m3 - MOTECHTREND

How to preorder new Apple Macbook Pro M3

Posted on: October 31, 2023

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.
Person using new Apple MacBook Pro

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.

Tech / Technology

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

Posted on: October 31, 2023

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

Apple Store

Apple iMac (Apple M3)

Starting at $1,299

Best Buy

Apple iMac (Apple M3)

Starting at $1,299

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.

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.

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

M3 MacBook 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook 14

Posted on: October 31, 2023

The M3 MacBook Pro 14 is here, but how is it different from the M3 Pro MacBook 14?
M3 MacBook 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook 14

We’re going to pit the M3 MacBook Pro 14 against the M3 Pro MacBook Pro. Let’s get ready to rumble!

The M3 MacBook Pro 14 has the most affordable starting price out of all the MacBooks dropped during the “Scary Fast” event on Oct. 30. If you need something more powerful to compliment your resource-intensive workflow, you’ll be better off with an M3 Pro chip. This is where the M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 comes into play.

Of course, although they’re minor, there are more differences between the two models aside from their chips.

M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: Price

The M3 14-inch MacBook Pro has a starting price of $1,599. It comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The most expensive configuration, packed with an M3 chip (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 24GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage, will set you back nearly $2,600.

M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14
Credit: Apple

The M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has a starting price of $1,999. This base-level configuration comes with 18GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

However, this laptop can cost nearly $4,000 if you max it out with an M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU), 36GB of RAM, and 4TB of SSD storage.

M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: Design

Both the M3 and M3 Pro models have the same design. After all, they share the same 14-inch MacBook Pro chassis.

M3 MacBook Pro 14
Credit: Apple

There are no major changes from the previous-generation 14-inch MacBook Pro. As such, you’ll still get that funky-looking notch on top of the display with slim bezels. Plus, you’ll get an island-style keyboard that is flanked by a divine-sounding, six-speaker audio system. And you’ll get Touch ID on the top-right corner of the keyboard.

The lid features that well-known Apple logo that that will make brand-conscious passers-by jealous.

The M3 MacBook Pro 14, on the other hand, is negligibly lighter than M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 (3.4 pounds vs. 3.5 pounds). However, they share the same thinness of 0.61 inches.

Unlike the M3 MacBook Pro 14, the M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 offers a new color, Space Black, in addition to Silver. The M3 MacBook Pro 14 only comes in Space Gray and Silver. Yawn!

M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 13: Display

You guessed it. Both have the same display.

The M3 MacBook Pro 14 and the M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 have a 14.2-inch, 3,024 x 1964-pixel screen with a variable refresh rate that can climb to 120Hz. It has a peak brightness of up to 1600 nits, particularly for HDR content.

Plus, it has a mini-LED display, an energy-efficient display technology that can deliver high luminance compared to the likes of OLED.

M3 MacBook Pro 14
Credit: Apple

The only aspect of the 14-inch MacBook Pro body that may give you pause is its controversial notch. Some people don’t mind it. For example, I forget that it’s even there. However, others find it to be repulsive, so it’s all up to your own personal taste.

M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: Ports

Both laptops have an HDMI port, SDXC card slot, and a 3.5-mm headset jack.

14-inch MacBook Pro ports
Credit: Apple

Plus, there’s MagSafe 3 charging available, allowing you to free up those Thunderbolt ports for other important uses.

The M3 MacBook Pro 14 sports two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 has three Thunderbolt 4 ports.

It’s worth noting that the M3 MacBook Pro 14 only has support for one display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. The M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14, on the other hand, has support for up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.

M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: the chipset

Of course, Apple packed the 14-inch MacBook Pro with new chips from the M3 family, which the Cupertino-based giant claims is 15 percent faster than the M2 family. When it comes to image effects and filters, Apple claims the the M3 family is 40 percent faster.

M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14
Credit: Apple

When you go to purchase the M3 MacBook Pro 14 on the Apple website, you’ll notice that it only offers an 8-core CPU and a 10-Core GPU.

The M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14, on the other hand, comes in two chipset flavors:

M3 Pro – 11-core CPU, 14-core GPU
M3 Pro – 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU

If you select the M3 Pro chip with more cores, it should, in practice, handle computational demands more seamlessly and efficiently.

According to Apple, the M3 Pro is 20 percent faster than the M2 Pro, its predecessor, when it comes to image processing.

M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: Battery life

Apple claims that the M3 MacBook Pro 14 lasts 22 hours on a single charge, which is pretty damn good (if this is true). The Cupertino-based tech giant boasts that the M3 Pro MacBook Pro has a runtime of 18 hours, which is impressive, too.

However, we’ll have to test these laptops ourselves to know for sure.

Final thoughts

There is no clear winner here. It all depends on your workflow.

The M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 is recommended for coders, researchers and creatives. However, the cheaper M3 MacBook Pro 14 targets students who need a zippy laptop that can keep up with their everyday tasks.

However, I’m a sucker for good battery life and I love to save money, so I’d personally opt for the M3 MacBook Pro over its pricier sibling.

Credit: Apple

13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip

$1,049

Tech / Technology

M3 MacBook Pro vs. M2 MacBook Pro

Posted on: October 31, 2023

The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro is here, but how does it differ from its predecessor?
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M2 MacBook Pro 14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Credit: Apple

13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip

$1,049

Tech / Technology

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

Posted on: October 31, 2023

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.

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

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?

Tech / Technology

The Apple Mac event was a scary bad Halloween flop

Posted on: October 31, 2023

Apple’s 2023 Mac event, a first evening live launch for the company, was light on content. Did we even need this half an hour?
David S. Pumpkins on SNL; Tim Cook.

You could be forgiven for expecting something special from a fancy Apple launch event the day before Halloween — especially when the company was branching into new chronological territory. This was the first evening launch of the modern Apple era. Would we see Cook in impeccable evening wear, carrying a martini?

Then there’s the timing. And the event title: “Scary Fast.” That suggested we were getting speedier machines, sure. But it also suggested a theme.

Was it too much to hope that Apple, which has previously had a ton of fun with a 420-themed event, a rocking California-themed event, and more Craig Federighi appearances than you can shake a book of Dad jokes at, was going to go all out on a spooktacular spooktacular — something that sold genuinely interesting upgrades with a dash of its signature, and highly seasonal, pizzaz?

Well yes, we concluded afterwards, apparently that was too much to hope. The M3 chip speeds in its new laptops were somewhat interesting for those of us looking to upgrade, even if Apple was engaging in some sleight of hand about model comparisons. The screen was a little brighter. The “Space Black” color got the interest of some Macheads, while others compared it to the dull black Powerbooks of the early Carrie Bradshaw era.

I couldn’t help but wonder: If that’s all Apple was going to give us, then why not make this a TikTok — or our similarly brief summary above — instead of a 35-minute affair that felt three times as long?

There was no horror movie vibe to carry us through all that hard-to-parse benchmark test info. Not unless you count the 13-inch Macbook growing … a whole inch! Or the Touch Bar being quietly knifed off-screen. (Typical murder-mystery: It’s always the one the audience likes the least that gets it first.) There was nothing scary save the $2,000 price tag on the Space Black MacBook.

Where was the pumpkin spice on this weak small decaf? Well, not counting about 10 seconds of Scooby-Doo level Halloween CGI while zooming over the Apple campus at the very beginning, it was … the CEO’s bright orange Apple Watch band. If this is his idea of a costume, Tim Cook must be fun at Halloween parties.

Oh, and several of the executives featured used variations on the word “monster,” as in “monster CPU” and “monstrous improvement.” (Geddit? Because Halloween?) Despite being stuck underground in dungeon-like labs inside a spaceship, these presenters never once uttered phrases like “It’s alive!” Or “Soon my evil plan to make you buy a whole new laptop for a 15 percent speed improvement over last year’s model will be unstoppable!”

In short, Tim Cook made the Apple event equivalent of Saturday Night Live‘s famous David S. Pumpkins Halloween sketch, in which an elevator in a haunted house keeps opening on a not-very-scary Tom Hanks and a couple of skeletons who dance for a couple of seconds. Except Cook didn’t even give his audience a chance to ask “Any questions?”

Because yeah, like the paying customers in the sketch, we might have a few questions. Like: Where’s the fun? How long do you think the world’s wealthiest company can get away with launch events widely judged to be disappointing? What did you have against the 13-inch Macbook, which was that little bit easier to tote around or slip in a bag than the 14-inch replacement? And is the only innovation we have to look forward to from this company … just faster chips in newer models?

The notion that Apple itself has no clue how to answer these and other questions may, for us fans, be the scariest Halloween surprise of all.

Tech / Technology

New ‘Space Black’ MacBook Pro color announced at Apple 10/30 event

Posted on: October 31, 2023

Apple had a surprise at its M3 Halloween eve event: Its first black MacBook Pro offering in over 10 years.
Apple Space Black MacBook Pro

Apple decided to do something a bit out of the ordinary with its latest product debut: an Apple event announcing the new line of M3 laptops on the night before Halloween.

Spooky!

But along with some horror-themed music and interstitials between segments, Apple had an actual product announcement that fit the Halloween spirit: a new “Space Black” MacBook Pro.

Meet the new ‘Space Black’ MacBook Pro

Apple has certainly experimented with unique color options for its iPhones, and even iMac desktop computers, but it’s been quite a while since the company has done so with its laptops. Traditionally, the choices have been Silver or Space Gray. Now, there’s a new black hue for you to choose.

Plus, Apple claims that it consists of a finger-resistant, dark aluminum finish, but we’ll judge that when we get our sticky fingers on one to test out.

Space Black MacBook Pro
Credit: Apple

This is Apple’s first black laptop in around a decade and half. And it’s going to cost you.

At the event, Apple revealed that it was ditching the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, which had an an old, out-of-date design, and replaced it with a $1,599 14-inch MacBook Pro chassis packed with the M3 chip. However, those new M3 MacBook Pros do not come in the Space Black color.

Space Black on MacBook Pro
Credit: Apple

If you really want a Space Black MacBook Pro, you’ll have to get an M3 Pro MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,999.

Yeah, it’s just a color, but perhaps you’re feeling nostalgic for the last time Apple made a black MacBook (not MacBook Pro, mind you) all the way back in 2008. Maybe that makes the extra $400 worth it.

Tech / Technology

Apple’s October Scary Fast Event: Everything revealed about the new MacBook Pro, iMac and M3 chips

Posted on: October 31, 2023

It’s time for another Apple event, with a spooky twist. The company announced a surprise “Scary Fast” event last week, prompting the rumor mill to speculate that Apple […]

Tech / Technology

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

Posted on: October 31, 2023

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.

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.

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

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is dead with the release of M3 14-inch MacBook Pro

Posted on: October 31, 2023

The launch of the 14-inch MacBook Pro signals the end of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
M2 MacBook Pro 13-inch with grim reaper

As in most horror films, Apple’s October event, named “Scary Fast,” didn’t take long to claim its first victim.

As the new 14-inch MacBook Pro crept into our lives, it slashed the 13-inch MacBook Pro from existence — for good.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro was an option for users who desired ultra-portability and jaw-dropping battery life. Sure the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models also deliver decent battery runtimes, but in my experience as a laptop reviewer, Apple’s claims that the 13-inch MacBook Pro can last 20 hours (compared to the larger models’ 18-hour runtime) was spot on.

14-inch MacBook Pro
Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable

The 13-inch MacBook Pro was also ideal for anyone who loved the controversial Touch Bar. However, many Apple fans aren’t sad to see it go. After all, it replaced physical function keys — as well as the precious Esc button — with an OLED touchscreen, which most found to be irksome.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is dead and gone, but many won’t mourn its death.

How the 13-inch MacBook Pro lost its ‘sexy’

The 13-inch MacBook Pro, packed with the M2 chip, attracted users who craved a Pro model, but didn’t have the wherewithal to splurge on the pricier, upper-tier 14-inch and 16-inch variants. But Apple has other laptops with the M2 chip, too, including some Air models, which made the 13-inch MacBook Pro look less seductive.

For example, there’s a 2022 13-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip that is cheaper by about $200 — and it has sharper webcam, a higher-resolution display, a slightly lighter chassis, and it has a MagSafe 3 power port.

13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip
Credit: Apple

For the uninitiated, MagSafe 3 lets you charge the MacBook Air, allowing you to keep your two USB-C ports free. You can’t do the same on the Pro.

Plus, the Air doesn’t have a Touch Bar, a controversial feature often labeled as a “gimmick” by tech pundits.

However, the 13-inch MacBook Pro, unlike the Air, has fans, so if your workflow consists of resource-intensive tasks (e.g., video editing), the Pro model would be a better choice because it manages thermals better for the uptick in heat generation. Plus, in my experience as a laptop reviewer, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has an incredible runtime — even longer than the Air.

However, the Air still has sufficient battery life to keep consumers happy and has an attractive set of features that likely had consumers flocking to it instead of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

There’s a new ‘entry-level Pro’ in town

It looks like Apple recognized that its base-level Pro was losing its sexy. As such, it decided to kick the 13-inch MacBook Pro to the curb and replace it with the 14-inch MacBook Pro with a new M3 chip.

13-inch MacBook Pro M3
Credit: Apple

That means the Touch Bar is gone, a move that some Mashable tech reporters, including myself, are celebrating.

No, you won’t get the same “oomph” as you’d get from the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with the more robust M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. But you’re still getting a nice performance jump over the M2 chip, which is welcome. It has a starting price of $1,599.

Goodbye 13-inch MacBook Pro. Sayonara Touch Bar. It was nice knowing you.

front-facing 15-inch MacBook Air with m2 chip

Credit: Amazon

Apple 2023 MacBook Air Laptop with M2

$1,049.99