Apple could announce refreshed MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip and perhaps even the M3 Pro and M3 Max variants as soon as next Monday, according to new information shared by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new post on X, Kuo claims that an “M3 series MacBook Pro” will be the main focus of Apple’s “Scary fast” event that the company announced today to take place on Monday, October 30. Clarifying his earlier stance that Apple won’t unveil any new Macs in the remainder of 2023, Kuo claims that shipments of whatever Mac models the company announces next Monday will be severely restricted.
Apple apparently chose to announce new M3 Macs ahead of adequate mass production ramp-up to elevate shipments as much as possible, with Kuo adding that shipments won’t exceed half a million in the current quarter. Production and thus shipments won’t increase enough to match demand till the first quarter of 2024, adds Kuo.
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The analyst’s open-ended phrasing suggests that Apple might unveil multiple MacBook Pro models including the 13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch variants together on Monday. This indicates that the company could unveil the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max all in one go. A recent Bloomberg report also stated that imminent updates to the MacBook Pro wouldn’t be “inconceivable.”
Reality Check
Kuo is completely disregarding his earlier claims of Apple pushing back the release of M3-based Macs to next year. The often-reliable analyst now says M3 MacBook Pros are coming soon a few hours after Apple officially announced its “Scary fast” event.
In a later post, Kuo states that Apple could go with a number of options to prop up shipments if sales of the M3-equipped machines prove insufficient. The company could choose to speed up the development of the redesigned OLED MacBook Pro to expedite its release from 2027 to 2025. The analyst also claims that a “more affordable” MacBook model is on the table at Apple. Should the company decide to adopt this strategy, a low-cost laptop could boost shipments by around 8 to 10 million units a year.
Interestingly, Kuo is apparently still adamant that a new 24-inch iMac won’t make an appearance at Monday’s event. The all-in-one was earlier thought to be one of the first Macs to receive the M3 chip since it’s the only machine left in Apple’s lineup stuck on the three-year-old M1.
