Tech / Technology

How to preorder the new M3 Apple iMac, starting at $1,299

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The new 24-inch M3 Apple iMac is available for preorder at Amazon, the Apple Store, and Best Buy ahead of its Nov. 7 release.
two smiling kids and a woman working at a pink apple imac on a wooden desk

As of Oct. 31, the new 24-inch Apple iMac (Apple M3) is available for preorder at Amazon, the Apple Store, and Best Buy ahead of its Nov. 7 release. It starts at $1,299 for 256GB of storage, 8GB RAM, and an 8-core GPU.

Where to preorder the new M3 Apple iMac:
Amazon

Apple iMac (Apple M3)

Starting at $1,299

a pink m3 apple imac

Apple Store

Apple iMac (Apple M3)

Starting at $1,299

a green m3 apple imac

Best Buy

Apple iMac (Apple M3)

Starting at $1,299

a blue m3 apple imac

Apple lightly refreshed its all-in-one desktop computer for the first time in more than two years at its primetime “Scary Fast” October event Monday — and you can preorder it now before it launches in early November.

The latest 24-inch iMac features the company’s all-new M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, which it’s hyping as “up to 2x faster” than the 2021 model’s M1 chip. (The standard, non-Pro/Max M3 chip is the same silicone powering Apple’s new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, for the record.) It also comes with support for WiFi 6E and up to a chunky 24GB of RAM.

SEE ALSO:

Apple event October 2023: Every single MacBook Pro, iMac announced

That’s the extent of the new iMac’s upgrades over its predecessor, which sported the same 4.5K Retina display, 1080p webcam, six-speaker setup, slim profile, and rainbow of color options: pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and silver (though they look a little punchier and less pastel). It even had the same starting price of $1,299, which got you an identical base configuration with an 8-core GPU, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of storage.

all colors of the m3 apple imac


Credit: Apple

It’s a very subtle update, but that may not be a bad thing: The 2021 24-inch iMac won a Mashable Choice Award for its sleek form factor and peppy performance, with former Mashable tech reporter Brenda Stolyar deeming it “the ideal at-home iMac.” This is basically the same computer, but even peppier.

That said, the M3 model will probably appeal most to users who are still clinging to older PCs like the Intel-based iMacs: It doesn’t seem like a big enough jump from the M1 version to warrant an immediate next-gen upgrade.

The new iMac is available for preorder via Amazon, the Apple Store, and Best Buy at the time of writing and formally arrives on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Tech / Technology

MacBook Pro’s priciest 16-inch configuration costs $7K

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Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $3,999, but it can go up to $7,199 if you tick all the boxes.
Apple MacBook Pro

You’ve saved for this moment. You knew Apple’s top-performing MacBooks would be pricy, but you decided, deep inside, that you will get the absolute best one, no matter the cost.

Well, we’ve get the number for you, and it’s not pretty.

Announced at the company’s October event yesterday, Apple’s top of the line, 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $3,999. But if you tick all the boxes while ordering, the final tally for the laptop will be $7,199.

SEE ALSO:

Apple event October 2023: Every single MacBook Pro, iMac announced

For that money, you do get an absolute monster of a machine. It’s a 16-inch MacBook Pro in Space Black (the color doesn’t add to the price, but come on, we know you’re getting the new one), with an Apple M3 Max processor that has a 16-core CPU, a 40-core GPU, 128GB of RAM memory, and a whopping 8TB of SSD storage.

Apple MacBook Pro

That sound you hear is your credit card crying.
Credit: Apple

We haven’t tested the new machine ourselves yet, and many questions remain unanswered; most importantly, will all that power reflect on the MacBook’s thermal management, especially under heavy load. In other words, maybe don’t go for the absolutely most powerful one just yet, even if you afford it.

Based on the specs sheet alone, and what Apple said during the event yesterday, this should be one of the most powerful portable computers you can buy.

SEE ALSO:

New ‘Space Black’ MacBook Pro color announced at Apple October event

Oh, and one more thing: If you do choose the 128GB option, it will increase the shipping time from seven to nine business days to two to three weeks. Good things are worth waiting for, we guess?

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The Biggest Apple Announcements from the ‘Scary Fast’ Event

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New M3 iMac announced at Apple’s 10/30 event

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Apple announced the new M3 iMac at the ‘Scary Fast’ event. Here’s everything you need to know.
Apple iMac

Apple just dropped a new iMac and it’s packed with the next-generation processor: the M3 chip. For the uninitiated, the iMac may seem like nothing more than a monitor, but don’t let its sleek display fool you. It’s actually an all-in-one PC packed with a processor and graphics, as well as memory and storage.

It’s about time that Apple upgraded the M1 iMac, which was introduced at Apple’s Spring Loaded event in 2021. Now, we have a refreshed iMac with a wealth of new features. Check out the 3 new features of the new M3 iMac.

3 new features of the M3 iMac

The new iMac is not massively different from the previous version; it features the same size, design, and even the colors have remained the same. Here are three standout features:

1. That M3 chip

The new M3 chip is Apple’s first 3-nanometer chip for desktop computers. It’s faster while being less power-hungry. To be precise, an iMac with an M3 chip is up to two times faster than the prior iMac generation with an M1 chip. The star of the show is the new, 10-core GPU, which will bring up to 50% faster frame rates in games. The new iMac also supports up to 24GB of unified memory.

2. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3

One small, but important change for those who need fast wireless connectivity is the freshly added support for Wi-Fi 6E, which enables download speeds that are twice as fast as the previous generation, as well as support for Bluetooth 5.3, replacing Bluetooth 5.0 on the previous model.

Apple iMac

Still only comes in 24-inch size.
Credit: Apple

3. Up to 24GB of memory

The new iMac can now be had with 24GB of memory, instead of only 16GB.

And while not technically new or a feature, you’ll probably be happy to know that the starting price for the iMac is still the same: $1,299.

Other than the above, it’s worth noting that the iMac is not available with the new M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. You can only get it with the vanilla M3 variety. And yes, it still only comes in one size – a 24-inch display.

If you want a beefier iMac, you can have it with 24GB memory, a 10-core GPU (instead of the starting 8-core GPU) and 2TB of storage, though that will cost you a total of $2,699.

As for the colors, your choices are (still) green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver.

SEE ALSO:

Apple event October 2023: Every single MacBook Pro, iMac announced

Most of the other details have remained the same, including the 4.5K Retina display, 1080p webcam, six-speaker system, three mics, and up to four USB ports.

Finally, Apple says that the new iMac is better for the environment, with a stand that uses 100% recycled aluminum, while the gold in the plating of “multiple printed circuit boards” inside is also 100% recycled.

The new iMac can be ordered now and will start shipping on Nov. 7.

Tech / Technology

Apple event October 2023: Every single MacBook Pro, iMac announced

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Apple refreshed the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and debuted a new iMac.
new M3 MacBook Pro

Trick o’ treat! Apple dropped some new M3s!

The Apple October 2023 event, also known as the “Scary Fast” live stream, dropped four iDevices this spooky season while introducing a new generation of three-nanometer chips: M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max.

The M3 Pro, compared to the other two chips, would be considered a mid-tier processor while the M3 is an entry-level pick and the M3 Max is the best money can buy.

Curious to see which new products these chips will power? Stick around to find out.

1. 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max

Apple introduced two refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and they come in two flavors: M3 Pro and M3 Max. Just like the predecessor, if you want the maximum amount of performance out of your laptop, you can snag the M3 Max 14-inch MacBook Pro or 16-inch MacBook Pro.

14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro

14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max
Credit: Apple

If you don’t need herculean muscle, you can snag the M3 Pro for either the 14-inch or the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

The M3 Pro, according to Apple, is up to 40 percent faster than the M1 Pro. The M3 Max, on the other hand, is 2.5 faster than the M1 Max.

Apple claims these models will deliver up to 22 hours of battery life. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip starts at $1,999. The 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499.

2. 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 chip

You may be wondering, “Didn’t you just mention a 14-inch MacBook Pro in the last section?”

M3 MacBook Pro

M3 MacBook Pro
Credit: Apple

I did, dear reader, but this one is different. This 14-inch MacBook Pro does not come with an M3 Pro chip nor an M3 Max processor. Instead, it comes with an M3 chip. It may not have the same “oomph” as the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, but it’s a significant leap over the M1 chip. In fact, Apple boasts that the M3 chip up to 60 percent faster than the M1 chip.

It starts at $1599.

4. New Space Black MacBook Pro

You can now get the MacBook Pro in a new color called “Space Black” that consists of a dark aluminum finish – and less fingerprints.

New Space Black MacBook Pro

New Space Black MacBook Pro
Credit: Apple

This is only available among the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips.

For your information, the M3 and M3 Max models are also available in silver. The M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, is available in space gray and silver.

3. iMac with M3 chip

The iMac hasn’t received an update since 2021 when Apple announced a new 24-inch colorful lineup with the M1 chip. Before the Scary Fast event, people have been scratching their heads wondering, “Will Apple pack it with M2 chip or will it leapfrog over to the M3 processor?”

New M3 iMac

New M3 iMac
Credit: Apple

As it turns out, Apple opted for the M3 chip, which is also packed inside the 14-inch MacBook Pro. The Cupertino-based tech giant claims that it’s two times faster than an M1 iMac. It still comes with the same seven colors of last generation, as well as the same size and 4.5K Retina display.

It has a starting price of $1,299.