Smack dab in the middle of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite X laptop processor unveiling, Apple teased a Mac-focused product reveal for Oct. 30. In a more revealing mood than usual, Apple nodded to Macs being the focus of the event, with a macOS Finder logo hidden in the invitation.
But, wait: Didn't we just get a bunch of new MacBook Pros and Mac desktops earlier this year? Yes, we did. However, Bloomberg just brought our attention to the fact that shipping times for the 24-inch iMac and all three MacBook Pro sizes are longer than usual—a key indicator that replacements are around the corner.
These are likely to be sizable refreshes, with Apple’s third edition of its M-series processors, M3, expected to make its debut in each of these products. Plus, we may see all three M3 chip models—M3 Pro and Max included—launch at once, a feat we’ve yet to see Apple pull off.
Things kick off at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on Monday night, an odd time for an Apple event, but more on that later. You can tune in on Apple's website or watch on YouTube via the embed above.
Digging into the details, here’s what to expect from Apple’s upcoming virtual event.
The iMac's Much-Delayed Next Iteration
The most-rumored Mac product for this seemingly impromptu event is an updated 24-inch iMac desktop, this time with an M3 processor. With the iMac turning 25 this year, an M3 iMac is likely to be the centerpiece of Apple’s announcement.
With good reason: It’s been about two years since we’ve seen a fresh iMac desktop, 24-inch or otherwise, so it’s high time for an update. Expected to skip the M2 series of chips entirely, this new iMac will likely come in a similar 24-inch screen size, and be limited to the base-level M3 chip regardless of its power level. You might have an option for an M3 with slightly more graphics cores, but an iMac with a supposed M3 Pro is unlikely. (An iMac with an M3 Max? Unspeakable!)
This is because the iMac is supposed to be Apple’s most accessible and mainstream all-in-one computer. Going beyond the basic power profile of a given processor would defeat the product’s purpose.
I don’t anticipate major changes to the iMac design with this revision, however, For one, we haven’t seen anything about a new design mentioned in reports. More to the point: I also don’t see anything majorly detracting from the 2021 iMac design to change. More ports would certainly be welcome, but don’t make or break the product.
Touch Bar, Begone! MacBook Pro Goes M3 Pro and Beyond
Did you know that Apple still sells one laptop with its divisive Touch Bar? It’s the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and its days are numbered. With M3 likely on the horizon, it’s well past time for Apple to say goodbye to this project and focus on new innovations.
Relative to as it is now, an M3-based 13-inch MacBook Pro would come with just the base M3 processor as well. However, options would likely default to the most powerful version of that chip available, again likely with more GPU cores.
Unlike the iMac, however, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple expand the 13-inch MacBook Pro to include options for M3 Pro processors as well—assuming they’re made available at the same time. That brings us to the rest of the MacBook Pro lineup.
Yes, shipping times for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are longer than usual, which is characteristic of an impending new product launch. However, releasing the entire stack of a new computer processor line has not happened yet with Apple’s M series chips. Sure, there’s a first time for everything, but it would be unprecedented.
While the latest 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models just released in January 2023, it’s also possible that the M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro models were late on arrival to begin with, according to observations made at the time by Daring Fireball. On a related note, developer logs found earlier this year revealed the names of all three Apple M3 processors, Ars Technica reported recently. So, the entire M3 stack could be right on time.
Metal Might Make More Waves
With a brand-new, more powerful chip like the M3, it's likely that Apple will at least touch on high-end gaming with the Mac. The company has made several nods to its gaming efforts in recent keynote addresses, pointing to advancements to its Metal graphics architecture and a dedicated Game Mode for macOS.
According to MacRumors, "gaming on the Mac will be one of the major focuses of the event." It notes that Capcom's latest mainline Resident Evil game, Resident Evil Village, launches for the iPhone 15 Pro on Oct. 30. Of course, that's the same day as Apple's event, which might explain the awkward 5 p.m. PT timing for us Westerners: It falls right in line with business hours in Japan. Apple has long been courting top-tier Japanese game developers to bring their games to its hardware, most notably Nintendo and Capcom.
With that in mind, we could see even more announcements from Japanese game makers releasing their wares on Mac during this event, as Metal has clearly proved its mettle in handling high-end graphics rendering.
What Not to Expect: New iPads and Bigger iMacs
According to much-cited analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will not have any more new iPads to show for 2023. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman agrees; "I’m told that Apple is currently planning to release at least the more minor iPad refreshes in March," he said over the weekend.
This would make 2023 the first year in the iPad’s history without a new product in the line released. Apple has also made no indication in its Oct. 30 event announcement that anything but Macs will be discussed.
Both Kuo and Bloomberg also doubt a 27-inch iMac or iMac Pro launch for 2023. Gurman elaborated recently that the iMac Pro was "tabled but never canceled,” but said a new one isn't expected until late 2024 or 2025.
Regardless, Apple’s primetime live stream suggests its plans are bigger than a simple press release that accompanies some of the firm’s smaller drops. All it comes down to now is whether we get an M3 appetizer or the full-course metal meal with M3 Pro and Max.
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