Apple is reportedly gearing up for the launch of its next series of Macs, powered by the M3 chip, as it seeks to revive its Mac business. The M3 chip comes at a crucial time as Apple looks to attract customers back to its Mac lineup, which saw a 31% sales dip last quarter. According to data shared by an App Store developer with Bloomberg’s Power On Newsletter, the M3 chip will have 12 CPU cores, 18 graphics cores, and 36GB of memory. The processor will comprise six high-performance cores designed for demanding tasks and six efficiency cores to handle less power-intensive operations. The M3 chip will be based on the 3-nanometer manufacturing process, allowing for the creation of high-density chips, and it will be a significant upgrade from the M2 chip and the M1 Pro chip, with increased core counts and memory.
The base-level M3 Pro, currently in testing, is expected to be released in 2024 and is being run on an upcoming high-end MacBook Pro featuring macOS 14.0. In comparison to the entry-level M1 Pro and M2 Pro, the M3 Pro will have 12 CPU cores, 18 graphics cores, and 36GB of memory. Assuming the test chip is the base-level M3 Pro, it shows a steady increase in core counts and memory from the M1 Pro to the M2 Pro to the M3 Pro.
Looking ahead, the M3 Max is expected to have 14 CPU cores and over 40 graphics cores, while the M3 Ultra could host 28 CPU cores and more than 80 graphics cores. These projections are based on the gains observed from M1 Max to M2 Max.
Apple is already developing M3-based iMacs, high-end and low-end MacBook Pros, and MacBook Airs, with the first M3 chip-based Macs expected to hit the market late this year or early next year. With the impressive specs and features of the M3 chip, it remains to be seen if it can attract customers back to the Mac lineup.
