Apple released new versions of its flagship MacBook Pro notebooks this week, powered by its next-generation of CPU and GPU processors designed in-house, known as Apple Silicon.
Unveiled during a pre-recorded, Halloween-themed video on Tuesday night, Apple touted the speed and performance of the new chips, dubbed the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max.
Together, they are the first personal computer chips using 3-nanometer process technology, allowing for more transistors in a smaller space. Apple Silicon and the M3 use “system-on-a-chip” or SoC technology that combines CPU, graphics processors, memory, and other systems on a single die.
The new chips support a litany of tech buzzwords like ray tracing and mesh shading, plus a new memory management function called dynamic caching — but the upshot to users is the machines will run faster and more efficiently.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the entry-level M3 chip starts at $1,599 and is an excellent computer for students, businesspeople, and most regular folks.
Upgrading to the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the much faster, more powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max chips promises cutting-edge performance for coders, scientists, and photo and video creative professionals working with huge amounts of data and intensive workflows.
Perhaps most impressive is the up to 22 hours of battery life promised by the machines, as well as the fact that the new chips run at the same speed whether plugged in or on battery.
The new M3 Pro and M3 Max machines are also available in a new space black color, fitting with the spooky Halloween theme. The 14-inch M3 Pro starts at $1,999, while the 16-inch M3 Pro starts at $2,499.
Finally, the 24-inch iMac — which hadn’t seen an upgrade in almost two years — gets the new M3 chip as well, greatly boosting its performance. It starts at $1,299 and is available in green, pink, blue, and silver. A higher-powered version starts at $1,499 and is available in those colors plus yellow, orange, and purple.
All machines are available for order today and begin shipping in November.
