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It’s hardly been any time at all since Apple dropped some powerful new machines onto the market, but the rumour mill is already kicking into overdrive about what might be coming next…
Apple may have finally released the last computer to complete its shift to Apple Silicon , the Mac Pro powered by the M2 Ultra, but now the focus shifts to what's on the horizon. An M3 processor is the hottest rumour, with a 3-nanometer build instead of the M1 and M2's 5nm, plus updates to the iMac and smaller MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
What's been announced in 2023 so far
Apple delivered at WWDC 2023, and not just with new operating systems: They debuted the new M2 Ultra Mac Pro (thus ending the Intel era), the surprise release of the nearly identical to the Mac Pro M2 Max and M2 Ultra Mac Studio, and the 15-inch MacBook Air. And the biggest reveal was the Apple Vision Pro AR/VR goggles, due in 2024. Imagine editing a new project in Final Cut Pro with the Vision Pro? If you have $3500 soon you won’t have to.
If you're choosing between an M2 Ultra Mac Pro and Mac Studio, check out our handy guide to help with your decision.
What's next? How about a rumoured 30-inch iMac?
As mentioned in the introduction, Apple is going smaller with its Silicon SoC (system on a chip) with the next generation, the M3 and even the iPhone A17. Rumours have persisted that it will be 3nm instead of 5nm, making it not only smaller, but even faster while staying cool, thanks to being more efficient and consuming less power (hat tip: Jonny Evans).
Mark Gurman, the Apple rumours and news guru at Bloomberg, said the next big thing for Apple (literally) will be a 30-inch iMac, which may debut in 2024. For those of you using an Intel iMac Pro, this could be the computer for you: Massive screen and likely a fast M3 processor (possibly a Max or Ultra).
The thought of an Apple Silicon iMac Pro is pretty exciting, because the money savings with an iMac can't be underestimated: You buy the all-in-one Apple computer and it comes with a keyboard and mouse. With the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, you need to provide or purchase the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers.
Even if Apple doesn't debut a 30-inch iMac, it would be great to see a 27-inch model powered by the M2 or M3 Pro, Max, and/or Ultra. Editors, graphic designers, animators, and VFX magicians wanting to stay with the iMac need more than a standard M2 or M3 processor — the Pro, Max, and Ultra have the kind of power they need for the work they do.
Other Macs potentially getting an M3 update include the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M3), smaller MacBook Air (M3), and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro's (M3 Pro and M3 Max). Each of those Apple computers saw regular upgrades from the M1 to the M2.
But the 'long in the tooth' Mac which hasn't seen an upgrade in a while is the 24-inch iMac, still powered by an M1. It's rumoured to also see an update to the M3. It's probably also safe to assume the Mac mini will see an M3 and M3 Pro upgrade next year.
The next question will be if the Mac Studio and Mac Pro will see upgrades the M3 Max and M3 Ultra, or will Apple choose to go with an every other year upgrade path? The rumors of the Mac Studio skipping an M2 update proved false.
Other products to see an update will be a rumoured pair of iPad Pros with OLED displays and a replacement for the M1-powered iPad Air.
All a long way out just yet…
We'll likely see what happens with the M3 processors and the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air by the end of 2023, and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros next spring. That's going off recent history of product release timetables. As always, take these rumors with a grain of salt, but they seem to be pretty solid. We'll probably learn more about a 30-inch (or some sort of larger iMac) next June at WWDC 2024.
What do you think of the latest Mac rumours, particularly the possibility of a 30-inch iMac? Let us know in the comments!
Tags: Post & VFX Apple
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