Apple Mac launch event: We expect an M3-powered iMac, new MacBook Pro

After some anticipation, a report claims that new Mac devices will be released before the end of the year. The information comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who revealed that Apple will likely host its Mac event between October 30 and 31, bringing consumers updated MacBook Pro models and a new iMac. The launch may see several 24-inch iMac configurations and new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. The event is taking place in just a week, but the fact that it has yet to be officially announced could make it one of the shortest announcement-to-release event cycles for the tech giant.

Gurman notes in his report that Apple's iMacs and MacBook Pros are currently "extremely scarce online and in retail stores" and are facing shipping delays that extend into mid-November. This delay could be a big sign that Apple could introduce new products based on historical trends.

Will Apple hold a Mac launch event?

But we have other clues about the possible Mac launch event at the end of the current month. Gurman also noted that Apple's next earnings call with its investors is scheduled for November 12. Interestingly, the last time Apple held a November earnings call to release its quarterly revenue targets was in 2018. Interestingly, Apple had a launch event to unveil new iPads and Macs on October 30 that year.

These two reasons combined make the likelihood of a Mac launch event at the end of the month quite likely. To make things more interesting, Gurman also revealed details about the products that could be launched.

A new 24-inch iMac is expected to be the highlight of this event, as the company has not updated the current iMac for more than 900 days, and it is one of the only devices in Apple's Mac line that still works with the M1 chip. However, Apple has a lot of fanfare planned for the device, as Gurman claimed that the new iMac could be powered by the M3 chipset rather than an iterative upgrade to the M2 chip. This could result in a big boost to your performance and efficiency.

During the event, Apple is also expected to launch upgraded versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. While this move may seem strange, given that Apple updated the MacBook Pros in January 2023, the Bloomberg report states that "an additional update the same year would be unusual, but not inconceivable."

However, the MacBook Pro models are expected to feature minor upgrades this time, aside from the incremental processor bump. Previously, Gurman reported that the upcoming MacBook Pro models could be equipped with the M3 Pro and M3 Max chipsets. But that launch was predicted to be between March and April 2024, and it will be surprising if Apple makes the jump at this event. A more logical upgrade could be to add performance and optimization-related updates to the M2 Pro and M2 Max. Likewise, no changes related to its design or other hardware components are expected.

Please note that the information shared here is based on leaks and has yet to be officially announced by Apple. So, we need to wait for Apple to announce getting excited about getting a new iMac or MacBook Pro.