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While we await the release of the M2-powered Mac, Apple is reportedly moving forward with the development of the M3 chip.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a proven track record of covering Apple leaks and rumors, wrote in his Power On newsletter that Apple is already working on the M3 iMac, a model expected to be “in the next year”. The all-in-one “desktop” launched at the end of the year is the earliest. ”
Gurman wrote earlier this month that Apple is preparing next-generation chips and testing at least nine Macs with four different versions of the M2 processor. He lists the MacBook Air, Mac mini, entry-level MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro 14, MacBook Pro 16, and Mac Pro currently being tested. Apple is also reportedly considering running the Mac mini on the M1 Pro chip.
Tech companies maintain long-term development plans, so it’s no surprise that Apple laid out its M3 lineup years in advance. This could indicate a goal of releasing new M-series desktop processors every year, a release cadence that could force Intel and AMD to keep pace.
Gurman’s report also makes us wonder if Apple will skip the M2 iMac and go straight to the M3 after a long 2.5-year hiatus. That’s not surprising, considering that Apple typically takes longer to update iMac devices than laptops. I’m not that sold, and neither does Gurman, who recently said the M2 iMac is in development and could debut in the next few months.
Those looking to upgrade to an iMac should take comfort in knowing that the iMac Pro isn’t dead. At least, Gurman doesn’t think so, saying it’s in development but not coming “anytime soon.” Another reliable Apple source, Ming-Chi Kuo, wrote on Twitter a few months ago that the iMac Pro will be resurrected, but not until 2023. There’s no word yet on whether the now-discontinued 27-inch iMac will get the same treatment. .
In the short term, Apple plans to host WWDC on June 6, where we expect the new Macs to be unveiled. These could include an updated version of the Mac Pro and a redesigned MacBook Air, both powered by the sequel to Apple’s impressive M1-series processors.
