Apple is holding the Scary Fast event today (October 30, 2023). At this event, the company is expected to launch three new Mac models: 24-inch iMac, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and 16-inch MacBook Pro. All the new models breaking the cover today are expected to feature the Apple M3 processor, which is expected to be the star of the show. If you are excited about the event, here’s everything you need to know about it, including when it starts, where to watch it, and what to expect from Apple’s Scary Fast Macs.
When and where to watch the event?
Apple Scary Fast is an online-only event. It is scheduled to start at 08:00 PM ET / 05:00 PM PT. The company will be streaming the event live on YouTube, its official website, and Apple TV.
Apple M3
The event’s highlight is expected to be the Apple M3 chipset. According to various reports, this SoC is made on TSMC’s 3nm fabrication process, the same as the Apple A17 Pro used in the iPhone 15 Pro models. According to TSMC, the 3nm fabrication process should offer 15 per cent better performance and 30 per cent better power efficiency compared to the company’s 5nm fabrication process, which was used for the Apple M1 and Apple M2 processors.
At this event, Apple is expected to launch the M3 in three variants — M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max — which will offer different CPU, GPU, and NPU core counts. According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, the base variant of the Apple M3 will have an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, which is similar to the base variant of the Apple M2.
While there’s no information about the base variants of the M3 Pro and the M3 Max, Mark says that the range-topping model of the M3 Max will feature a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, up from 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU with the Apple M2 Max. The Apple M3 is expected to be offered with the new 24-inch iMac, whereas, the M3 Pro and the M3 Max are expected to be offered with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
With the 3nm fabrication process, design changes, and increased core counts, the Apple M3 is expected to offer significant performance and efficiency improvements. However, everyone is interested to know how will it fare against the recently-announced Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, the company’s latest ARM-based processor for Microsoft Windows PCs, It has shaken the industry with amazing performance and efficiency numbers, and it not only beats Apple M2 but also x86-based processors from Intel and AMD.
24-inch iMac
In 2021, Apple launched the 24-inch iMac. It had an all-new design compared to previous iMac models. Plus, it was the first iMac to feature the Apple M-series chipset instead of Intel processors that were found in older iMacs. Since then, the company hasn’t updated the 24-inch iMac, and with the two-year-old chipset, it is starting to show age. That’s changing with the Apple Scary Fast event today.
At this event, Apple is expected to launch a refreshed version of the 24-inch iMac. On the outside, the new model is expected to remain the same as the outgoing one, featuring a similar design. On the inside, however, there are going to be some significant changes. As mentioned earlier, the new 24-inch iMac is said to feature the Apple M3 chipset, which should offer a huge performance improvement over the M1 chipset.
Rumours also suggest that the new iMac will have redesigned and relocated internal components but details about it are scarce. There’s also a high possibility that Apple might launch a new Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse with a USB Type-C port to make it easier for people to charge these devices with the same cable that they use for charging their MacBook, iPhone, and AirPods.
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro
Just like the new 24-inch iMac, the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro will also get the M3 treatment. However, as mentioned earlier, these models will get more powerful versions of the M3 (M3 Pro and M3 Max). According to Mark Gurman, this time, Apple will also offer these laptops with a 48GB RAM option (currently Apple offers 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 96GB memory options). A report from DigiTimes claims that the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will also feature a new Mini-LED display which will be more efficient.
One more thing
Rumours suggest that Apple might also launch updated versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. However, the possibility of that happening is very low as not many reports and analysts corroborate this news.
While Apple will be launching three to four new products at the Scary Fast event, the company is working on a new 32-inch iMac, an all-new MacBook Pro with an OLED display, and six new iPad models, which the company is expected to over the next two years.
Reportedly, the sales of Mac devices is declining, and the main reason for that is the limited computing power of the Apple M2 chipset. That's one of the reasons why the company is launching new Mac models with a faster chipset, to boost the sales of Mac devices. According to DigiTimes, if this move doesn't help, Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook to help with the sales of Mac devices.
