Apple has unveiled some monster new products at its ‘Scary fast’ pre-Halloween event held on October 30th, 2023.
The event focused on new Mac laptops, and the three new next-gen chips that will be running them - the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. Here’s what we found out during the big reveal…
Apple’s new M3 chips
The new M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips use 3-nanometer technology. It’s the first time Apple (or anyone else) has used this process, to squeeze even more advanced tech into a super tight space. The new chips will make a huge difference to the new MacBook Pro and iMac - seriously boosting CPU performance, increasing battery life (up to 22 hours), and improving the GPU for better gaming and graphical capabilities.
Tech jargon buster
CPU
Think of the CPU (central processing unit) as the brain of your computer that pulls the strings and makes everything happen. It receives instructions from various apps, interprets them, performs calculations, and carries out actions.
GPU
A GPU (graphics processing unit) looks after the visuals, and accelerates tasks related to graphics and video. So, if you’re doing a lot of design work or creating videos, it’s important to have a powerful GPU.
According to Apple, the M3 chip is up to 35% faster than the older M1 chip for CPU performance. Plus, the 10-core GPU is 65% faster than the M1 when it comes to graphics performance. Apple says this next-gen processing is the biggest ever leap forward in its graphics architecture.
Apple’s new M3 powered Macbook Pro and iMac
Here are the new M3 powered Macs.
MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 chip
MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 Pro chip
MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 Max chip
MacBook Pro 16-inch with M3 Pro chip
MacBook Pro 16-inch with M3 Max chip
iMac 24-inch with M3 chip
MacBooks
The new M3 powered MacBook is a huge improvement over its predecessor, with processing speed and specs being ramped right up. For example, the MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip comes with up to 128GB of RAM. That’s a new record for MacBooks.
The new XDR display looks amazing. It shows everything in spectacular detail and colours, and Apple says it’s the world’s best laptop display. The new MacBooks also come with six speakers with spatial audio capable for room-filling sound. Oh, and it’s available in an awesome new ‘space black’ colour. Pretty wicked.
iMac
The new M3 powered iMac sticks with its familiar slim and stylish design, but under the hood there’s a real difference – it’s now twice as powerful as an older iMac with an M1 chip, and a lot quicker. Productivity apps like Excel will now run up to 30% faster, and you’ll also be able to process images on Photoshop up to two times faster.
Need more help?
You can pre-order MacBook Pro and iMac from Currys right now. They’ll be available on 7th November.
If you’re thinking of upgrading to a new MacBook Pro or iMac and want more info, our laptop buying guide is a great place to start. Or why not pop in-store and speak to one of our expert colleagues? They’re always happy to talk about all things Apple.
Tech now, pay later
You can buy now, pay later with a flexible credit account. With flexible credit we make spreading the cost of your tech easy to manage. 24.9% APR representative (variable). And you can choose the term that suits your monthly budget, from 12 to 36 months.
You can apply for a Your Plan credit account in-store or online at any time, then buy the tech you want. You’ll be able to view and manage your account online, and use it to buy more tech in future.
