Apple’s “Scary Fast” October Event: New M3 Chips, MacBook Pro Refresh, and More!
10:30 am PDT • October 31, 2023
Apple recently held their highly anticipated October event, and while it wasn’t too spooky, it did bring some exciting product announcements. In a surprise turn of events, the company unveiled their new “Scary Fast” lineup, which included the M3 chips for their 24-inch iMac and MacBook Pro. Speculation had been rife leading up to the event, and as our resident Apple expert Brian Heater predicted, the new chips took center stage.
Apple’s M3 chip lineup was the star of the show, with each of the showcased devices powered by these new processors. The event was pre-recorded and featured seasonally appropriate fog, bats, and ominous choir music, creating an immersive and mysterious atmosphere. However, for those who closely followed the rumor mill, there weren’t any major surprises.
If you happened to miss the event due to Halloween preparations or Monday Night Football, don’t worry. We have compiled all the details from the event right here for you.
New M3 Chips
The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the new M3 chips from Apple. The company announced three versions: M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. These powerful chips are set to feature in the new 24-inch iMac and MacBook Pros. With a particular focus on graphical performance, Apple has introduced hardware-accelerated ray tracing, mesh shading, and Dynamic Caching. According to Apple, these advancements significantly improve GPU utilization and overall speed. In comparison to the previous M1 chip, Apple claims the M3 renders at 2.5 times the speed and boasts a 30% faster CPU. For a comprehensive breakdown of the three M3 chips, click here.
New MacBook Pro Models
The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros have received internal upgrades, but the first noticeable change is the introduction of a new color: Space Black. These models come equipped with the M3 chips, with the 14-inch MacBook Pro having the option to choose from the trio, while the 16-inch model only includes the M3 Pro or M3 Max chips. While the focus is on maximizing GPU performance, Apple claims that both models offer an impressive 22 hours of battery life on a single charge. Preorders for both models are available tonight, with prices ranging from $1,599 to $1,999 for the 14-inch model and $2,499 for the baseline 16-inch model. Pricing for the M3 Max chip upgrade has yet to be revealed. The return of the Space Black color will undoubtedly excite fans who have longed for its revival. For more details on the new MacBook Pros, visit here.
New M3 iMac
Apple has also given its iMac line a colorful refresh with the addition of the M3 chip. The 24-inch form factor remains the same, but the screen now features a 4.5K retina display, a 1080p FaceTime camera, and a six-speaker system that supports Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. The new iMac is available for preorder in a range of vibrant colors, including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver. Prices start at $1,299 for the baseline model with an 8-core GPU and CPU, and go up to $1,499 for the version with a 256 SSD. To find out more about the exciting updates to the M3 iMac, click here.
Farewell to the Touch Bar
The launch of the new MacBook Pro models also signals the end of the Touch Bar. After a lukewarm reception, Apple has decided to replace it with traditional keyboard functionality. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro effectively replaces the 13-inch model, as it no longer features the Touch Bar. Apple had previously released 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros in 2021 without the Touch Bar, making this transition complete.
An Impressive iPhone Showcase
If you watched the event closely, you might have caught a quick note at the end of the stream: “This event was shot on iPhone and edited on Mac.” It’s a small but noteworthy detail that highlights Apple’s ability to create a high-quality hardware showcase using just an iPhone. The company even released a video showcasing their production process for the October event. It’s a testament to the power and versatility of their devices.
Recap of the Full Scary Fast Event
If you want to relive the October event or experience it for the first time, you can watch the entire archive on Apple’s website via the embedded YouTube video below.
