According to a recent rumor from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is already working on the M3 processor, the successor to the M1 and M2 chips. Testing of the M3 processor is already underway, Gurman claims, with the version of the chip believed to be an approximation of the baseline M3 Pro featuring 12 CPU cores – six high-performance cores and six lower-power efficiency cores. Additionally, the purported M3 Pro features 18 graphics cores and 36GB of RAM.
The M3 chip is expected to be a key component of Apple’s strategy to win back customers to the Mac family, which saw a 31% drop in revenue in the latest financial results. Gurman argues that the M3 could help Apple offer “fresh ways to entice customers back to the lineup.” He also speculates that the M3 Max could feature 14 CPU cores and 40 graphics cores, while the M3 Ultra could “top out at 28 CPU cores and sport more than 80 graphics cores, up from a 64-core limit on the M1 Ultra.”
It’s expected that the M3 will utilize a 3nm manufacturing process, which will allow for further optimizations and performance gains. While there’s no official word on when we can expect to see the M3 make its debut, Gurman suggests that the first M3 Macs could arrive by the end of 2023 or early 2024. Apple is reportedly already working on M3-based versions of the iMac, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air.
It’s worth noting that the M2 generation of Macs is still rolling out, with a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air and potentially an M2 Ultra Mac Pro expected to debut at Apple’s upcoming WWDC event. However, it seems that Apple is wasting no time in preparing for the next generation of devices. With the M3 chip featuring significantly more cores and memory than its predecessors, it’s clear that Apple is continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible with its custom silicon. As always, all eyes will be on Apple’s upcoming announcements to see what the company has in store for its users.