Apple may not launch M3 chip MacBook Pro this year

Apple is poised to host its annual autumnal event next week, where the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro will naturally take center stage. However, avid Mac enthusiasts anticipate the unveiling of Apple’s latest Mac iterations. Rumors have circulated that Apple planned to introduce a new MacBook Pro powered by the M3 chip. Yet, recent reports suggest Apple will not be updating its Mac lineup this year.

Last month, renowned Apple insider Mark Gurman prophesied that Apple would release the M3 chip in October. The initial models equipped with this chip were expected to include the 13/15-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and the Mac mini. However, another esteemed analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, intimates that this new Mac lineup might only see the light of day next year. Earlier reports believed the introduction of the Apple M3 chip, upgraded to TSMC’s 3nm process, was delayed due to limitations in the new manufacturing process.

Apple abstained from launching any new Macs at the end of last year, silently releasing the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the M2 Pro/Max chip only in January this year. These releases were perceived as mere refreshes without substantial aesthetic or functional enhancements, focusing primarily on internal hardware advancements.

While Ming-Chi Kuo alluded only to the non-renewal of the MacBook series, he has previously mentioned the launch of a new iMac with the M3 chip by the end of this year. Considering Apple’s flagship desktop hasn’t been updated for a considerable time and still operates on the M1 chip, it seems plausible for Apple to prioritize the M3 chip for the iMac. Additionally, Apple is slated to introduce a larger 32-inch iMac next year.