Last week Apple announced the MacBook Air M3, but which other Macs will make the transition to M3 this year? These are the expectations.
Mac(Book)s are switching to M3
Apple has released the first new product of 2024 in the Netherlands, because the MacBook Air M3 has appeared in stores. The biggest change in the laptop is the M3 chip, the MacBook Air 2022 and 2023 still ran on the M2 chip. It is expected that more Macs will switch to the M3 chip this year, but in what order will that happen? We already know this!
Overview
1. MacBook Pro already has M3
The MacBook Air 2024 is not Apple’s first device with an M3 chip, because the MacBook Pro was already released last year with the same processor. With the MacBook Pro 2023 you can choose from the M3, M3 Pro and the M3 Max chip. The laptop was released on November 7, 2023, so you can choose from different M3 chips with the MacBook Pro.
It is therefore expected that we will not see a new generation of the MacBook Pro this year. There won’t be a new version of the laptop until 2025, when the M4 chip will probably also be introduced. It is also possible that Apple will present the new MacBook Pro with M4 at the end of 2024, but that is unlikely due to the recent switch to M3.
2. Mac Studio
In June 2023, Apple released a new Mac Studio, which was equipped with the M2 series. You can choose from the M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip with the device, so it is expected that Apple will release comparable M3 processors in 2024. That means this year we’ll see the Mac Studio with an M3 Max or M3 Ultra chip. According to rumors, Apple uses a new technology for that chip.
The M3 chip is now made according to the 3nm process. A Taiwanese chip company has stated in a report that the more advanced M3 Max and M3 Ultra chip are made with N3E technology. This is an improved version of 3nm, so the chip requires even less energy to perform heavy tasks. We will probably see the Mac Studio with M3 in the second half of 2024.
3. Mac Pro gets M3
The Mac Pro 2023 was released at the same time as the Mac Studio, so it is expected that we will see the two Macs around the same time this year. Apple has equipped the Mac Pro with the M2 Ultra chip, which we also see in the Mac Studio. The big difference is that with the Mac Pro you cannot choose from other M2 chips. That is not surprising, because it is Apple’s most powerful computer.
Apple announced the Mac Pro last year at WWDC in June. It is quite possible that the Mac Pro with M3 will be presented again in June. That is also the moment we expect the Mac Studio. At the WWDC, in addition to new software, we will also see hardware updates. With the Mac Pro you are limited to the M3 Ultra chip. You cannot then choose a different M3 processor.
4.Mac mini
It is still unclear whether Apple will present a new Mac mini in 2024. In January last year, the Mac mini was updated to the M2 chip. That was more than 400 days ago, but there are few rumors about a Mac mini with M3. According to Apple expert Mark Gurman, it will be some time before we can expect a new generation of the computer.
He has predicted that the new Mac mini won’t arrive until the end of 2024. In that case, it is quite possible that Apple will wait a while and not release the computer until the spring of 2025. The Mac mini then skips the M3 chip and immediately gets an M4 chip. Of course, that remains to be seen, but it is at least almost certain that we will not see a new Mac mini anytime soon.
This device also gets the M3 chip
Almost all Macs will make the switch to the M3 chip this year. That’s not all, because according to rumors the iPad Pro will also make the jump to the fast processor. Apple will probably equip the new iPad Pro with the M3 chip. The tablet currently still runs on the M2 chip, so the M3 chip would be a logical next step. It is still unclear when the new iPad will appear, but it will probably happen at the end of 2024.
Also read: iPad Pro 2024: 3 features you can expect
Apple has also already equipped the iMac with the M3 chip, just like the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. You will especially notice this when performing heavy tasks, as the laptops have virtually no difficulty with this and require less energy. Are you still looking for a new laptop? Then view the best prices for MacBooks with M3 chip here, so you can be sure that your laptop will last for years to come!