Delays in the Macs we should have seen in 2022 have meant that the transition to Apple Silicon is not yet complete, and now we will have two major generations in the company’s computers: the M1s and the M2 chip.
On January 18, 2023, Apple introduced their current-gen 5 nm chips. The computers that will use these technologies are the M2 Pro and M2 Max and are more powerful than before.
Although this is not to say that there is no love for other models, because the next step is the so-called M3 chip. Even, according to Taiwanese magazine DigiTimes, Apple plans to launch a new MacBook Air with a 3 nm processor. If we compare this model with the two powerhouses unveiled on January 18, it will obviously be less powerful, but it will make the MacBook Air a more performance-focused machine.
This new MacBook Air would come with the new M3 processors, and after that, the releases of the M3 Pro and M3 Max would follow with a six-month gap.
What does the Taiwanese magazine report say about the M3 MacBook Air?
Between the claims, are the release of the M3 MacBook Air with a 3 nm process, in the second half of 2023. Although the DigiTimes reports do not always make predictions accurately, and Apple could launch the new MacBook Air in June like it did last year.
It also claims that, according to staff close to the industry, Apple is focusing more on launching the new budget-friendly version of MacBook Air than other processors. And if we think about it, Apple did release the A16 Bionic chip in 2022, and this year’s iPhone 15 would have the new A17 Bionic chip. So, Apple might focus on these two processors’ launches first and then focus on M3 Pro and M3 Max. (As we already had said.)
If Apple goes by that trend, the new M3 MacBook Air would bear a price tag of $1400 (the difference is just $200 for the base models), or even less if Apple genuinely wants to make it affordable. Since the improving the fabrication process to 3 nm will bring both performance and efficiency improvements in the MacBook Air.
And it is the perfect model for this type of presentations. As you know, the MacBook Air is the smallest and lightest terminal of the brand, so the use of internal space is particularly important if Tim Cook wants to get all the juice out of such a small space.
What is new in the M3 chip?
Everything will depend on the model and the computer with which we use it, but there is one thing in common: the M3 chips will be the first to include 3 nm technology throughout their range. This means that we will have more transistors in less space, and that means more performance and less consumption. Other more linear evolution novelties may be more cores in both the CPU and GPU, and a larger combined RAM to be able to support more workload at the same time.
And what about the Pro and Ultra versions of the M3?
Bitten apple is not going to slow down its pace of production and development. With new devices and chips in sight we can expect important things from the company in the future. We will have to wait a few months to know more details about their new devices, but we have already heard news even from 2024.
For example, it is rumored that next year OLED screens will arrive to the devices of the bitten apple. Yes, until 2024, and for his part, it seems that the Chinese analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, is quite clear that next year we will also have the Ultra and Pro versions of the next M3 chips, as has happened this year.