Rumors about a new MacBook Air have been circulating for a while now, and it seems that Apple is indeed working on a new generation MacBook Air in two different sizes – 13-inch and 15-inch. Additionally, the company is also planning to introduce an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro.
According to sources, these laptops will have something in common: they will be powered by the M3 chip. This isn’t the first time Apple has released laptops with this chip – it has been used in previous models like the MacBook Air 2020 and MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple is set to release updated versions of the MacBook Air soon. 9to5Mac’s sources have confirmed that a 13-inch MacBook Air with an M3 chip (codenamed J513) is already in development, and a 15-inch model (codenamed J515) with the same chip will be announced alongside it.
While previous reports (by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo) suggested that the 15-inch MacBook Air would be powered by the M2 and M2 Pro chips and released in early April, our sources indicate that both the 13-inch and 15-inch models will instead feature an entry-level M3 chip with an 8-core CPU, similar to the M1 and M2.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s prediction that the upcoming 15-inch MacBook Air could be powered by the M2 or M2 Pro chip has certainly piqued the interest of many Apple enthusiasts. Kuo is well-known for his reliable predictions regarding upcoming Apple products, and his comments suggest that the company is continuing to push the envelope when it comes to performance and efficiency.
It’s worth noting, however, that Kuo also suggests that the device may simply be called “MacBook,” rather than “MacBook Air.” The M2 and M2 Pro have already proven to be incredibly powerful and efficient.
Although there is no current evidence to suggest that any version of the new MacBook Air will be equipped with more powerful versions of the M3 chip, such as the M3 Pro, this is not the only new MacBook that Apple has in the works.
In addition to the new MacBook Air models, Apple is also planning to refresh its 13-inch MacBook Pro with a new Apple Silicon chip (codenamed J504), which will feature the same 8-core M3 chip as the new MacBook Air. Last year, there were rumors that Apple might drop the “Pro” branding from this model, but it seems that the company has decided to keep it.
Although the report does not specify when the three new MacBooks will be announced, it speculates that WWDC 2023 in June would be the ideal time for Apple to unveil the M3 chip and the first Macs powered by it. Last year at WWDC 2022, Apple introduced the current MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro alongside the M2 chip.
We are not sure whether Apple will stick to this timeline, but given the company’s track record, it seems likely that the new MacBooks will be released sometime this year. With the addition of the M3 chip, these new models are expected to deliver even greater performance and efficiency than their predecessors, making them an exciting prospect for both casual and professional users.
The report indicates that the M3 chip, which has not yet been officially announced, will feature an 8-core CPU just like the M2 chip. However, it is expected to be manufactured using TSMC’s latest 3nm process technology, which will likely result in significant improvements in both performance and power efficiency. In contrast, the M2 chip and its higher-end Pro and Max variants are built using TSMC’s second-generation 5nm process.
This shift to the newer 3nm process technology represents a major milestone for Apple and the industry as a whole, as it allows for even greater miniaturization of components and improved power efficiency. As a result, the M3 chip is likely to offer a significant performance boost over the M2, making it an enticing option for those in need of a high-powered machine.
While it remains to be seen exactly when Apple will unveil the M3 chip and the new MacBooks that will feature it, this report suggests that the company is continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible with its custom-designed chips. With each new iteration, it seems that Apple is further cementing its position as a leader in the world of computing technology.
Source: 9to5Mac