During the WWDC 2023 keynote, Apple introduced several new Macs and finally transitioned to its own silicon by retiring the 2019 Intel Mac Pro and announcing an M2 Ultra model instead.
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With the Cupertino firm having also updated the Mac Studio with the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, Apple isn’t expected to announce any new Macs with an M2 family chip. That said, we are about to enter the M3 Mac computer cycle. Here’s when to expect each new M3 MacBook, iMac, and Mac mini.
When is Apple planning to unveil new Macs?
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman is one of the most reliable sources about Apple’s plans to release new hardware – including new Macs. He already said Apple is preparing a slew of new computers with the M3 chip, which could be revealed at the end of the year. By July, he teased a possible October event where Apple could introduce some of these computers. In August, he offered a few other tidbits and said some Macs would be introduced in the first half of 2024 and others in October 2023.
Interestingly, it seems M3 Pro and M3 Max Macs could be released before entry-level M3 models. Here’s what we know.
Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR
- 13-inch MacBook Air (codenamed Mac 15,1 and J513/J613): it was last updated in June 2022. Gurman says this device is on an engineering verification test, which means a new version could be scheduled for between the spring and summer of next year at the earliest.
- 15-inch MacBook Air (codenamed Mac 15,2 and J515/J615): It seems Apple won’t unveil a new 15-inch version just yet, as the company unveiled this model in June 2023, that said, a new version could be scheduled for between the spring and summer of next year at the earliest.
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (codenamed Mac 15,3 and J504): It was last updated in June 2022; it makes sense if this device is introduced alongside a new MacBook Air.
- 24-inch iMac (codenamed Mac 15,4, Mac 15,5, J433, and J434): last updated in April 2021, Gurman expected this machine to get an update in October.
- High-end MacBook Pro (codenamed Mac 15,7, Mac 15,8, J514, and J516): updated in January 2023, Apple took 14 months to introduce the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips; Gurman says this computer is nearing mass production, which means it could be released between early and spring 2024.
- Mac mini (codenamed Mac 15,12): Gurman says Apple started testing what seems to be the M3 Mac mini. It includes eight CPU cores, 10 graphic processor cores, and 24GB of memory. This machine runs macOS Sonoma 14.1, but it’s unclear when it could launch.
- Mac Studio: since Apple updated the M1 Max and M1 Ultra Mac Studio a year after it was unveiled, it seems this machine could see a yearly refresh, with a new model expected around WWDC24;
- Mac Pro: at the moment, it’s unclear if Apple could introduce a new iteration of the Mac Pro in 2024 or if Apple would wait for a redesign to bring a new machine.
Besides these computers, Mark Gurman believes Apple could introduce an iMac Pro or a model with more than a 30-inch display by 2025 or 2026. The Mac Pro and the Mac Studio have been updated during the WWDC, so newer models could take at least another year to be unveiled.
That said, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and DigiTimes don’t expect Apple to introduce any M3 Macs in 2023, meaning the company would wait at least until 2024 to bring the new processor based on the A17 Pro chip.
Although we’re not expecting any design change, the M3 family will probably bring an impressive spec bump compared to the previous M-chips. For a broader shift in the Mac lineup, rumors so far say Apple is planning an OLED MacBook Pro by 2026, and it could even launch a MacBook Air with this panel technology by 2024.
New iMac and high-end MacBook Pro models could be announced soon
Apple iMac 2021 design. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR
In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said Apple is preparing a Mac-centered announcement for October 30 or 31. After saying Cupertino would announce no hardware in October, he has now been told that Apple could have something in the works.
Interestingly, the journalist reports that Apple will present new high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and a refreshed 24-inch iMac.
While it’s natural that a 24-inch iMac gets the M3 chip, it would be the first time the company promotes Pro and Max processors that soon for the high-end MacBook Pro. Another possibility could be an update to the display of these Macs, and not a new model with better chips, per a report by DigiTimes.
Since Apple usually gives two weeks to announce a keynote, Cupertino will likely unveil new products by press releases. BGR will keep a closer look at these possible new M3 Macs coming shortly.