We won’t be seeing an M3 Mac Mini or MacBook Pro for a while - but the M3 chips might still make a debut this year

Apple store in downtown at TKL
(Image credit: ZorroGabriel via shutterstock)

The next generation of Apple Silicon chips may be coming sooner than previously thought - but not every Mac product will immediately reap the benefits. The company is expected to debut the new M3 chips in the coming months, superseding the current lineup of M2 chips. 

The first showcase of the M3-powered Mac lineup is expected by at least October this year, which might include a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a 13-inch MacBook Air, and a 24-inch iMac. We're also likely to see high-end MacBook Pro and Mac Mini machines powered by the M3 chip - don’t get too excited, though, as these likely won’t be landing in 2023.

Gizochina cites Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in his Power On newsletter, in which he says “It’s a sure thing that an M3 version of the Mac Mini is eventually coming”, but sadly adds that we shouldn’t expect the device to debut until late 2024.

Will the Mac mini remain the king of compact desktops?

It is thrilling to see Apple introduce a new, more powerful chip - particularly in the 24-inch iMac, which is a device desperate for an upgrade. Considering how popular the M1 iMac was at launch and still continues to hold its own even today, a boosted chip might create a whole lot of excitement for a new wave of Apple products.

The new Mac mini definitely deserves a performance boost and we're excited for the possibility of a new version of Apple's signature tiny computer, though I'm sad we might have to wait for it!

The M2 model got a rare five stars in our review - a statement we don't make lightly - and the M3 version will likely be even better since current M3 leaks suggest more of a generational performance improvement compared to M1-M2. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to it - even if it won't feature in Apple's first wave of M3 products.

TOPICS
Muskaan Saxena
Computing Staff Writer

Muskaan is TechRadar’s UK-based Computing writer. She has always been a passionate writer and has had her creative work published in several literary journals and magazines. Her debut into the writing world was a poem published in The Times of Zambia, on the subject of sunflowers and the insignificance of human existence in comparison. Growing up in Zambia, Muskaan was fascinated with technology, especially computers, and she's joined TechRadar to write about the latest GPUs, laptops and recently anything AI related. If you've got questions, moral concerns or just an interest in anything ChatGPT or general AI, you're in the right place. Muskaan also somehow managed to install a game on her work MacBook's Touch Bar, without the IT department finding out (yet).

Read more
MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) in use in a studio
The MacBook Pro could get Apple’s M5 chip before the iPad Pro, but don’t expect groundbreaking changes
smiling person freelancer outdoors working on laptop computer MacBook by Apple with smartwatch Apple Watch, iPhone smiling, show thumb up, like gesture.
Apple fans, get ready for another MacBook refresh - M4 MacBook Air reportedly set to launch this year, amid M5 chip rumors
Sergii Figurnyi
Apple's M5 chip is rumored to be in mass production - but we're still waiting for M4 MacBook Airs
A person holding the 15-inch MacBook Air at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2023.
Apple MacBook Air M4 announcement due any day now, according to industry insider
Person playing a game on new MacBook Air
What to expect from Apple Macs in 2025
The MacBook Air M3 sitting on a red sofa
Fresh M4 MacBook Air rumors point to an imminent launch, but it could be a modest update
Latest in Macbooks
apple macbook air against blue background
There's a huge MacBook Air sale right now – shop record-low prices from $629.99
13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue
The new Apple MacBook Air M4 has a weird quirk with its performance cores - but it's nothing to worry about
MacBook Air 15-inch with M4 chip on a creative's desk with screen open
I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people
Apple MacBook Air M3 on yellow background with lowest price text overlay
Forget the MacBook Air M4: here are 9 older-model MacBook deals from $629.99
MacBook Air mute key
The new M4 MacBook Air finally fixes an Apple keyboard annoyance that's been around for decades
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) REVIEW
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is the best ultraportable – and the new price makes it even more appealing
Latest in News
Google Gemini Flash 2.0 Images
I tried Gemini's new AI image generation tool - here are 5 ways to get the best art from Google's Flash 2.0
An image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from a hands-on event
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could resurrect an intriguing camera feature
Eurocom Raptor X18
At $15,000, this massive 256GB RAM laptop makes Apple's MacBook Pro look affordable, tiny and very, very slow
Cristin Milioti in Black Mirror season 7
Netflix launches trailer for Black Mirror season 7, giving us a look at its first-ever sequel episode and an unexpected returning character
A graphic of the PC Gaming Show
Get ready for a bounty of PC games on June 8, as the PC Gaming show is back
A close up of The Daily podcast from Pocket Casts' web page
‘Podcasting shouldn’t be locked behind walled gardens’: Pocket Casts slams Spotify and makes its web player free to all