Apple recently concluded its unexpected ‘Scary Fast’ event, a 30-minute presentation that featured a flurry of exciting announcements. At the forefront of this showcase was Apple’s groundbreaking M3 chip, set to make its debut in a range of devices in just one week. You can also read about how to find the iPhone if it is in silent mode.
Key Highlights of the Scary Fast Event:
1. M3 Chip Family
- Apple unveiled its M3 chip family, taking everyone by surprise. In addition to the expected M3, Apple also introduced the M3 Pro and M3 Max variants, a deviation from its past practices.
- The M3 represents more than a minor update to Apple’s lineup, as it’s the first desktop chip with a 3nm process, providing a substantial advantage over the previous M1 and M2 chips. This chip, originally slated for launch last year, has been fine-tuned to ensure a stable supply.
- The new chips promise significant enhancements, including a faster CPU and a GPU with an entirely new architecture. Featuring Dynamic Caching, these chips offer a remarkable boost in GPU performance, complete with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shader support, marking a first for Apple GPUs. The M3 delivers a 60% increase in graphics performance compared to the M1.
- In terms of specifications, the M3, like the M2, features an eight-core CPU and either an eight-core or ten-core GPU. The M3 Pro boasts an 18-core GPU and a 12-core CPU, while the M3 Max goes even further with a 16-core CPU and a 40-core GPU. Moreover, the M3 Max offers support for up to 128GB of Unified Memory.
Also Read: How to Manually Switch AirPods Between Devices in iOS 17
2. 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3
- Apple is bidding farewell to its 13-inch MacBook Pro, opting for a significant change. The 14-inch MacBook Pro, now available with the base M3 chip, will replace the 13-inch MacBook Pro M2. This transition brings not only a larger screen but also a price increase, with the MacBook Pro starting at $1,600 for the M3 variant.
- The performance improvements are notable, as the M3 model offers a 60% boost in render performance in Final Cut Pro, 40% faster code compilation, and 40% faster spreadsheet performance compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1.
- Although the M3 didn’t make its way into the MacBook Air in this announcement, its potential future inclusion leaves pricing dynamics to be explored. For now, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is the sole laptop offering the M3 chip. It’s available for order now and is set to release on November 7.
Also Read: How to enable Lost Mode on your Apple AirTag with the Find My App
3. 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro/Max
- Apple expands its MacBook Pro lineup with the 14-inch model equipped with M3 Pro and M3 Max options, along with a 16-inch model exclusively featuring the Pro or Max chips. These models start at $2,000 and $2,500, respectively, both with the M3 Pro chip.
- Beyond the M3 chip, these models come with several updates, including a new Space Black color option, improved Liquid Retina XDR displays with increased brightness levels and an impressive claim of up to 22 hours of battery life in the MacBook Pro with M3.
- Orders for these models are open now, and units will begin shipping on November 7.
4. 24-inch iMac with M3
- Apple has also unveiled an updated 24-inch iMac, now powered by the M3 chip. This update promises a significant performance boost, with Apple claiming it’s up to twice as fast as its predecessor. Remarkably, the starting price remains at $1,300.
- The design and color options of the iMac remain largely unchanged, continuing to offer the same seven-color choices with matching accessories. The 4.5K Retina display still offers up to 500 nits of brightness.
- Additional enhancements outside of the chip include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and improved connectivity with up to four USB-C ports, including two with Thunderbolt support.
- The 24-inch iMac with M3 is available for purchase starting at $1,300 with an 8-core GPU, and a 10-core GPU variant is offered at $1,500. These desktops will be available at retailers on November 7.
Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ event marks a significant milestone in the evolution of its product lineup, ushering in the third generation of Apple’s silicon with these major product updates. Recently, iOS 17 introduced the ‘Personal Voice’ Feature: Here is how to set it up.
You might also like our TUTEZONE section which contains exclusive tutorials on making your life simpler by using technology.
