Apple recently surprised its audience by hosting its "Scary Fast" October event, a play on Halloween, to introduce a range of exciting products.
Departing from its usual 1 pm keynote schedule, this event started at 8 pm, creating some suspense. Let's delve into the spine-tingling hardware Apple has unveiled as we approach the end of 2023.
New MacBook Pro models powered by 3nm M3 processors
The headline-grabber from the event is Apple's introduction of the 3-nanometer M3 chip family for the MacBook Pro.
This lineup comprises the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max processors, boasting a cutting-edge GPU architecture featuring hardware-accelerated mesh shading, ray tracing (as seen on the A17 Pro), and Dynamic Caching.
Dynamic Memory, a standout feature, dynamically allocates local memory in real-time according to the specific requirements of running applications.
Apple claims that the M3 GPUs offer up to a remarkable 2.5x performance boost compared to the M2 family.
Furthermore, the performance cores in these processors are up to 30 percent faster, while the efficiency cores show a substantial 50 percent improvement over the M2 Pro and M2 Pro Max.
The neural engine also gets a significant boost, with a 60 percent increase in performance compared to the M1 family.
New CPU lineup for MacBook Pros
- M3: 8-core CPU (4 performance, 3 efficiency), 10-core GPU, and support for up to 24GB unified memory.
- M3 Pro: 12-core CPU (6 performance, 6 efficiency), 18-core GPU, and support for up to 36GB unified memory.
- M3 Max: 16-core CPU (12 performance, 4 efficiency), 40-core GPU, and support for up to 128GB unified memory.
The base model of the 14-inch MacBook Pro now comes equipped with the M3 processor, replacing the previous M1 Pro and M2 Pro options. Customers also have the option to choose the M3 Pro and M3 Max for the 14-inch MacBook Pro. On the other hand, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is exclusively available in M3 Pro and M3 Max configurations.
Exceptional battery life and display
Apple touts an impressive battery life of up to 22 hours for the new MacBook Pros. These laptops are equipped with an upgraded Liquid Retina XDR Display that delivers a maximum HDR brightness of 1600 nits, ensuring a stunning visual experience.
New colour option
For those who appreciate aesthetics, Apple has introduced a new colour option for the M3 Pro and M3 Max models: Space Black. This sleek dark aluminium finish is a departure from the traditional Silver and Space Grey, and Apple claims it incorporates a "breakthrough" anodization method to resist fingerprints.
Pricing and availability
The 14-inch MacBook Pro, now featuring the M3 processor, starts at a competitive $1,599, a change from the previous starting price of $1,999 with the M2 Pro.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro, available in M3 Pro and M3 Max configurations, starts at $2,499. All these new MacBook Pro models are available for order immediately, with the M3 Max versions set to ship in November.
As a side note, the lower price point of the M3-based MacBook Pro appears to be replacing the "old" 13-inch MacBook Pro in Apple's lineup, making it an even more compelling choice for those seeking high-performance laptops.
