook Air. Update the entire lineup next year.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Come on Apple, get the lead out. We should be on M6 by now.

News was out Apple is already working on the A19 + M5 Chip. They are way ahead of the game.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1693133717449936936

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/a19-and-m5-chips-discovered-on-apple-backend-server.2399210/

 

[sw1tcher]

M3 Macbook Pro 14" & 16" will be released in the 1st quarter of 2024.

I was hoping for the M3 iMac to launch this year. Is the M3 iMac not happening this year?

As I said (before Gurman and Kuo), M3 iMac later this year followed by M3 MacBooks (Air and Pro) next year.