• Apple revealed new MacBook Pro devices as well as updated iMacs at its “Scary Fast” event held yesterday.
• Both the new products feature Apple’s M3 chips, its latest in-house processor which it says is its most powerful yet.
• All versions of the new MacBook Pro and iMac PCs will go on sale from 2nd November 2023 and 7th November 2023, respectively.

At Apple’s Scary Fast live stream event held on 30th October, the Cupertino tech giant revealed a new lineup of MacBook Pro notebooks as well as its latest iMac desktop PCs, both of which contain the company’s new M3 processors, its latest in-house processor technology.

As per the name of the event, the focus of the new devices, at least in terms of Apple’s marketing, is on performance. The latest from Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo is that the company is hoping to attract customers through blistering-fast devices, which is why it launched M3-powered devices instead of upgraded versions of MacBooks running M2 silicon.

Brand new MacBook Pros

Two new versions of the MacBook Pro were unveiled by Apple at the event, with the main difference being the size and the processors included in the devices. They include different variants of the new M3 chip, including the base M3, the M3 Pro and the M3 Max – each are supposedly more powerful than the last.

All three come in the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, which increases the price of the notebook. With performance in mind, Apple allows mixing and matching of notebook and processor for whatever amount of performance you may require.

“The 14- and 16‑inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro provides even greater performance and additional unified memory support, enabling more demanding workflows for users like coders, creatives, and researchers. The 14- and 16‑inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max delivers performance and capabilities that push the limits of computing,” says Apple of the new devices.

“With a monster GPU and a powerful CPU, along with support for up to 128GB of unified memory, MacBook Pro with M3 Max enables extreme workflows and multitasking across pro apps for users like machine learning programmers, 3D artists, and video editors.”

“Unified memory” is Apple’s version of RAM, so 128GB is still a significant amount of memory. The new machines will also be the first Apple MacBooks to feature a black colourway, with dark aluminium finish.

Other than the processors, which Apple claims can be up to 11 times faster than the fastest Intel-chip-based MacBook Pro, the new notebooks will feature increased battery life of up to 22 hours on a single charge, GPU options up to 40 cores with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, an XDR liquid retina display, and an advanced thermal architecture to make sure your machine doesn’t melt when being “scary fast.”

The new MacBook Pro hits the shelves from 2nd November 2023 across 27 countries, which don’t seem to include South Africa as of yet. The 14-inch version of the new MacBook pro with the base M3 chip starts at $1 599, with an “education” version at $1 499.

Meanwhile, the 14-inch version with the M3 Pro starts at $1 999, with a $1 849 education version. The 16-inch versions start at $2 499 and $2 299 for education.

The iMac returns

The other major announcement of the Scary Fast event is the return of the iMac desktop PC, which will see its first new model since 2021. Like the MacBook Pro, the new 23-inch iMac will also feature the new M3 chip. Apple says these devices are “strikingly thin” and they look it according to marketing materials.

“Thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon, the new iMac delivers a huge leap in performance in its remarkably thin design and spectrum of seven vibrant colors that users love. iMac with M3 is up to 2x faster than the prior generation with M1. And for those upgrading from an Intel-based iMac, the new iMac is up to 2.5x faster than the most popular 27-inch models, and 4x faster than the most powerful 21.5-inch model,” Apple says of the new machines.

Pre-orders have already started for the new 24-inch iMac with the M3 chip in the US, with machines heading to stores as of 7th November a few days after the new MacBooks.

The new iMac featuring the 8-core GPU starts at $1 299 and $1 249 for education. This version has 8GB of unified memory, 256GB SSD, a 4.5K retina display, two Thunderbolt ports, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Mouse.

Then there is the iMac with the 10-core GPU, which starts at $1 499, or $1 399 for the edition that comes with an 8-core CPU, 8GB of unified memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt ports, two additional USB 3 ports, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Magic Mouse, and Gigabit Ethernet.