Apple MacBook Air 13 powered by M3 expected at WWDC, OLED iPad Pro with M3 to launch in early 2024 followed by OLED touchscreen MacBook in 2025
With the recent launch of the M2 Pro and M2 Max SoCs, it is evident that Apple will move on to introducing the first 3 nm custom silicon, the M3. The first devices to be powered by the upcoming M3 chip would be the MacBook Air, now expected to arrive in 13-inch and 15-inch variants.
We previously reported news from the supply chain that Apple is working on an "affordable MacBook Air for the second half of 2023 with a 3 nm processor". Now, Apple watcher Mark Gurman notes in Bloomberg's latest issue of the Power On newsletter that Apple is likely to introduce both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs as is being speculated so far.
According to Gurman, Apple will continue to use the M2 or M2 Pro chip in the 15-inch MacBook Air while the 13-inch MacBook Air is likely to offer the newer M3 processor. He notes,
A 15-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip may still excite consumers, but a new M2 13-inch MacBook Air is unlikely to be compelling. So it’s plausible that Apple is gearing up for at least the new 13-inch model to be an M3 machine."
The launch times of these laptops are bit of a mystery, however. Apple may introduce the 15-inch MacBook Air as early as April or at least before the company's annual WWDC in June this year. The 13-inch MacBook Air may have to wait until Apple officially makes the M3 chip official during the developer event. Gurman only mentions a time period between "late spring and summer".
Gurman also feels that the M3 will be significant for Apple as it marks the transition from a 5 nm to a 3 nm process. A "major boost" can be expected in terms of performance and power efficiency. Apple is likely to follow up with the launch of the M3 Pro and M3 Max in 2024.
OLED iPad Pro with M3 and touchscreen MacBook
It is being rumored since some time that Apple will shift to OLED panels for the 2024 iPad Pros. Gurman says that the OLED iPad Pro will land in the first half of 2024 and will be powered by the M3 chip.
Gurman predicts "even more exciting Mac upgrades will come as early as 2025". This will be the year when Apple is speculated to introduce its first touchscreen MacBook with an OLED display.
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