When to Expect the Next MacBook Pro, iMac, and Other Macs to Launch

[MacRumors]

Apple's two-year transition from Intel processors to its own custom-designed chips in Macs is nearly complete. The only remaining Intel-based Macs that Apple sells are a higher-priced Mac mini configuration and the Mac Pro tower, and both of those models are expected to be updated with M2 series chips by the end of the year.

Based on the latest rumors, we've outlined when to expect new models of every Mac in Apple's lineup and which chips they are expected to be powered by. For more information and purchase recommendations, consult the MacRumors Buyer's Guide.

MacBook Air

• When was the current model released? July 2022
• What chip is in the current model? M2 chip
• When to expect a new model? The second half of 2023
• What chip to expect for new model? M3 chip
• Major design changes for new model? Unlikely, but a larger 15-inch MacBook Air is expected to launch alongside the existing 13-inch model

Apple updated the MacBook Air in July 2022 with the M2 chip, a slightly larger 13.6-inch display, a notch, flatter edges, and new Starlight and Midnight color options. The notebook features MagSafe charging, an upgraded 1080p camera, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones, four speakers, and more.

Rumors suggest that a new MacBook Air with an M3 chip will be released in 2023 as one of Apple's first Macs with a 3nm chip. In addition to a new 13-inch MacBook Air, Apple reportedly plans to release an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air.

13-inch MacBook Pro

• When was the current model released? June 2022
• What chip is in the current model? M2 chip
• When to expect a new model? The second half of 2023
• What chip to expect for new model? M3 chip
• Major design changes for new model? Unclear. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is the last Mac that Apple sells with a Touch Bar

Released in June 2022, the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro features the same design as the previous model, with the only notable change being the addition of the M2 chip. Another spec bump to the M3 chip is expected in June 2023 or later.

14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro

• When were the current models released? October 2021
• What chips are in the current models? M1 Pro and M1 Max chips
• When to expect new models? October 2022 likely, but possibly the first half of 2023
• What chips to expect for new models? M2 Pro and M2 Max chips
• Major design changes for new models? Unlikely, as the larger MacBook Pro models received a significant redesign with extra ports and more in 2021

Apple's next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are "well into development and testing," and planned for release "as early as this fall," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As usual in recent years, Gurman said the timeframe could be pushed back due to supply chain disruptions or other factors.

While some reports suggested that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips may be Apple's first 3nm chips, it looks increasingly likely that the chips will remain 5nm. The chips would still have modest performance improvements over the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and increased GPU core counts and unified memory (RAM) are also likely.

iMac

• When was the current model released? May 2021
• What chip is in the current model? M1 chip
• When to expect a new model? 2023
• What chip to expect for new model? M3 chip
• Major design changes for new model? Unlikely, as the iMac received a significant redesign with an ultra-thin colorful enclosure in 2021

Apple released the colorful 24-inch iMac with an M1 chip in May 2021. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to skip an M2 version of the iMac and will instead release a model with an M3 chip at some point in 2023.

Gurman also believes that Apple eventually plans to release a larger iMac to replace the discontinued 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro models.

Mac mini

• When was the current model released? November 2020
• What chip is in the current model? M1 chip
• When to expect a new model? October 2022 likely
• What chips to expect for new models? M2 chip
• Major design changes for new model? Unlikely

Apple released the Mac mini with an M1 chip as one of its first three Apple silicon Macs in November 2020. Nearly two years later, a new version of the base model Mac mini with an M2 chip is rumored to be on the horizon.

Mac mini (Intel)

• When was the current model released? October 2018
• What chip is in the current model? Intel's eighth-generation Core i5 or Core i7
• When to expect a new model? October 2022 likely
• What chip to expect for new model? M2 Pro chip
• Major design changes for new model? Unlikely

Apple still sells a higher-priced Mac mini configuration with Intel processors, but rumors suggest it will be replaced with a model with an M2 Pro chip soon. It remains to be seen if the higher-end Mac mini remains available in Space Gray, as Apple dropped that color option for the standard Mac mini when it was updated with the M1 chip.

Mac Studio

• When was the current model released? March 2022
• What chips are in the current model? M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips
• When to expect a new model? Unknown
• What chip to expect for new model? M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips?
• Major design changes for new model? Unlikely

As a first-generation product, the future of the Mac Studio remains to be seen. There is no clear timeframe for when the Mac Studio might be updated, but if it is, it would be reasonable to expect a spec bump with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips.

Mac Pro

• When was the current model released? December 2019
• What chips are in the current model? Intel Xeon W processors
• When to expect a new model? By the end of 2022
• What chips to expect for new model? M2 Ultra and M2 Extreme chips
• Major design changes for new model? Potentially. The new Mac Pro with Apple silicon could be smaller at a minimum

At its March 2022 event, Apple teased the launch of a Mac Pro with Apple silicon, saying "that's for another day." According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to release a new Mac Pro with M2 Ultra and "M2 Extreme" chips, and it's very likely that the computer will be released by the end of 2022, completing Apple's move away from Intel.

Article Link: When to Expect the Next MacBook Pro, iMac, and Other Macs to Launch

 

[EugW]

I’m anxiously awaiting news about what will happen to the high end Mac mini tier.

It would be good to have a Mac mini for consumers and prosumers with more ports than the M1 Mac mini, memory options below 32 GB, and SoC options below the Mx Max.

 

[Kabeyun]

Was planning on an M1Pro MBP but I had to hit pause over budget. Now I’m looking forward to the M2Pro MBP!

 

[DHagan4755]

It seems obvious we'll at least get the M2 Mac mini this October. But you never know. The Mac mini with an M2 Pro will replace the Intel Mac mini but that will depend on whether or not the M2 Pro / Max chips are ready.

If the M2 Pro / Max chips are ready for the fall, that means 5nm process & probably will go into the 14" & 16" MacBook Pros.

The Mac Pro will probably be teased & shipping in December like has happened in previous Mac Pro updates. It will likely have an M2 Extreme chip.

I think the Mac Studio will get the M2 Pro / Max in the March 2023 timeframe along with the 15.2" MacBook Air (Maybe MacBook Studio?). We should consider nicknaming it the "Spring studio" because that will probably be the timeframe it gets its regular hardware updates.

I don't expect to see iMacs get any love for quite awhile.

 

[Realityck]

How did we ever get started with rumors that 14” and 16” MBP released October 2021, was expected October 2022? Oh yeah, because some gossiping thought the M2 devices would immediately replace the M1 devices, even though the Studio Mac with M1 Ultra was March 2022.

 

[MacBird]

I'm wondering if Apple is going to release a 27'' iMac again.

 

[MacLawyer]

Large screen iMac user here. Out in the cold shivering until 2023.

 

[Colstan]

I'll be glad when the transition from x86 to Apple Silicon is fully complete, just to cut down on the baseless speculation about new Intel models and strange configurations of the Mac Pro that don't make sense.

 

[MakeAppleAwesomeAgain]

Unbelievable there still isn’t a 27” iMac replacement yet, drives me nuts. Studio Display + Mac Studio is obviously something completely different.

 

[Rychiar]

Unbelievable there still isn’t a 27” iMac replacement yet, drives me nuts. Studio Display + Mac Studio is obviously something completely different.

Something insanely more expensive at least

 

[Spock]

Unbelievable there still isn’t a 27” iMac replacement yet, drives me nuts. Studio Display + Mac Studio is obviously something completely different.

But that's the point, they would rather you buy that instead. The iMac became more than the consumer level machine that it was meant to be and I think Apple is going back to it being a fully consumer level device again.

 

[ralph_sws]

I’m anxiously awaiting news about what will happen to the high end Mac mini tier.

It would be good to have a Mac mini for consumers and prosumers with more ports than the M1 Mac mini, memory options below 32 GB, and SoC options below the Mx Max.

buy studio

 

[applesed]

feels like the mbp is a spec bump, same design and same features. although I don't understand why they couldn't throw a single usb-a port on there!

 

[Arnold Ziffel]

After waiting a couple of years for the Apple Silicon 27” iMac, we waved the white flag and bought a Mac Studio Ultra.

Amazing computer, but I still would have preferred the iMac.

 

[tubular]

buy studio

Thinking hard about it, first half of next year, but I need to know the price point where Apple slots an M2 Pro mini first.

 

[kp98077]

So fall for MBP? there is so much uncertainty!

 

[Armada2]

Im curious about the Mac Pro will it have its own dedicated GFX (AMD/Nvidia) that might work alongside the M2 chip? as well as RAM to swap or will they just rely on the M2 Ultra+ chip?

Not sure what could be extra that could not fit in the Mac Studio.

 

[MacBird]

Im curious about the Mac Pro will it have its own dedicated GFX (AMD/Nvidia) that might work alongside the M2 chip? as well as RAM to swap or will they just rely on the M2 Ultra+ chip?

Not sure what could be extra that could not fit in the Mac Studio.

Good questions but there is no way of knowing right now.

 

[grouch]

I really do hope they bring back the 27" iMac. They're just so easy.

 

[PsykX]

The iMac rumors hurt a lot at the moment. The M1 iMac is okay, but not for Pros.

They will never release an M2 model, which means it won't get love until late in 2023, and we don't even know if they will release a bigger iMac and/or with a more powerful than just the base processor.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

But that's the point, they would rather you buy that instead. The iMac became more than the consumer level machine that it was meant to be and I think Apple is going back to it being a fully consumer level device again.

I want an iMac Pro. Why? Built in ports; hate dongles and hubs. Love all-in-one machines and always have. Want power, too. It's not complicated. Over the last 18 years I've always owned an iMac and a Mac laptop. Let's keep it that way.

 

[Spock]

I want an iMac Pro. Why? Built in ports; hate dongles and hubs. Love all-in-one machines and always have. Want power, too. It's not complicated. Over the last 18 years I've always owned an iMac and a Mac laptop. Let's keep it that way.

But Apple doesn't really give us what we want, they give users what they think we need.

 

[Arnold Ziffel]

I want an iMac Pro. Why? Built in ports; hate dongles and hubs. Love all-in-one machines and always have. Want power, too. It's not complicated. Over the last 18 years I've always owned an iMac and a Mac laptop. Let's keep it that way.

I hear ya! Maybe Apple will make one, but I’m not betting money on it.

 

[Realityck]

Unbelievable there still isn’t a 27” iMac replacement yet, drives me nuts. Studio Display + Mac Studio is obviously something completely nuts.

Lots feel this way. It was done to allow Mac Studio/Studio Display component Mac solution to be marketed. Even crazier is this rumor below.

Apple released the colorful 24-inch iMac with an M1 chip in May 2021. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to skip an M2 version of the iMac and will instead release a model with an M3 chip at some point in 2023.

We barely have the first M2 for 13" MBA/MBP and Grumman is teasing us it won't be to M3 at some point in 2023.

IMHO this predicting how fast Apple can accelerate Apple Silicon development is loony tunes (some point in 2023). IMHO everyone here sees that larger iMac as an essential Mac solution is needed now, not later.

 

[sydenham]

Chances are these new machines will come with a price hike. Just like the Air and the 13 M2 machines. The M1s still seem like the golden machines. Priced lower than any others in history and as fast as anybody could reasonably want.