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Got an M3 Pro macbook. Best laptop I ever used.

but the M3 Max is nowhere near competitive with PC hardware in 3d rendering. It's better than the M2 was, but not there yet. I just need it to be "good enough."

I'm putting my intentions to get an Mac studio on hold until at least the M4 Max. The max is the new MacPro in more ways than one: it won't get updated often enough.
 
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Apple often holds its first media event of the year in March, so the company could be just weeks away from announcing new products.

New-Macs-iPads-iOS-17-4.jpg

Below, we have outlined what to expect from a potential Apple Event this March.

Past Apple Events in March

Apple has held five events in March since 2015:
  • Monday, March 9, 2015
  • Monday, March 21, 2016
  • Tuesday, March 27, 2018
  • Monday, March 25, 2019
  • Tuesday, March 8, 2022
iOS 17.4 in March

iOS-17.4-Feature-Blue.jpg

In its press release announcing major App Store changes in the EU, in response to the Digital Markets Act, Apple confirmed that iOS 17.4 will be released in March:Apple has until March 6 to comply with the Digital Markets Act in order to avoid fines, so iOS 17.4 will likely be released before then.

In addition to the changes in the EU, key new features in iOS 17.4 include Apple Podcasts transcripts, a new iMessage security protocol, new emoji, and the ability to use the Apple Cash card on more websites by generating a virtual card number. The update also includes preparations for the launch of next-generation CarPlay later this year.

Other software updates expected to be released in March include iPadOS 17.4, macOS 14.4, watchOS 10.4, tvOS 17.4, and visionOS 1.1.

Rumored Announcements

New iPads With Aluminum Magic Keyboard


iPad-Air-12.9-Inch-Feature.jpg

Apple will likely launch new iPad Pro and iPad Air models "around the end of March," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The next iPad Pro models are widely expected to be the first iPads equipped with brighter and more vivid OLED displays. Other rumored or likely features for the iPad Pro include the M3 chip, MagSafe wireless charging, a redesigned Magic Keyboard with a larger trackpad and an aluminum top casing, and a landscape-oriented front camera.

A larger 12.9-inch iPad Air is expected alongside an updated 10.9-inch model. Other rumored or likely features for the iPad Air include the M2 chip, a redesigned rear camera bump, Wi-Fi 6E support, and Bluetooth 5.3.

Could the second-generation Apple Pencil recently going on sale for a record-low price hint at a third-generation Apple Pencil announcement too?

New MacBook Airs

MacBook-Air-15-Inch-Feature-Purple.jpg

Gurman also expects Apple to announce new MacBook Airs in late March.

The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air are expected to be updated with the M3 chip simultaneously, with key benefits over the M2 chip including faster performance and hardware-accelerated ray tracing for improved graphics rendering in games.

No major design changes are expected for the MacBook Air this year, but the laptops will likely gain support for Wi-Fi 6E like other Macs.

Apple already updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and 24-inch iMac with the M3 chip in October 2023.

New iPhone Color?

iPhone-14-Yellow-Feature-2.jpg

Apple often introduces new iPhone colors around March or April, midway through the smartphone's annual release cycle.

Will the new color this year be (PRODUCT)RED?

Article Link: What to Expect at Potential Apple Event in March: iPads, Macs, and MoreInteres
Interesting no chatter about the M4 chip so far, with M1, M2, and M3 there was a lot of chatter leading up to them. Have a feeling average Apple buyer is realizing Apple has hit the point of diminishing return for them.
 
I have a feeling a big focus of this event is going to be “Home”.
This recent 17.4 beta cycle has had so many references to it that I feel like it’s inevitable.

iPads getting thinner? And getting MagSafe? And OLED displays?
To me, that sounds like they’re bringing standby to the iPad with a new dock, and it’ll be always on because of OLED.

At the same time, so many software mentions of “homeOS” and a new HomePod with an LCD display powered by an A15 chip.
There has to be some fire with this smoke…

I am hoping that you are correct about the Home focus of the next event/hardware releases. All the "Home" mentions you've listed have to be building toward something eventually. Homepods are in a need of a spec bump and if the focus of iOS 18 is going to include a more AI version of Siri, the HomePods are going to need a boost to handle that. Also, an A15-powered Homepod with a screen running a version of tvOS would be a great home hub.
 
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What would an upgraded apple TV do that the current ones cant considering Apple TV OS and the lineup of Apps is the limiting factor
Look at this video to see GPU examples of enhancements with going to a A17 Pro or M3. Current iPad mini 6 and Apple TV 4K 3rd gen will likely go to using either or newer ARM eventually. Both are A15 based presently.

 
I'd rather they debloat MacOS so that 8GB is enough to run the OS and several apps without slowing down. Remember when Macs that maxed out at 2GB RAM ran OSX and Illustrator and PS at the same time without slowing down?
People would likely tell you that ram to storage cache swap is about as fast as RAM on AS Mac. Still if everything is using like 2 or 3 GB of the 8GB RAM left to constantly swap of parts of applications between RAM/SSD, it won't run as well as say 16 GB. Still a 8GB Mac can multitask in a floating windows GUI way better then a iPad Pro with 8GB RAM that lacks that. Today's Macs just use more Ram to load parts of the system/graphics caching then earlier MacOS's. :)
 
If the recent price drops on third-party retailers, I'm hopeful for an Apple Studio Display update and better yet a larger size.
 
I'm waiting on that updated USB-C Magic Trackpad - any chance this is when it drops? A huge and unlikely bonus for me would be if they added Touch ID for the trackpad, as I operate my MacBook in clamshell mode and use a non-apple split keyboard.
 
I wonder if they’d announce the expansion of Apple Vision Pro to UK and Canada as well. There appears to be plenty supply in the US (often able to pick one up in store on the same day) so they can surely add UK and Canada to the list by April.
 
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Got an M3 Pro macbook. Best laptop I ever used.

but the M3 Max is nowhere near competitive with PC hardware in 3d rendering. It's better than the M2 was, but not there yet. I just need it to be "good enough."

I'm putting my intentions to get an Mac studio on hold until at least the M4 Max. The max is the new MacPro in more ways than one: it won't get updated often enough.
Isn't the M3 Max between a 4070 and 4080 laptop version?
The hardware Ray tracing, mesh, and cashing had a great impact.
 
This is actually a pretty big event. First time ever we see OLED other than an iPhone. Who knows what they are up to.

I for one will get the 12.9" (if it's still that size), and maybe an Air. I do doubt OLED for the Air, and they are sort of similar, so there's that.

I'm rather curious as to the specs of Apple OLED. It always strikes me as odd that these could be different than what Samsung and LG sell themselves. Strange.

Btw, for contrast, I have the latest Samsung Ultra Galaxy tab OLED and it is very good. The Qualcomm S9 isn't exactly an M but it's a big improvement. The tablet doesn't even get warm, whereas the s8 did. Of course Android on this is weak.

Snapdragon X should be good.
 
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Isn't the M3 Max between a 4070 and 4080 laptop version?
The hardware Ray tracing, mesh, and cashing had a great impact.

It’s close to a 4060 in Blender.
A very significant upgrade over the M2 for the reasons you gave.
 
Interesting no chatter about the M4 chip so far, with M1, M2, and M3 there was a lot of chatter leading up to them. Have a feeling average Apple buyer is realizing Apple has hit the point of diminishing return for them.
With M2 and M3 it was actually a step back. M2 with slower SSDs, M3 Pro with smaller memory bandwith and less performance cores. I dread what will they take away in M4.
 
iPads getting thinner? And getting MagSafe? And OLED displays?
To me, that sounds like they’re bringing standby to the iPad with a new dock, and it’ll be always on because of OLED.
Oh God, wireless charging in a tablet is a new low. Thank you I want a bigger battery in that space and weight envelope. Apple's design is downhill since they've legalised weed in California.
 
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so no VPros in a coffee shop - gotcha.
My M1 MBA will be quite capable for me for several more years, whether in a coffee shop or not...
And when was the scuba look ever popular….M4, M5 doesnt matter if you look like youre going diving

🥴😀
 
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so no VPros in a coffee shop - gotcha.
My M1 MBA will be quite capable for me for several more years, whether in a coffee shop or not...
M1 Macbook air is a solid laptop… I really like the design too… part of me feels it looks better than their most recent Macbook designs.

M1 devices are going to have a very long run i think. 😀
 
Look at this video to see GPU examples of enhancements with going to a A17 Pro or M3. Current iPad mini 6 and Apple TV 4K 3rd gen will likely go to using either or newer ARM eventually. Both are A15 based presently.

I think Apple still need to get studios to port popular and highly regarded titles to Apple TV and iPad. Yes the GPU are becoming ever more powerful, and including more and more features, but the software hasn't leveraged fully or caught up.
 
M1 Macbook air is a solid laptop… I really like the design too… part of me feels it looks better than their most recent Macbook designs.

M1 devices are going to have a very long run i think. 😀
agree, don't like M2 MBA design ...
and I bet that a M1 MBA will look very stylish in a coffee shop in a couple years :cool::p
 
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