Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Your next MacBook Pro could be even faster than expected

By

If you thought Apple’s existing Mac chips were impressive, wait until you see what’s coming next. According to a new report from DigiTimes (via Wccftech), the next generation will be better than anything Apple offers at the moment — much, much better.

That’s great news for Mac enthusiasts. Right now, Apple’s M-series chips are made by TSMC using a 5-nanometer process. They’re widely expected to shift to a smaller 3nm process soon, and according to DigiTimes, TSMC’s testing shows its 3nm process is surpassing even its own expectations.

The MacBook Pro on a wooden table.
Digital Trends

That 3nm process was already expected to produce better performance and efficiency, but if the DigiTimes report is accurate, it could mean Apple’s future chips make mincemeat out of anything that came before them, including Apple’s already powerful M2 Max chips.

Recommended Videos

The 5nm process used in Apple’s existing chips is already highly efficient, allowing the chips to produce exceptional performance while merely sipping power. A 3nm process with improved performance and efficiency, though, is a dream scenario for Apple fans. That’s especially true for people using the company’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops, as better efficiency means longer battery life without sacrificing performance.

Related

Apple’s advantage

An Apple MacBook Pro 14 sits open on a table.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

The M2 series of chips was initially expected to be made using a 3nm process, but in the end, it seems that wasn’t quite ready for prime time. It meant the M2 was not the generational leap that many people had hoped for.

However, DigiTimes explains that TSMC began mass production of its 3nm process node in the fourth quarter of 2022, and that Apple is lined up as a prime customer. Apple’s first 3nm chips will be in its premium line and will debut in 2024, implying we’ll see the improved process in the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips (something we’ve seen reported before).

Intel, meanwhile, is apparently delaying its uptake of 3nm chips until the second half of 2025. The 3nm process could result in increased costs that are passed on to PC manufacturers, but the report states that Apple won’t be affected much since it’s going to use the process in its premium chips, which are already pricey.

The later launch and increased cost for PC users could hand Apple a profound advantage against its rivals. That’s a lead it arguably already holds due to its M-series chips providing a combination of performance and efficiency that no other chip maker can match.

That means if you’re a Mac user, you could be in for a treat when Apple launches its first 3nm chips next year. Everyone else will be watching enviously.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Alex Blake
Alex Blake
Computing Writer
In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…
There are too many MacBooks
The lid of Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air seem from above.

There are too many MacBooks. With six options to compare, choosing one from the lineup now requires a deep knowledge of the marketing and technical materials -- a lack of which will lead someone to make the wrong choice.

I know what you're thinking -- what could possibly be wrong with more options? Certainly, more choice is better for the customer, right? There's some validity to that belief, to be sure. But if Apple wants to remain the In-N-Out of the tech world rather than McDonalds, Apple needs to trim down its MacBook lineup. And fortunately, there's an opportunity coming up that might be the perfect time for a shakeup.
The problem with the M2
Apple Silicon is still very young. It's been almost three years since it was birthed into the world, and we're only two generations into its development. And as big of a deal as the M1 was when it launched, showing the real potential of Apple Silicon versus the rest of the industry. But the real test of its impact would have to be long-term.

Read more
Apple’s 32-inch M3 iMac could be facing yet another delay
Man using a 24-inch M1 iMac.

If you’ve been holding out for an iMac loaded up with a new M3 chip, there’s bad news: it might be delayed until next year. It means an even longer wait for anyone who wants an all-in-one Apple computer with an upgraded chip -- right now, the M1 chip in the current 24-inch iMac is over two years old.

The news on the iMac postponement comes from the Power On newsletter published by journalist Mark Gurman, who has released accurate information about Apple’s upcoming products many times in the past.

Read more
Intel chips held back the 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple says
Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air placed on a desk.

Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air is a surprisingly good laptop, and its positive reception might make you wonder why Apple didn’t launch it sooner. Well, we just got the answer from Apple itself, and it turns out the fault apparently lies with Intel.

That interesting tidbit was revealed by Laura Metz, Director of Product Marketing at Apple, and Thomas Tan from Apple’s enterprise product marketing team. Speaking to Inc, the pair explained that Apple silicon was the driving force in creating the 15-inch MacBook Air.

Read more