Apple's Lightning-Fast Event: All Thrills, No Chills
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Having covered Apple events for years, I was pleasantly surprised by how much this one reignited my enthusiasm after a lackluster iPhone launch earlier this fall. I found myself staying up until midnight in Ireland to catch the live stream. While the presentation was pre-recorded, as many anticipated, I believe it’s time for Apple to revert to genuine live events, reminiscent of the Steve Jobs era. Fans worldwide, myself included, have been eagerly awaiting the new 3 nm Apple Silicon chips, which we finally received—except for the Ultra variant.
The introduction featured a prominent American value: hard work. While no nation is inherently lazy, the portrayal of various American characters in the opening video made me reflect on a society focused heavily on labor. Thankfully, the Mac aims to simplify these efforts. Having worked on Macs as a software developer and tech writer for over a decade, I can attest that these machines enhance productivity, especially since the arrival of the M1 chip, which was mentioned perhaps a touch excessively during the event.
Perhaps the M2 series was merely a transitional step to get something out to market.
M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max
Much of the M3's details were anticipated, but the fact that it debuted in a laptop was unexpected. The M3 family of Apple Silicon chips, built on a 3 nm architecture, is indeed a remarkable milestone in technological innovation and energy efficiency. It’s a significant achievement not only for Apple but for the industry at large.
The M3 series represents a substantial upgrade over the M2. Apple has outperformed Intel in graphics performance since the M1, with the M1 machines showcasing remarkable capabilities at previously unthinkable power consumption levels for laptops of this size. While the M2 brought some enhancements, real-world improvements were seen as minimal. The M3, however, changes the game significantly.
The M3 GPUs introduce a feature known as Dynamic Caching—claiming to be an industry first. Although I intend to investigate the authenticity of this claim, the practical benefits are likely to be substantial as it allows for real-time memory allocation. I anticipate this will particularly benefit the entry-level 14” models, which still feature just 8 GB of RAM.
Additionally, the GPU is equipped with Mesh Shading for more complex visuals and hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing, expected after the iPhone 15 Pro updates. Combined with the new Game Mode in macOS, this should satisfy even the most dedicated gamers. The M3 GPU boasts a performance increase of 2.5 times over the M1 GPU, suggesting Apple wants users to overlook the M2 in favor of a comparison with the M1. Notably, these advancements occurred within a two-year span, which I would argue is closer to three.
The M3 CPU cores are just as impressive when compared to the M2. Critics had modest expectations for the M2's performance, citing only a 10-15% improvement over the M1, which, while industry-standard, seemed underwhelming.
In contrast, the M3 shows a performance leap of 30% over the M2 and a staggering 50% compared to the M1. It’s crucial to note that while performance cores and the Neural Engine are only 15% faster than the M2, the efficiency cores see a 30% boost. Such statistics make the M3 an attractive option for those considering an upgrade from an Intel machine or even an M1.
The memory support for the three SOCs is as follows:
- M3: 8–24 GB of memory, unchanged from the M2. It features 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores.
- M3 Pro: 18–36 GB of memory, marking a first for both low and high-end configurations, with either 11 or 12 CPU cores and 14 or 18 GPU cores.
- M3 Max: 36–128 GB of memory, also a first for both configurations, offering either 14 or 16 CPU cores and 30 or 40 GPU cores.
Notably, some memory configurations are unavailable even on the Max versions, which may confuse shoppers. I found it challenging to navigate my own order. Stay tuned for details on the configuration I chose as my new daily driver, which is quite impressive.
MacBook Pro
The M3 Pro and Max SOCs also herald the arrival of new MacBook Pros. I never anticipated purchasing two in a single year, but my 14” M2 Pro is now a comparison tool for the upcoming M3 and might eventually be traded in for the Apple Vision Pro.
The enhancements to the M3 MacBook Pros are relatively minor in terms of new features. With the Pro or Max chips, they now support either 2 XDR Displays or 4 high-resolution external displays, respectively.
Apple emphasized a 22-hour battery life, but in reality, it remains similar to previous models—18 hours for the 14” and 22 hours for the 16”. The additional hour on paper doesn't significantly change the experience. A new Space Black color option is available, and if that's not your preference, there's still the classic Space Grey.
iMac
The update for the iMacs was the briefest, mostly revolving around the introduction of the M3 chip. This upgrade transforms them into excellent desktop options for many users. Apple describes even the 24” model as “enormous,” a claim I find hard to take seriously, though I’m sure they have metrics to support their decisions.
Nonetheless, the design remains unchanged, featuring the same slim profile in various colors alongside matching accessories. It’s available in 2 and 4-port configurations, still priced reasonably below $2000.
One More Thing…
Although there wasn’t a dedicated “one more thing” moment during this 30-minute event, Apple finally addressed a long-standing request from fans by removing the 13” MacBook Pro. Farewell, Touch Bar; some of us will miss you.
Apple has finally eliminated a model that many viewed as outdated, but it’s done so with a possibly clever twist. Time and user feedback will determine if this was a wise decision. The new base 14” MacBook Pro now features an M3 chip and supports all three SOCs. If you’re after a 14” device not in Space Black, this version in Space Grey is your option. It also boasts a 22-hour battery life, making it an appealing choice, complete with two Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, and the Liquid Retina XDR display.
As a result, the 14” MacBook Pro now starts at a lower price than ever, with some configurations available in Ireland for as low as 2049 euros, tax included.
Shortest Event Ever
Some may argue that this could have been condensed into a tweet, but I appreciate that Apple chose to present more than a simple press release. The M3 upgrade is significant enough to warrant the 30 minutes that Apple and viewers dedicated to it.
Was there anything eerie about the presentation? Perhaps a little, but I sincerely hope the bats in the intro were not real; otherwise, it’s best to steer clear of Apple Park. Overall, the event was filled with exciting developments.
I believe the M3 updates to the MacBook Pro and iMac lines will be well-received, making hard work even more manageable thanks to the speed and efficiency of these new Apple Silicon chips.
However, this doesn’t mean that current M2 or M1 users should rush to upgrade. Since the arrival of the M1, MacBooks have become significantly more robust compared to Intel models. They generate less heat, produce minimal fan noise, and operate many times faster than their Intel predecessors. If you’re satisfied with your device, continue enjoying it and view the M3 updates as another leap forward in technology that Apple will keep pushing. When you decide to upgrade, even more remarkable options will be available.
In summary, it was a concise and impactful event, filled with valuable updates for most Mac enthusiasts.
Attila Vago — Software Engineer dedicated to enhancing the world one line of code at a time. A lifelong tech enthusiast, I also advocate for web accessibility, and I'm a fan of LEGO, vinyl records, and craft beer! **Read my Hello story here!* Subscribe for more insights on LEGO, tech, coding, and accessibility! For my less frequent readers, I also write about random bits and writing.*
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