M3 MacBook Pro Ships With macOS Ventura, Can't Yet Be Updated to macOS Sonoma Over the Air

[MacRumors]

Apple's new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M3 chip began arriving to customers over the past day, and some early adopters have discovered that the laptop cannot currently be updated to macOS Sonoma over the air.

As noted by @aaronp613 on X, at least some 14-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip shipped with an unreleased build of macOS Ventura 13.5 installed. When users attempt to update to macOS Sonoma in the System Settings app, macOS Ventura 13.5 is listed as the latest version available instead of macOS Sonoma 14.1.

One user who experienced this issue is Daniel Rotar, host of the YouTube channel ZONEofTECH, according to a post he shared on X today. Additional users across X and the MacRumors Forums have mentioned the issue.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1721868285732344224

Given that macOS Ventura 13.5 was released in July, it seems that Apple began stockpiling the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 chip several months ago.

It's unclear when Apple will address this problem, but in the meantime, software researcher Nicolás Álvarez said that affected users can download the Install Assistant for the M3-compatible version of macOS Sonoma 14.1 and manually install the update. It is also possible to enable macOS public betas to get the update to appear.

Update: As noted by 9to5Mac, this issue appears to affect the new iMac with the M3 chip as well.

Article Link: M3 MacBook Pro Ships With macOS Ventura, Can't Yet Be Updated to macOS Sonoma Over the Air

 

[sniffies]

Sonoma requires M3 Ultra

 

[abatabia]

What in the wide world of sports is this about?

 

[OrenLindsey]

There's always some goofy launch day problem.

 

[appleguy123]

Weird. I wonder how long these have been sitting around.

 

[t0pher]

The naming convention sucks.

 

[t0rqx]

talking about rushing out products and saving cost. not installing the newest OS to save those pennies on energy bills.

 

[polee]

Wow so this was not rush released but was already piling up during MacOS Ventura!

 

[3xBoom]

OMG! For Pentium's sake, chill out people...

 

[t0rqx]

Weird. I wonder how long these have been sitting around.

The SSDs were meant to be installed with the M2's but they never sold. This is the sole reason why Vision Pro is using M2. What Apple does not know is that the Vision Pro will not sell either, so the M2 will be used in the Apple Watch 20 in 2034.

 

[darngooddesign]

The naming convention sucks.

I know right. None of their laptops are actually books.

 

[Rafagon]

It seems that Apple isn't screwing up just the iPhone launches these days, but also the Mac launches.

 

[Steve121178]

Weird. I wonder how long these have been sitting around.

Many months it would seem.

 

[4743913]

This is so Apple...

 

[roundski]

TSMC started making N3B chips in Dec 22, so apple only needs 7/8 months to put them into M3 MacBook Pros, if they've been stockpiling them since August
TSMC started making N3E chips Oct 23 so Apple should start sitting on M4 MacBook Pros in June/July 24?

 

[4743913]

Many months it would seem.

those rumors of the new Mac in July were correct after all...

 

[falkon-engine]

So TSMC's 3 nanometer is healthier than the rumors let on?

 

[sw1tcher]

🤣 This is worse than the iPhone 15 launch issue where you couldn't transfer data over from your old iPhone without updating iOS 17.0.2 first

Or it's Apple admittig macOS Sonoma sucks

 

[ProfessionalFan]

That is incredibly odd.

 

[thadoggfather]

Maybe that's an omen to wait a little before Sonoma is more stable?

 

[Steve121178]

those rumors of the new Mac in July were correct after all...

It always did seem weird that there wasn't the much anticipated & expected M3 launch in the summer. In my opinion the new Macs were supposed to launch in June/July but Apple had a massive inventory of older M1/M2 stock they couldn't shift due to the current financial climate. It explains why these "new" machines were preloaded with Ventura and left to rot in a warehouse for months until this week.

After the initial enthusiast stampede for new M3 hardware I'm sure nothing will change.

 

[falkon-engine]

Download the full installer. Also, given that these macs were ready from summer time, this might explain why no thunderbolt 5. Thunderbolt 5 was announced in September... Hopefully m4 comes with TB5! I'm patiently waiting.

 

[antiprotest]

Hilarious.

5 to 10 years ago I would not find myself saying this, but now I'd say, "That's so Apple."

 

[Darajavahus]

WHAT THE F

 

[Billy_Bob]

Apple under Steve Jobs: "It just works."

Apple under Tim Cook: "It just borks."