Apple could soon put an M3 chip in its worst laptop
Apple's MacBook lineup is full of great laptops, but the 13-inch MacBook Pro doesn't really feel like one. However, a new report claims that Apple will update the device with the M3 chip later this year.
The news comes from 9to5Mac, whose sources have confirmed that the 13-inch MacBook Pro will receive an update with the new M3 chip, likely at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
Why is this a confusing step? Well, right now the 13-inch MacBook Pro is Apple's least attractive laptop. You get the same performance as the MacBook Air M2, but pay $100 more for the rewards. It has a shorter display bezel, a weak webcam, and an outdated look compared to other Apple MacBooks.
Fitting the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip doesn't change that, and Apple is expected to update the MacBook Air to get the same chip. While the M3 is a next-gen upgrade that uses a 3nm manufacturing process, the combination of the two laptops robs the 13-inch MacBook Pro of any significant advantages and makes it unpopular with buyers.
9to5Mac reports that Apple even considered dropping the Pro part of the 13-inch MacBook Pro name but ultimately decided against it. This suggests that even Apple is realizing that its laptops aren't truly professional devices, which doesn't bode well.
Much more on the horizon
The report also touched on other topics, including that Apple is working on a 13-inch model alongside a 15-inch MacBook Air, both of which will have an M3 chip. These devices will be announced together, probably at WWDC.
Interestingly, 9to5Mac claims that the M3 chip will be the only option for these laptops, meaning no M3 Pro or M3 Max options. There have been speculations that the 15-inch MacBook Air might feature a high-end chip, but a recent report says that's not the case. That's not surprising, since these high-end chips need a fan to cool them, and the MacBook Air doesn't come with one by default.
The report follows Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman's claims that several new Macs are in development, including a 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, a new iMac, and an updated Mac Pro. Gurman's report does not mention a 13-inch MacBook Pro about, so there doesn't seem to be much consensus about this tool yet.
With WWDC just a few months away, Apple will soon decide whether to keep the 13-inch MacBook Pro in the lineup or ditch it for good. While the M3 chip could improve its performance significantly, Apple still has some work to do to convince everyone that this laptop is worth buying.