Apple has unveiled new MacBook Pro and iMac computers along with three new chips: M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. These announcements were made on Monday during an online event primarily focused on professional users.
These new devices and chips are geared towards professional users. Apple’s Mac business has experienced significant growth since transitioning from Intel to its custom-designed chips in 2020, with its market share nearly doubling to around 11%.
Apple has gained a competitive edge by combining both central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) in its Apple silicon chips. This integration is said to provide better performance and battery life compared to traditional setups, where CPUs and GPUs often come from different manufacturers.
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Key details of the new releases include:
Redesigned GPUs: Apple has redesigned its graphics processing units (GPUs), which are critical components of the new chips. This move positions Apple to compete with established players like Nvidia in the GPU market.
Pricing and Availability: The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599 in the U.S., and the 16-inch version starts at $2,499. The new iMac desktop with the M3 chips starts at $1,299. Some of these products will be available as soon as next week, while others will ship later in November.
Market Share Growth: Apple’s Mac business has experienced significant growth since it began using its custom-designed chips in place of Intel processors, nearly doubling its market share to nearly 11% since 2020.
Secure Screen Sharing: Apple introduced a new secure screen-sharing feature aimed at business users. This feature allows users to access their machines remotely.
Apple Silicon: Apple’s custom-designed chips, using technology from Arm Holdings, have contributed to its Macs’ improved battery life and performance compared to Windows-based machines.
Unique Chip Integration: Unlike other laptop makers, Apple combines both central processing units (CPUs) and GPUs in its Apple silicon chips, claiming to offer better performance than rivals.
Competition: Apple’s success with its custom chips has encouraged competitors like Qualcomm and Nvidia to develop their Arm-based chips for laptops and PCs.
Corporate Buyer Impact: Apple’s changes to its product lineup, including eliminating a lower-priced 13-inch MacBook Pro, could affect corporate buyers’ choices between MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
3 Nanometer Technology: The new chips are the first for laptops and desktops to use 3 nanometer manufacturing technology, promising better performance and energy efficiency.
Comparison to Intel: Throughout the event, Apple emphasized the improved performance of its new machines compared to older models with Intel chips.
Apple’s ongoing expansion of its chip technology is aimed at maintaining its competitive edge and catering to professional users’ needs. As the technology landscape evolves, these developments will continue to influence the broader computing industry.
The tech giant has focused on attracting professional users, exhibiting the improved performance and capabilities of its new devices compared to previous Intel-based machines. The company aims to highlight the advantages of upgrading to Apple’s own chips for tasks such as content creation and AI research.