What to Expect From the 'Scary Fast' October 30 Apple Event

[CWallace]

Yeah, Airs are just too good and probably cannibalizing on Pro sales.

The Air is Apple's most-popular model (even if the MBP family sells the most units in combination) so Apple has no real incentive to artificially hinder it by keeping it on a previous generation SoC. The differentiate the MacBook Air 13" and 15" and MacBook Pro 14" and 16" pretty effectively between the displays, ports, RAM and storage options and PRO/MAX SoCs. So Apple can comfortably update it every generation.

The 13" and 15" will move to M3 soon enough and my guess is why it is not happening tomorrow is that Apple wants to move both models to M3 together and with the 15" only having launched four months prior, that is too soon (and the M2 Air is likely still selling great even at 16-months on). My guess is they will probably move in March (perhaps alongside the M3 iPad Pro / iPad Air) or WWDC 2024 at the latest.

 

[Fuzzball84]

COVID and TSMC's teething issues moving to 3nm have messed-up Apple's release cadence for the M family. Now that both are behind us, Monday is hopefully a sign that Apple will be able to release all three variants (base/PRO/MAX) of each generation at the same time going forward (with then the ULTRA coming out around 6-8 months later).

Apple will end up buying a fab plant next. 100 percent vertical integration

Tim will then consider full sequence… the centipad… port to port monstrosity.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

This is why I hope for more moderate upgrade pricing and higher standard configuration.

IMO higher standard configuration is moot because anyone aware enough to be perusing this forum should be buying more than base RAM, and hopefully at more moderate upgrade pricing.

Let Apple service its lowest RAM-needs users (e.g. granny just doing email) with low/cheap base RAM but do not even consider buying a base-level box.

 

[Warped9]

In real world there are no "fair" or "silly" prices.

Have you been to the grocery store lately? Or a new car dealership? It’s not “fair” or “silly, but “obscene.”

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Yeah, Airs are just too good and probably cannibalizing on Pro sales. So they might start getting M<one-two generations behind> SoCs, to get them back into entry segment.

This. Plus M2 already has way more performance available than an MBA will need for years.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Apple could change their marketing approach. Right now they have been playing this game of limiting what has the latest M SoC's to select models, but say they do it differently per this paragraph from a MacWorld article.

======
If Apple does unveil the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips on Monday, it’s also previewing the next generation of all Mac hardware. If the Apple Silicon era has taught us anything, it’s that a chip is a chip is a chip. In other words, if there’s an iMac with an M3 chip in it, you can bet that the M3 MacBook Air and M3 Mac miniwill perform more or less identically. If there’s a MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip in it, you can bet that the M3 Pro Mac mini will match it.

In the Apple silicon era, Apple didn’t design a bunch of different chip variations around each of its computers. Instead, it designs a base set of chips and then creates Macs to fit around them. The shapes and forms change, but the chips tell the story. For example, if the M3 iMac supports two external displays, the M3 MacBook Air probably will too. (And if it doesn’t, then that’s pretty much it for your hopes for that feature on the MacBook Air.)
======

2023 has been a kinda crazy release schedule for Apple with new updated Macs in January and June at WWDC, nothing in between or after until Halloween. Other companies seems to update several products at a .

I guess my point is that next gen MBAs will improve a bit as usual, but not because of the chip used. The low end could be improved using all M2 or M3 or a mix (except consumers would notice and whine) because the last gen chips already have more than enough power for the low end. Apple will select chip used for the low end based on chip yields, price points, demand, marketing, etc. Better M3 performance matters naught at the low end, unless performance+yields makes M3 cost effective.

Yields can not be excluded from analysis without making it all just guessing. But we mortals have no clue what goes on with complex chip yields; except that they usually improve dramatically over time - except when they do not...

 

[Fuzzball84]

IMO higher standard configuration is moot because anyone aware enough to be perusing this forum should be buying more than base RAM, and hopefully at more moderate upgrade pricing.

Let Apple service its lowest RAM-needs users (e.g. granny just doing email) with low/cheap base RAM but do not even consider buying a base-level box.

You can do email on a raspberry pi!

You can do alot with 8 GB of RAM… the vast, vast majority of people buying Apple devices can get by and for years to come with base model spec.

And i wouldn't be presumptuous that just because you come on here, that you're somehow a power user. Id bet that most of Apples power users would have very little need or want to be bothered by forums like these. Its a very Apple thing if you ask me..

One of my Macs, which is from Intel era, was base spec Mac mini 2018… it’s still doing as well as it did when I bought it during the early 2020 refresh. Processor usage and memory usage have remained the same… I find browsing and doing various light office and programming tasks just as good as when I first used it back then. It’s fit for purpose and has years of life left in it. Since it doesn’t have an internal battery it might even survive my M2 MacBook Air as I can run other OS such as Linux on it in the future should I wish.

 

[nickdavisio]

If it is new MacBook Pros, do we think orders will go live straight away? I can't remember what happened when I bought this one (14" MBP M1 Max) or the last MBP event.

Basically considering whether to stay up to watch the event live (and order immediately, if I can) or watch it in the morning, particularly if orders are likely to start a few days later anyway (I realise I'm jinxing this now so that no new MBP will be announced, apologies).

Thanks!

 

[rp2011]

I love my M1 MacBook Pro and Mac Studio. Use them every single day..in conjunction with my Windows machines which are far better at rendering 3D graphics. I know not everyone needs better graphics performance and I hear some folks complaining about "why do we need faster computers anyway? I can do all my email and watch YouTube videos just fine on my M1 MacBook Air with 8Gb memory" But we are not all they same, some of us can use a whole lot better performance, I would love to see the rumored Ray Tracing included with the M3. I'll buy it on day one.

 

[Fraserpatty]

OLED iPads, please.

I would be happy with an up speced iPad mini, with no jelly scrolling.

 

[rp2011]

If it is new MacBook Pros, do we think orders will go live straight away? I can't remember what happened when I bought this one (14" MBP M1 Max) or the last MBP event.

Basically considering whether to stay up to watch the event live (and order immediately, if I can) or watch it in the morning, particularly if orders are likely to start a few days later anyway (I realise I'm jinxing this now so that no new MBP will be announced, apologies).

Thanks!

They say there will be low stock at launch as the yields for the 3nm chips are still ramping up. I remember waiting a whole month and a half after I ordered my M1 Macs at launch. I think it will be the same or worse.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I would be happy with an up speced iPad mini, with no jelly scrolling.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Don’t eat jelly while scrolling on the mini. It’s inevitable that jelly will scroll if you eat it while using iPad mini.

I’ve used a few of the current lineup of iPads and I’d say the lower refresh is more of an issue for general comfort than jelly scrolling. It really is such a minor/non issue.

It’s already fast enough with A15 and I don’t know what you’re using it for if you really need something faster. The screen is tiny for productivity, iPad mini is really a consumption device.

 

[Fuzzball84]

They say there will be low stock at launch as the yields for the 3nm chips are still ramping up. I remember waiting a whole month and a half after I ordered my M1 Macs at launch. I think it will be the same or worse.

You’d be better off waiting for M4. The time you spend waiting for M3 to come. Laggy like crazy

 

[Allen_Wentz]

You can do email on a raspberry pi!

You can do alot with 8 GB of RAM… the vast, vast majority of people buying Apple devices can get by and for years to come with base model spec.

And i wouldn't be presumptuous that just because you come on here, that you're somehow a power user. Id bet that most of Apples power users would have very little need or want to be bothered by forums like these. Its a very Apple thing if you ask me..

One of my Macs, which is from Intel era, was base spec Mac mini 2018… it’s still doing as well as it did when I bought it during the early 2020 refresh. Processor usage and memory usage have remained the same… I find browsing and doing various light office and programming tasks just as good as when I first used it back then. It’s fit for purpose and has years of life left in it. Since it doesn’t have an internal battery it might even survive my M2 MacBook Air as I can run other OS such as Linux on it in the future should I wish.

We agree that of course "You can do alot with 8 GB of RAM… the vast, vast majority of people buying Apple devices can get by and for years to come with base model spec." Also we agree that folks here are mostly not "somehow a power user."

Just because the Mac OS will manage RAM/SSD such that folks "can get by" does not mean that folks should force their boxes into just get by mode by underbuying RAM/SSD when making the initial investment. IMO folks who come here are more likely looking for optimum rather than to just get by.

So I present my experience-based opinion, which unequivocally suggests overbuying on RAM/SSD to optimize the 4-6 year life cycle experience. Using an intentionally-constrained box for 4-6 years is cheaper but IMO much less preferable.

 

[picpicmac]

But the new version should help restore its prominence in Apple’s lineup

Sigh... that dude....

 

[Allen_Wentz]

They say there will be low stock at launch as the yields for the 3nm chips are still ramping up. I remember waiting a whole month and a half after I ordered my M1 Macs at launch. I think it will be the same or worse.

This. Note also that yields are not simplistic. There may be lots of one flavor of M3 available while another flavor is scarce, hence pricey to Apple. So we absolutely cannot see the decision variables they are looking at.

 

[picpicmac]

which will destroy any Mac in existence And costs a fraction of Mac performance.

For heating your house for sure.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I love my M1 MacBook Pro and Mac Studio. Use them every single day..in conjunction with my Windows machines which are far better at rendering 3D graphics. I know not everyone needs better graphics performance and I hear some folks complaining about "why do we need faster computers anyway? I can do all my email and watch YouTube videos just fine on my M1 MacBook Air with 8Gb memory" But we are not all they same, some of us can use a whole lot better performance, I would love to see the rumored Ray Tracing included with the M3. I'll buy it on day one.

I’d say sticking to the PC side for graphics would make far much more sense at the moment. At the moment Apple doesn’t really have a Mac that can be economically scaled for user compute performance. Ironically they have put themselves in a corner with their SoC architecture.

But this is it, they are targeting prosumers. Not real power users. So if you want to upgrade part of your system, you’d better stick to PC. As increasingly with Mac, you have to replace the entire system. Which blows a hole in their environmental commitments.

 

[InvertedGoldfish]

It’s “scary fast” how quickly my watch battery drains after getting scammed to install watch os10

 

[picpicmac]

Apple will end up buying a fab plant next. 100 percent vertical integration

Well, Apple has not bought a display manufacturer.

Tim Cook was one of those, along with President Biden, who championed TSMC's decision to build a fab in Arizona. Apple is committing to buy from that plant.

 

[Fuzzball84]

It’s “scary fast” how quickly my watch battery drains after getting scammed to install watch os10

I didn't upgrade mine… im very happy with its battery life and know a few poeple who say battery life has been taking quite a hit on older models at the moment. So im waiting and seeing what happens before i upgrade the OS.

 

[JimmyG]

Mark Gurman Sunday article

Apple Looks to Regain Chip Bragging Rights With Trio of M3 Processors

Just ahead of Halloween, Apple is set to unveil the M3 chip line, new MacBook Pros and an updated iMac at a “Scary Fast”-themed event. Also: The company prepares a total overhaul of AirPods; prices for TV+ and other Apple services go up; and the TV app is getting a revamp later this year.

www.bloomberg.com

But Apple has a chance to turn the page on all that come Monday evening. That’s when the company is set to announce three new Mac chips (the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max) and a shift to more advanced 3-nanometer production technology. There will be major refreshes to the high-end MacBook Pros and the first update to the iMac since spring 2021.

The M3 chip line is destined to be a considerable leap from the M2, bringing vastly improved speeds as well as better efficiency to improve battery life on notebooks.

Here’s what I am expecting from all three components:

• M3: The central processing unit will boast eight cores (four for handling high-performance tasks and four efficiency cores focused on background functions) and as many as 10 cores for processing graphics. That matches the counts of the M2, but the M3 will likely support improved memory configurations and get far faster performance from each core.
• M3 Pro: This chip has been tested in multiple configurations, including one with 12 CPU cores (six for performance and six for efficiency) and 18 graphics cores. Higher-end versions of the M3 Pro are likely to get 14 CPU cores and 20 graphics cores.
• M3 Max: This chip has also been tested in different configurations, including one with 16 CPU cores (12 for performance and four for efficiency) and a whopping 40 graphics cores. There also was a less powerful version that had a still-ginormous 32 graphics cores.

Announcing three new chips at one time would be a considerable feat for Cupertino, California-based Apple, especially considering the products are based on 3-nanometer technology. Other manufacturers have struggled to get their hands on enough chips made with that advanced technique.

It also shows that Apple has sped up the time to takes to develop major new chip generations. The M2 processor was announced 19 months after the first M1 debuted. Monday’s unveiling of the M3 would narrow that gap to about 16 months.

The time between computer updates is speeding up as well, in some cases at least. The previous MacBook Pro models — with M2 chips — launched in January, and now the new versions are arriving less than 10 months later. To be clear, this happened because the last generation was released later than planned. But Apple didn’t let that delay push back the arrival of the M3 version.

The other model getting updated Monday is the iMac. This machine has been a particular laggard — it currently still runs the M1 chip. But the new version should help restore its prominence in Apple’s lineup. It’s a milestone year for the iMac, which kicked off Apple’s resurgence in the late 1990s and just turned 25.

Monday’s presentation — likely to be the company’s last event of the year — won’t be as attention-grabbing as an iPhone or Apple Watch launch. It will probably be filled with deeply technical language about chip speeds and feeds. And the innovations are mostly on the inside: The computers themselves won’t have exciting new designs.

But it still should be enough to bring computer-chip bragging rights back to Cupertino.

Looks like Forbes has decided to go with this Gurman reporting, as well...

Forget The New MacBook Pro, Apple Has Something Better

Can Apple Tempt You Away From The MacBook Air?

As Tim Cook prepares his "Scary Fast" event, should you consider investing in these new MacBook Pro laptops?

www.forbes.com

...M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max it is, then. We'll see, tomorrow.

Based on Bloomberg's and Forbes' confidence in that reporting I'll toss my 2¢ in that a a larger-than-27" iMac Pro will be in the mix, fingers crossed that it'll have an XDR display.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Scary Fast / Halloween event = pushing the quality of Resident Evil Village/Resident Evil 4 on M3.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they claim it’s as fast or faster than current-generation consoles.

Maybe we’ll get more announcements related to gaming. I’m also convinced there’s a surprise here: maybe an Apple gaming console/Vision Pro gaming push?

 

[CriticalVoice]

No 27" iMac M3 ? 😕

 

[Ghengis LeMond]

For heating your house for sure.

Hahaha 🔥you’re right on that as I’ll be looking at avg. power draw of ~750 watts (which is VERY conservative- it won’t be that high on avg.) The thing will be a nuke heater though and cause the lights in my neighborhood to flicker. That said, power costs at that wattage in my area (GA) are about $0.10/hr which is negligible.