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Apple will refresh entire iPad lineup next year, report claims
After skipping a whole year, Apple plans to fully refresh its iPad lineup in 2024.
After skipping a whole year, Apple plans to fully refresh its iPad lineup in 2024.
This is according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who shared his thoughts on Apple’s next “big thing” on Sunday. Gurman notes that Apple hasn’t released a new iPad in all of 2023, something that has never happened in iPad’s history. And while there’s still two months left in the year, Gurman thinks new iPads aren’t coming until 2024.
“Apple could have tried to rush out more new products, but revamped iPads and AirPods aren’t yet ready. The company plans to update its entire iPad lineup during 2024,” he wrote. He doesn’t specify the models, but “entire lineup” would mean iPad mini, iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. All of these products were last updated in 2022, except the iPad mini, which was updated in 2021.
Notably, just a few weeks ago Gurman thought we were, in fact, getting new iPads late this year.
In his new report, Gurman also says that new AirPods are also coming in 2024, while new AirPods Pro won’t launch until 2025.
The report also mentions the anticipated M3 Ultra chip. Apple recently launched a trio of new chips: the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max, but the company is expected to top all of that with an ultra-powerful (doh) M3 Ultra. However, according to Gurman, that chip “hasn’t yet gone into broad testing.”
As far as new Macs coming in the near future, the report says that the new Mac Studio is in development, and that new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, as well as Mac mini, are coming in 2024.
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Apple’s M3 Max MacBook Pro is as fast as expensive M2 Ultra Mac desktops
The M3 Max is faster than its most powerful predecessor, and it’s inside the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
We suspected the M3 Max inside the new MacBook Pro models was fast — but maybe not quite this fast.
Apple unveiled its new silicon chipset, M3, earlier this week with its new line of MacBook Pros. Every year, the company zeroes in on its new chips’ zippier performance compared to previous generations. However, early third-party tests discovered that the company really seems to have delivered this time.
The new MacBook Pro announced at the “Scary Fast” event.
Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple
A database entry for Geekbench, a test that inspects CPU performance, clocked that the 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro delivers a multi-core score of 21,084.
This test result was first noticed by MacRumors, which pointed out that this figure puts the new M3 Max within the same performance tier as the M2 Ultra, which can be found inside powerful Apple desktops such as the Mac Pro and Mac Studio. The average multi-core score for those models are 21,182 and 21,316 respectively.
The M3 Max MacBook Pro with a 16-core CPU has a starting price of $3,999, so it’s certainly not cheap. However, the Mac Pro M2 Ultra starts at $6,999, so the fact that it’s delivering similar CPU performance scores is impressive.
While the Mac Studio M2 Ultra starts at the same price as the MacBook Pro M3 Max (16-core CPU), the Mac Studio comes with a 24-core CPU in comparison, with very little difference in performance.
When compared to the M2 Max, the M3 Max is around 45 percent faster than its predecessor, according to tests. That’s right around the 50 percent number that Apple claimed during the “Scary Fast” Mac event.
The M3 Max chip is certainly impressive from what we can see so far. But will the performance hold up to the everyday usage of pro-level consumers that make up its targeted audience? We’ll soon find out.
Apple’s new M3 line of MacBook Pros launch on Nov. 7.
Apple 10/30 event: The entire ‘Scary Fast’ live stream was filmed on iPhone
Apple used the iPhone 15 Pro Max to film the ‘Scary Fast’ live stream.
My jaw dropped when I read the final words of Apple’s “Scary Fast” Mac event: “This event was shot on iPhone.”
You mean to tell me that while Apple showcased its refreshed M3-series MacBook Pros and iMac, and even dropped a stunning new Space Black colorway for the M3 Pro and the M3 Max Macs, all of that spooky pomp and circumstance was filmed on a smartphone? No way!
Tim Cook walking into the ‘Scary Fast’ Mac event
Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple
Which iPhone did Apple use for the ‘Scary Fast’ Mac event?
Apple used the iPhone 15 Pro Max to film the Apple ‘Scary Fast’ event and we are shook. I mean, we knew that the iPhone 15 Pro Max had industry-leading camera specs. Check out some of the top-notch features below:
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4K video recording up to 60 fps
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Cinematic Mode (a rack-focus feature introduced with iPhone 13 Pro models) up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
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Action Mode (a feature that introduces stabilization for high-activity recording) at 60 fps
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HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps
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ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60ps (ProRes is an Apple-developed compressed video format that produces high-quality files for video production)
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Macro video recording, including slo-mo and time-lapse
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Slo-mo video support for 1080p at up to 240 fps
Plus, as we tested in our review with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Pro camera system blew us away with its sharp 48MP wide camera and 12MP ultra-wide shooter. It’s also packed with two telephoto cameras — one of ’em consists of Apple’s star-of-the-show “tetraprism design” that enables up to 5x optical zoom.
However, by putting these envelope-pushing specs into practice, Apple really put iPhone 15 Pro Max’s capabilities into perspective.
A professional filmmaker directed the event
Apple tapped into Brian Oakes, the man behind Jim: The James Foley Story and Living with Lincoln, to film the “Scary Fast” Mac event.
“We were able to get the same complex shots with iPhone 15 Pro Max,” Oakes said. “It’s amazing to see that the quality from a device that is so small and so portable can rival a large $20,000 camera.”
Jon Carr, Apple’s Pro Workflow Video Specialist, was also flabbergasted that the event was filmed with a “tiny little iPhone” that powered 50 monitors with USB-C out. “This whole piece was low-light, and low-light is a little bit more challenging. And we nailed that.”
Scary Fast livestream filmed with iPhone 15 Pro Max
Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple
But of course, Apple still deployed some of the traditional top-level equipment you see on any major film set, including cranes, dollies, drones, and more.
Apple transparently revealed that it used the Blackmagic Camera app, an iOS exclusive, to film “Scary Fast,” which adds Hollywood feature film-esque digital camera controls.
The new iDevices Apple revealed at the event include the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro, the 14-inch and 16-inch M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro models, and an M3 iMac. For a more in-depth look of everything announced at the event, click here.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Apple
How to preorder the new MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max
Apple announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros on Oct. 30: The new MacBook Pro with M3 Pro chip and MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip are available to preorder starting at $1,999 and $3,199, respectively.
As of Oct. 31, the new MacBook Pro M3 Pro and MacBook Pro M3 Max are available to preorder at the Apple Store, Amazon, and Best Buy. The 14-inch models start at $1,999 for the M3 Pro and $3,199 for the M3 Max, while the 16-inch models start at $2,499 for the M3 Pro and $3,499 for the M3 Max. Shipping begins on November 7.
Preorder the new MacBook Pros with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips:
Apple Store
Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips
starting at $1,999
Best Buy
Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max chip
starting at $1,999
Amazon
14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (11-core CPU, 14-core GPU)
starting at $1,999
Amazon
14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU)
starting at $2,399
Amazon
16-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU)
starting at $2,499
Amazon
14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Max (14-core CPU, 30-core GPU)
starting at $3,199
Amazon
16-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Max (14-core CPU, 30-core GPU)
starting at $3,499
Apple’s second Apple Event of the past *checks notes* two months welcomed new MacBook Pros with several iterations of the new M3 chip — scary fast processing appropriately unleashed at the official “Scary Fast” Halloween Eve event.
The two real stars of the show were the Pros featuring the advanced M3 Pro and the super advanced M3 Max chips. Both can live in a 14-inch or 16-inch Pro, and both come in the one shade that could be sleeker than Space Grey: Space Black, baby.
One word to sum the M3 generation up? Power. Apple wasn’t shy about the fact that these are the most powerful MacBooks ever built by a long shot, operating up to 2.5 times faster than the already-fast M1 Max chip and up to 11 times faster than the older Intel-based MacBook Pros. The liquid retina XDR display is also more vivid, offering 1600 nits of peak brightness in HDR and 600 nits in SDR.
As for the differences between the two, the M3 Max is available with a 14- or 16-core CPU (compared to the M3 Pro’s 12-core CPU), 30- or 40-core GPU (compared to the M3 Pro’s 18-core GPU), up to 48GB of Unified Memory (compared to the M3 Pro’s 18GB or 36GB), and 1TB of SSD storage (compared to the M3 Pro’s 512GB SSD). The Max is the beast to trust for the most intense workflows — we’re talking to you, machine learning programmers, 3D artists, video editors, and MATLAB masters.
How to preorder new Apple Macbook Pro M3
As of Oct. 31, Apple’s new line of MacBook Pros are up for preorder. Here’s where to get your hands on the M3 model.
As of Oct. 31, Apple’s new line of MacBook Pros are up for preorder. Here’s where to get your hands on the entry-level MacBook Pro M3 model, which just got a price cut and a brand-new processing chip.
Here’s where to preorder the new M3 Apple MacBook Pro:
Apple
New Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 chip)
starting at $1,599
Amazon
New Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 chip)
starting at $1,599
Best Buy
New Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 chip)
starting at $1,599
Another Apple Event is in the books, and with it came the announcement of a new line of MacBook Pros featuring three versions of the company’s new M3 chip. On Nov. 7, we’ll see the official release of these laptops, including the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the baseline M3 chip (which also just got a price cut), as well as the 14- and 16-inch MacBooks Pros with either the M3 Pro or M3 Max chip. (Those last two come in a fun new color, too.)
But let’s focus on that base MacBook, because not only is it better than the last iteration, but it’s also cheaper ($400 cheaper). You can preorder one right now starting at $1,599, and it’ll ship out when the new MacBooks go live on Nov. 7.
So, what’s new in this highly anticipated refresh? For starters, there’s that M3 chip — it’s 15 percent faster than the previous M2 chip, which means you’ll get a far speedier and more responsive experience on the new MacBook Pro, as well as within all of your go-to programs like Final Cut Pro, Adobe Suite, and more. It has a 14.2-inch mini-LED display, which isn’t the Liquid Retina display, but it’s still better than the M2 MacBook’s non-mini-LED screen. All-in-all, you’ll still get decently high luminance without killing your battery life (up to 1600 nits for HDR content). We haven’t tested the device ourselves yet, but Apple claims that the new MacBook Pro M3 will have a 22-hour-long battery life, so stay tuned.
If you’re ready to upgrade, preorders for the new line of MacBook Pros are already up on Apple’s website, Amazon, and Best Buy starting at $1,599.
M3 MacBook Pro vs. M2 MacBook Pro
The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro is here, but how does it differ from its predecessor?
Should you get the new M3 MacBook Pro 14 or the M2 MacBook Pro 13?
Apple packed an entry-level chipset inside a 14-inch Pro chassis for the first time ever. Typically, the 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with the upper-tier M-series “Pro” and “Max” chipsets. For example, the last-generation 14-inch MacBook Pro came in M2 Pro and M2 Max variants.
This year, not only can you get the 14-inch MacBook Pro in two flavors – the M3 Pro and the M3 Max – but you can also grab a model with the entry-level M3 chipset. This means, however, that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is dead. This discontinued model used to be the cheapest Pro you can get, but now that crown goes to the new 14-inch MacBook Pro.
The question is, how does the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 chip differ from the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip? Let’s find out.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M2 MacBook Pro 13: Price
The 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, when it first launched in 2022, had a starting price of $1,299. The base-level configuration comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.
M3 MacBook Pro 14
Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple
The M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has a starting price of $1,599, which comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
Yes, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is pricier, but at least you’re getting double the storage from the jump.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M2 MacBook Pro 13: Design
The 13-inch MacBook Pro has an old and tired design. In fact, you may find that this model really doesn’t look all that different from the 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Intel chip. Give or take a few minor tweaks, the chassis looks similar to its seven-year-old predecessor.
M2 MacBook Pro 13
Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple
On top of that, it still has the controversial Touch Bar, a feature some Apple fans don’t like because it’s an OLED touchscreen strip that replaces the physical function keys, particularly the Esc button. And if you’re a touch typist, this may be a bit irksome for you. Others appreciate it, however, because they can use it to input emojis, zip through audio and video, switch between browser tabs, and more.
However, I’d argue that the typical Apple user is a minimalist; they don’t care for flashy features no matter how cool they are. They simply want something functional, sleek, sophisticated, fast, powerful, and energy efficient. I suspect Apple realized this, which is why they ditched the Touch Bar and opted for the 14-inch MacBook Pro chassis as its new entry-level Pro laptop.
No, it doesn’t have a Touch Bar, but if it’s anything like the 14-inch MacBook Pro I currently have (the one with the M2 Pro chip), it’s got a clicky, highly tactile keyboard and a slick, six-speaker sound system that flanks it.
Touch Bar
Credit: Mashable
Credit: Mashable
The M3 MacBook Pro 14 is slightly heavier than the M2 MacBook Pro 13 (3.4 pounds vs. 3.0 pounds), but they share the same slimness (0.61 inches).
The M3 MacBook Pro 14 comes in two colors: Space Gray and Silver. If you want the new Space Black, you’ll have to upgrade to an 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M2 MacBook Pro 13: Display
The M3 MacBook Pro 14 has a 14.2-inch, mini-LED display with a 3,024 x 1964-pixel screen and the controversial notch. It can climb to a peak of 1600 nits for HDR content. In other words, if you’re sitting in direct sunlight, you should have no problem looking at your screen without squinting. Plus, it has a smooth, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.
M3 MacBook Pro 14
Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple
The M2 MacBook Pro 13, on the other hand, has a 13.3-inch display, but it doesn’t have a mini-LED screen. Why do I love mini-LED? It’s a display technology that manages to preserve battery life while still delivering a screen with high luminance. Compared to the M3 MacBook Pro 14, the M2 MacBook Pro 13 has a lower resolution of 2,560 x 1600 pixels. Plus, it has a brightness of just 500 nits.
The M2 MacBook Pro 13 also has a less zippy 60Hz screen and larger bezels. On the plus side, however, it has no notch.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M2 MacBook Pro 13: Ports
The M2 MacBook Pro 13 only has two Thunderbolt ports that support USB 4. The M3 MacBook Pro 14, on the other hand, is a little bit more generous with two Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot.
Plus, the M2 MacBook Pro 13 does not have MagSafe, which means that you’ll have to use one of those two Thunderbolt ports for charging. The M3 MacBook Pro 14 does have MagSafe, allowing you to charge while leaving your ports free for other peripherals.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M2 MacBook Pro 13: the chipset
The MacBook Pro 14 in this face-off, of course, has the new M3 chip.
M3 MacBook Pro 14
Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple
According to Apple, the new M3 family is 15 percent faster than the last generation (M2). The Cupertino-based tech giant also claims that, when it comes to using image filters and effects, the M3 chip is 40 percent faster.
“Mist” game on M3 MacBook Pro 14
Credit: Apple
Credit: Apple
Gaming on the M3 MacBook Pro should be a lot smoother, too, thanks to the M3 chip’s hardware-accelerated ray-tracing capabilities. This nets you better lighting, and realistic shadows and reflections.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M2 MacBook Pro 13: Battery life
As a laptop reviewer, the battery runtime for the M2 MacBook Pro 13 blew me away when I first saw the runtime for it. It lasted over 18 hours on a single charge (running Wi-Fi continuously on a luminance setting of 150 nits of brightness). This wasn’t far off from Apple’s 20-hour claim.
Apple claims that the M3 MacBook Pro 14 lasts even longer: 22 hours to be exact. We’ll have to test the battery life ourselves when we get the MacBook Pro 14 in Mashable’s lab, but I have a feeling the Cupertino-based tech giant is telling the truth.
Final thoughts
The M3 MacBook Pro 14 is the clear winner here if you want more battery life, a better display, function-row keys, MagSafe charging, and more.
However, if you’re determined to save $300, by all means, feel free to grab the M2 MacBook Pro 13. It is still an excellent laptop.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Apple
MacBook Pro’s priciest 16-inch configuration costs $7K
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.
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.
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.
That sound you hear is your credit card crying.
Credit: Apple
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.
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?
New M3 iMac announced at Apple’s 10/30 event
Apple announced the new M3 iMac at the ‘Scary Fast’ event. Here’s everything you need to know.
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.
Still only comes in 24-inch size.
Credit: Apple
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.
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.