Apple, the tech giant known for its innovation and sleek designs, has always had a knack for keeping consumers on their toes. With the WWDC 2023 event, Apple kept up with its tradition of surprising its fanbase with the announcement of the new 15-inch MacBook Air, the M2 Ultra in the new Mac Pro, and the M2 Pro/MacBook Pros and M2 Mac mini in the spring. But that’s not all – Apple has more in store for the latter half of the year. Here’s a detailed overview of the potential new Mac releases for 2023.
The M3 Mystery: 13-inch MacBook Air
The M3 chip is at the center of the buzz around the Mac releases for the rest of the year. Current speculation pinpoints a possible fall 2023 launch for the M3, which will be based on 3nm technology, promising a significant performance boost.
However, the question arises – which new laptop will these M3 chips first appear in? Considering the recent release of a 15-inch MacBook Air with the M2, it would seem unusual to introduce the more potent M3 in a 13-inch MacBook Air. The Mac mini is also out of the question, as the M2 model was released only recently. The 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro would require the M3 Pro/Max, but skipping ahead to these advanced configurations would be unexpected.
If the rumors are true and the M3 does launch this year, it will likely debut on a 13-inch MacBook Air and a 13-inch MacBook Pro. This might seem a bit awkward, especially if Apple continues with the outdated design of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which still sports thick bezels and a Touch Bar.
The M3 iMac (24-inch)
Another possibility for the M3 chip could be the 24-inch iMac. Despite the iMac being overlooked for an M2 update, rumors suggest that the colorful iMacs could be in line for an M3 upgrade. However, it’s not expected to undergo a design change and will likely offer the same range of colors and thin design.
There are also whispers of a larger, 27-inch iMac Pro in development, which will probably receive the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips in alignment with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. But if Apple holds off on launching these advanced chips until spring 2024, the iMac Pro’s release could be postponed until then as well.
M3 MacBook Pro
The last of the upcoming M3 Macs is the MacBook Pro. Although we saw an update to the MacBook Pro earlier this year, it’s likely that if Apple releases new M3 Macs, MacBook Pro models will soon follow.
However, don’t expect to see all the new MacBook Pros by the end of the year. The iMac and MacBook Air updates are more probable, and we might see an upgrade to the MacBook Pro with a base M3 chip. The more advanced models with an M3 Pro or M3 Max will likely make their debut in 2024. This makes sense, especially considering the M2 Max MacBook Pro was launched only recently.
The Unanswered Questions
As evident, there are more questions than answers at the moment. In fact, the current speculations might not even be enough to warrant a Mac-focused event in the fall, which usually takes place in October or November. However, if Apple decides to broaden the scope of such an event to include the release of the Vision Pro and new iPads, we could see these products being announced. It’s even possible for Apple to launch M3 iPad Pros alongside the new Macs.
However, as of now, there’s a lot we don’t know about how Apple will wrap up 2023, and Macs may have to take a backseat to some of the more exciting new products in the company’s portfolio.
The New Mac Studio and Mac Pro
In a recent press release, Apple introduced its new Mac Studio and Mac Pro, claiming them to be the two most powerful Macs ever made. The Mac Studio comes with the M2 Max and the new M2 Ultra, offering significant performance enhancements and improved connectivity in its compact design. On the other hand, the Mac Pro, now featuring the M2 Ultra, combines the unprecedented performance of Apple’s most powerful chip with the versatility of PCIe expansion.
The Mac Studio: A Powerhouse of Performance
The new Mac Studio allows professionals to create their dream studio with its groundbreaking performance and extensive connectivity in a compact form. With the M2 Max and M2 Ultra, the Mac Studio provides a significant boost in performance over the previous generation, making it a massive leap for users upgrading from older Macs.
Enhanced Connectivity in the Mac Studio
The new Mac Studio features an array of connectivity options that are within easy reach for professionals. It now comes with higher-bandwidth HDMI, enabling up to 8K resolution and 240Hz frame rates. With the M2 Ultra, Mac Studio can support up to six Pro Display XDRs, allowing for a vast amount of screen real estate for pro workflows.
The Arrival of Apple Silicon in Mac Pro
The new Mac Pro delivers the groundbreaking performance of the M2 Ultra, along with the versatility of PCIe expansion, taking the most demanding workflows to the next level. Every Mac Pro now comes with Apple’s most powerful 24-core CPU, up to a 76-core GPU, and starts with twice the memory and SSD storage compared to its predecessors.
The Versatility of PCIe Expansion in Mac Pro
The new Mac Pro brings PCIe expansion to Apple silicon for professionals who want the performance of the M2 Ultra and rely on internal expansion for their workflows. Mac Pro features seven PCle expansion slots, with six open expansion slots that support gen 4, which is 2x faster than before, allowing users to customize their Mac Pro with essential cards.
Advanced Connectivity in Mac Pro
The new Mac Pro offers a wide array of connectivity options, including eight built-in Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, three USB-A ports, two higher-bandwidth HDMI ports that support up to 8K resolution and up to 240Hz frame rates, two 10Gb Ethernet ports, and a headphone jack for high-impedance headphones.
Apple’s Commitment to the Environment
The new Mac Studio and Mac Pro are designed with the environment in mind. They both use far less energy than the desktops in their class and over 40 percent less than the ENERGY STAR efficiency requirement. Both the Mac Studio and Mac Pro are free of mercury, PVC, and beryllium, and over 95 percent of the packaging is fiber-based.
Apple is carbon neutral for global corporate operations and is focused on its Apple 2030 goal to make every product carbon neutral. This means every Mac Apple creates will have net-zero climate impact, from design to manufacturing to customer use.
macOS: The World’s Most Advanced Desktop Operating System
The Mac Studio and Mac Pro come with macOS Ventura, designed to take full advantage of Apple silicon and deliver breakthrough performance and productivity. With features like Stage Manager, Continuity Camera, Handoff in FaceTime, Safari passkeys, and the Freeform app, users can be more productive and expressive.
Arriving this fall, macOS Sonoma adds powerful features and productivity tools that unlock new ways to get things done on Mac. Dynamic video conferencing features, including Presenter Overlay, elevate the presence of users when showcasing their work during video calls by including them on top of the content they’re sharing.
Pricing and Availability
The new Mac Studio and Mac Pro are available to order today, with availability beginning Tuesday, June 13. Mac Studio starts at $1,999 (U.S.) and $1,799 (U.S.) for education. Available in both tower and rack-mounted enclosures, Mac Pro (Tower Enclosure) starts at $6,999 (U.S.) and $6,599 (U.S.) for education. Mac Pro (Rack Enclosure) starts at $7,499 (U.S.) and $6,999 (U.S.) for education.
About Apple
Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Apple’s five software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.