Apple unveiled its new M3 chips at a special evening launch event, alongside refreshed MacBook Pro laptops and a new iMac model. These announcements come ahead of the holiday shopping season, following a 7% sales drop in Apple’s Mac lineup in the June quarter.
Key Announcements:
M3 Chips:
Apple introduced three variants: the standard M3, a 40% faster M3 Pro, and the M3 Max, which is 250% faster for AI developers and 3D artists.
Notably:
- M3 features 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU.
- M3 Pro boasts a 12-core CPU and 18-core GPU.
- M3 Max has a 16-core CPU and a massive 40-core GPU.
All M3 chips promise up to 22 hours of battery life.
Built on a state-of-the-art 3 nanometer process by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
MacBook Pro Models:
- 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1599 with the M3 chip (previously $1999 with a faster processor).
- 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro is priced at $1999, with an upgrade option to M3 Max.
- 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple’s flagship laptop, starts at $2499 with the M3 Pro, with an M3 Max upgrade option.
Notably, these MacBook Pros come with an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and USB-C ports, and a new “Space Black” aluminum finish.
iMac Update:
The 24-inch iMac has been refreshed to feature the M3 chip, starting at $1299.
Additionally, Apple emphasized that these new machines outperform their Intel predecessors, which were phased out in 2020. The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro saw a price drop from $1999 to $1599, albeit with the basic M3 chip.
Shot Entirely on iPhone 15 Pro: In a striking showcase of the iPhone 15 Pro’s capabilities, the entire launch event was filmed using this device. The visual quality was nothing short of remarkable, emphasizing Apple’s advancements in smartphone camera technology. This choice not only highlighted the iPhone’s professional-grade filming capabilities but also served as a testament to how integral the device has become in content creation and professional storytelling.
