Want an M3 Max MacBook Pro? There’s a lengthy wait ahead
Apple’s high-end MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips might not launch until mid-2024, with the M3 Mac mini facing an even longer delay. Here’s why.
Tfoso
Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?
If you’ve been holding out for a super-powered MacBook Pro with a high-end M3 Pro or M3 Max chip, you could have a lengthy wait on your hands. That’s because, despite Apple’s plans to launch new Macs later this year, several are reportedly going to miss the cut.
That’s according to journalist Mark Gurman, who claims in a new report that Apple’s flagship 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models are unlikely to launch until the middle of 2024. Worse, the M3 Mac mini might not see the light of day until late 2024 at the earliest.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 Mark Coppock/Digital TrendsThe news isn’t entirely surprising when it comes to the MacBook Pro. After all, Apple only launched the M2 Pro and M2 Max editions of this device in January 2023 (a date that was reportedly pushed back due to supply chain delays). It would be unusual for Apple to launch two versions of the same laptop in a single year, so the 2024 date makes sense in that regard.
But the news will still likely disappoint users who have been eagerly awaiting the M3 generation of Apple silicon chips, who will have to decide whether to wait to upgrade their Mac or go ahead and buy one now. M3 chips are expected to be a radical improvement over the M2 series thanks to an upgraded manufacturing process, which should result in more performance and better efficiency. The M3 Pro and M3 Max could therefore result in a massive uptick for the MacBook Pro.
A lengthy wait
AppleThe wait for the M3 Mac mini could be a lengthy one, with the potential for it to continue well into 2025. The M3 chip could be almost two years old by that point, which will stretch the patience of anyone waiting for the generational improvement offered by that chip in the Mac mini.
After the M1 Mac mini was released, Apple waited over two years to bring out the M2 version. That suggests the company does not feel the device needs to be updated every year, unlike more popular products like the MacBook Pro.
Still, Gurman explains that “it’s a sure thing that an M3 version of the Mac mini is eventually coming.” Yet he warns that its development is in the early stages, so there could be a considerable wait until it is ready for prime time.
Despite the delays in the high-end MacBook Pro and the Mac mini, M3-equipped Macs are on the way. Last week Gurman claimed that models of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 24-inch iMac — all bearing the entry-level M3 chip — could launch as soon as October 2023. The wait for high-end chips, meanwhile, goes on.
Editors' Recommendations
Should you buy the M2 MacBook Pro or wait for the M3? The M3 MacBook Pro may launch sooner than anyone expected There are too many MacBooks Intel chips held back the 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple says Major leak reveals every secret Mac Apple is working on
In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…
There’s a MacBook that Apple has no right to continue selling
With the launch of the new 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple has solidified its most fleshed-out Mac lineup in recent memory. There's a MacBook for almost every conceivable budget and use case, ranging from the $999 M1 MacBook Air up to the upper echelons of the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Considering how well the 15-inch MacBook Air has been received in early reviews, there doesn't appear to be a bad choice in the mix. That is, until you stumble upon the MacBook hidden in the lineup that Apple has continued to sell for absolutely no reason. I'm referring to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, of course.
There’s great news if you want to buy Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air
When Apple launched the 15-inch MacBook Air at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), it seemed like there wasn’t too much separating it from its 13-inch sibling. Yet a new set of tests has shown that the larger model pulls ahead in some key ways, making it a much more attractive purchase if you want maximum performance in a slimline laptop.
The testing was conducted by YouTuber Max Tech, who pitted the 15-inch MacBook Air against Apple’s smaller 13-inch version. Both laptops had the M2 chip and 256GB of storage, so you might think the only difference would be found in the size of the displays. Yet that’s not how the testing played out at all.
The 15-inch MacBook Air repeats one of Apple’s worst mistakes
The 15-inch MacBook Air may be a new chapter for Apple’s thin and light laptop, but it seems to be repeating a disappointing mistake that we’ve seen way too often in the company’s products. If you want to configure it with the fastest SSD possible without breaking the bank, we’ve got some bad news.
According to a video posted by the tech YouTubers at Max Tech, the base model of the 15-inch MacBook Air only comes with a single NAND chip for its onboard SSD storage, rather than the two chips used in the past. It’s a regrettable decision that nevertheless mirrors practically every other Mac that Apple has released recently.
