Kuo: 'M3 Series MacBook Pro' to Be Focus of Apple's October 30 Event

[HobeSoundDarryl]

How likely it is that these 14 and 16 MacBook Pro will be sold out on Launch Day?

There is a great perception of pent up demand for M3 anything.

There is also recurring, but plausible, positions from these "they're right, no they're wrong, see they're right, no they are wrong" guys that M3 production is limited, either still in or barely out of late testing phases.

Pair the two together, and not only would they sell out on Launch day but launch day orders might see delivery dates roll out into 2024, when scarce supply may have a chance to catch up with greater early demand.

 

[chucker23n1]

Don't even have to go that far back, in 2019 the 16 inch MBP replaced the final 15" model in November, when the latter had only launched a few months earlier in June.

Yup.

And then in 2020, they upgraded the MacBook Air to Ice Lake in March (already quite a speed bump compared to Amber Lake), only to upgrade it to M1 in November.

But the March upgrade was before they had announced Apple Silicon. The G5 iMac strikes me as especially unusual because the Intel transition had already been announced. We already knew there was going to be a nicer iMac coming.

 

[smulji]

Michael Burkhardt (@mbrkhrdt) on X

Definitely worth noting: Apple has used the “Scary fast” terminology beforehand to refer to the Pro/Max chips

x.com

 

[bradman83]

It makes it easier to launch the new MBAs early next year with just a press release if the M3 has already been introduced, and launching an M2 iMac at this stage just seems a bit futile. Just get Johny Srouji on to talk about the M3, then how the Pro & Max expand upon it, doesn't need a dedicated event for each.

I would also add, updating the 13" MBP and iMac to M3 first (plus the 14/16" to Pro/Max) makes sense. The Pro should have a performance distinction over the Air other than just having a fan. A desktop like an iMac is generally more powerful than a laptop, so it too should be more performant. The Air's selling point is lightness and affordability, not power, so the 13/15" Air will likely stay on M2 until the spring while the other Macs get updated.

Curious if they'll update the Mini...

 

[SakeBalboa]

According to Kuo, if the M3 models don't end up boosting MacBook shipments, there is an increased likelihood of an "all-new design MacBook Pro in 2025" and also a chance Apple will consider a "more affordable MacBook model."

Alright, no one buy the new MacBook Pros so we can get the all-new design sooner.

 

[alexandr]

3nm is disappointment so far that no company besides Apple wants to touch, you've got amazing machine for years to come.

Thank you! That helps a little))) Honestly I wasn't going to dwell on it, but it's annoying when you wait almost 2 years for an upgrade and then the next one drops less than a year later

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Don't think we'll see M3 Pro and Max. They always release base M1, M2 in MacBook and Mac Mini first. Pro and Max comes about 6 months later. This time I think we'll see M3 in iMac, MB Air and 13" MBP which haven't been updated since April 2021 and June 2022 and in March we'll see M3 Pro/Max in MB Pro 14"-16" and next summer (June) Max/Ultra in Mac Studio.

There is no "always" in only 2 iterations of anything. Flip coin: heads. Flip coin again: heads. When I flip this coin, it always comes up heads. Who wants to bet the farm on the next flip?

What we have seen so far doesn't necessarily dictate what is to come. While it appears Apple first builds the low end chip and then applies addition in beefing up to the high end... another way to go would be to design the high end chip first and apply subtraction in cutting down to the low end. Much manufacturing aims for the BEST one and then applies subtraction from the best to hit cheap price for "starting at...". Apple could go there too.

Still another option follows the iPhone model. Early iPhone was one model to rule them all. Now, there are at least 4 models. While it could be true that Apple still develops the base iPhone first and then applies addition to work up to Pro Max, my guess is that all 4 develop in parallel. Perhaps in this third generation, all M-series chips could also develop in parallel?

 

[JoJoe2k]

Gurman maintains that Apple will not refresh the MacBook Air models

Really sad that they went away from the Air-first rhythm... I liked how the performance of the CPUs increased with each release. Now we get super powerful Pro models first and later a less powerful air model that already feels outdated.
Is there any info on whether the might go back to the old release ordering?

 

[pacalis]

If it is an event... why are there no invites?

Ha, Apple's October 30th scary video so not sound so welcoming.

 

[Gudi]

What a great opportunity to be wrong twice in a week. This could finally burry Kuo’s reputation. 😄

 

[clam zero]

According to Kuo, if the M3 models don't end up boosting MacBook shipments, there is an increased likelihood of an "all-new design MacBook Pro in 2025" and also a chance Apple will consider a "more affordable MacBook model."

I hope they do re-evaluate their lineup. In my mind there are basically 4 types of MacBook users:
- Casual users, for whom the MBA is already fairly well-suited.
- Creative professionals and other pro app users, for whom the MBP is already fairly well-suited.
- Gamers, who need strong CPU P-cores, strong GPU performance overall (increasingly including RT) and a screen with a good refresh rate. Ideally, configuration options would include higher screen resolution and a stronger GPU to match.
- Artists, who need an excellent display, some pro-grade power but without all the bells and whistles of the Pro/Max chips, and a foldable device with a touchscreen, in as light a form factor as possible. Ideally, configuration options would include stronger raw performance and maybe an OLED option.

I'm not saying they need to have 4 models, but they definitely lose something by only having 2 (+ the 13" MBP, which I don't expect to remain in the lineup for long).

And of course the other side of the coin is macOS. Apple likes to advertise the most disruptive new features, but are these really worth the costs of implementation and maintenance, and are they enabling the workflows that users care about? Sometimes I wonder if the macOS design and marketing teams aren't hewing too close to late-2000s orthodoxy.

 

[pacalis]

Thank you! That helps a little))) Honestly I wasn't going to dwell on it, but it's annoying when you wait almost 2 years for an upgrade and then the next one drops less than a year later

Yes, but Apple has been so successful at confusing everyone has forgotten that we should have MacOS in the ipad pros.

 

[Juraj22]

Qualcomm should announce their new chip made by ex-apple designers this week.
Snapdragon X is 12core CPU...full power cores, not the low power ones..so let's see if Apple is scary fast. Competition is good.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

It makes it easier to launch the new MBAs early next year with just a press release if the M3 has already been introduced, and launching an M2 iMac at this stage just seems a bit futile. Just get Johny Srouji on to talk about the M3, then how the Pro & Max expand upon it, doesn't need a dedicated event for each.

Now, describe that Vpro with M2 launch next year after the halo around M3 has faded down for 3-5 months since the November launch.

 

[alexandr]

Yes, but Apple has been so successful at confusing everyone has forgotten that we should have MacOS in the ipad pros.

Was that ever conveyed? I would be all over that.

 

[smulji]

Qualcomm should announce their new chip made by ex-apple designers this week.
Snapdragon X is 12core CPU...full power cores, not the low power ones..so let's see if Apple is scary fast. Competition is good.

Already have

Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) on X

Another big Snapdragon announcement today is Snapdragon X Elite it's a 4nm PC SoC. 12 cores, 3.8GHz. This is near M2 Max performance I believe. The AI Engine in it has 75 TOPS of performance, which is absolutely absurd as well.

x.com

On a side note, what's equally cool is this announcement;

Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) on X

Now my favorite Qualcomm thing tody is the S7 pro sound chip It has a dedicated AI engine, and Qualcomm's new XPAN tech. It will connect to the earbuds over low power WiFi so you can walk around a house or campus and your earbuds will stay connected to your S8G3 phone

x.com

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

So, M3 MBP.
Later M3 Mac mini and Mac Studio.
What about iMac?

Since we're speculating everything right now, iMac will surprise with M5... because, per Spinal Tap wisdom, it's two higher.

 

[boak]

iPad Pro - M3
iMac - M3
MacBook Pro - M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max

 

[eno12]

3nm is disappointment so far that no company besides Apple wants to touch, you've got amazing machine for years to come.

By what definition? From what I see with the A17 Pro Apple chose to spend the process improvement in increasing GPU and ML capabilities. The ML part of the chip is significantly better than in the A16. The GPU has all new hardware to handle ray tracing (not a trivial feature) and they added an additional GPU core. Lots of changes but limited speed change given that is not what Apple wanted to do this year.

So, no, 3nm is not a disappointment but exactly what I expected. There will probably be a slightly improved version next year which Apple could use for further architectural improvements, power savings, or raw power.

 

[Gloor]

go to apple website,best buy etc. and try to see how long it takes to get 16" Pro/Max. Then come back and rephrase your statement.
Statistics are not made out of two data points. You need more and Apple is clearly going for something different this time.

Don't think we'll see M3 Pro and Max. They always release base M1, M2 in MacBook and Mac Mini first. Pro and Max comes about 6 months later. This time I think we'll see M3 in iMac, MB Air and 13" MBP which haven't been updated since April 2021 and June 2022 and in March we'll see M3 Pro/Max in MB Pro 14"-16" and next summer (June) Max/Ultra in Mac Studio.

 

[Homy]

Yeah that makes most sense on paper. Possible Apple throws a curve ball sort of like how this event is weird being at night.

There is not "always" in only 2 iterations of anything. Flip coin: heads. Flip coin again: heads. When I flip this coin it always comes up heads. Who wants to bet the farm on the next flip?

What we have seen so far doesn't necessarily dictate what is to come. While it appears Apple first builds the low end chip and then applies addition in beefing up to the high end... another way to go would be to design the high end chip first and apply subtraction in cutting down to the low end. Much manufacturing aims for the BEST one and then applies subtraction from the best to hit cheap prices. Apple could go there too.

Still another option follows the iPhone model. Early iPhone was one model to rule them all. Now, there are at least 4 models. While it could be true that Apple still develops the base iPhone first and then applies addition to work up to Pro Max, my guess is that all 4 develop in parallel. Perhaps in this third generation, all M-series chips could also develop in parallel?

Another possibility is the introduction of a 27"/32" iMac with M3 Pro/Max first before Pro/Max comes to the laptops. That wouldn't create as much confusion since it's a different Mac segment.

 

[Gloor]

Well, iPhone clearly showed whats coming so take it as a lesson to know next time that waiting 2 years and the give up is not the right call. Either keep waiting or buy when you need it. Simple

Thank you! That helps a little))) Honestly I wasn't going to dwell on it, but it's annoying when you wait almost 2 years for an upgrade and then the next one drops less than a year later

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Well that's just great 🤦‍♂️ View attachment 2301308

Literally got the shipping confirmation today.

They will update your order shortly to 'old 14 inch Macbook Pro'

 

[aapl owner]

Another possibility is that Apple originally planned to hold off the introduction until January, but that sales in the last month are unexpectedly down so much that they've moved the date up at the last minute.

Apple doesn’t work that way.

 

[toobravetosave]