Apple event: Preview and live stream – that’s what awaits us tonight
On October 31st at 1 a.m. in the middle of the night, Apple wants to unveil something “incredibly fast”. There are many indications of new Macs with high-performance M3 chips. Not only a new iMac is expected.
By
Andreas Floemer
October 30, 2023, 3:55 p.m • 6 min reading time
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Apple event on October 31st: The Mac Finder icon on the event page makes it clear what it will be about. (Screenshot: t3n, Apple)
The
Apple year 2023 is different than other years: In January, the manufacturer showed new
Macbook Pros with fast M2 Pro and Max chips (test) and a
Mac Mini (test) with similar processors. Then it was quiet for a long time until the manufacturer dropped the bomb in June with the “spatial computer” Vision Pro. The
hardware upgrades in the form of the Mac Studio and the
Macbook Air 15 (test), however, lost some of their appeal.
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Finally, “as always” new iPhones and Apple Watches followed. The highlights of the
iPhone 15 (test) and the
iPhone 15 Pro (test) included the
USB -C port and the fact that they all now have a Dynamic Island on board. Meanwhile, the Pro models boast an action button, titanium housing and the Max even boasts a larger optical zoom.
After rumors that Apple might let October run out without new
Macs in order to really ramp up 2024, we expected a quiet end to the year. Surprisingly and at short notice for Apple, there is another event coming up on October 31st, in the middle of the night for us at 1 a.m.
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It's called "Scary fast" - in German "Umheimlich fast" . The time is extremely unusual for Apple, because even in California - where it is October 30th - it is already 5 p.m. late in the afternoon, so Apple boss Tim Cook does not greet viewers with a “Good morning!” as usual can.
How the year began is how it is expected to end at Apple. Because it is rumored that the manufacturer will present a series of new Macs and
Macbooks , all of which will have M3 generation processors installed.
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The M3 chip has been circulating through the rumor mill for a long time and, like the A17 Pro SoC (System on a Chip) of the iPhone 15 Pro, is supposed to be manufactured using a three-nanometer process. So far, Apple has relied on a structure width of five nanometers for the M1 and M2 generations. The new process makes it possible, among other things, to accommodate more computing cores in the same area, which should enable higher computing performance.
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Just like the Apple M2, the new ARM chip should have four performance cores, four efficiency cores and a graphics chip with ten computing units. Improvements to the architecture and manufacturing using TSMC's advanced three-nanometer process are expected to result in higher performance and efficiency.
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In addition to the basic M3 processor, further processors from the M3 family, including new notebooks, are also expected to be announced next Tuesday. According to information from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the M3 Pro chip will have twelve CPU cores, 18 graphics cores and up to 36 gigabytes of memory on board. The CPU is made up of six high-performance cores, which are responsible for the most intensive tasks, and six efficiency cores.
The Max chip could meanwhile be upgraded to 16 CPU and 40 graphics cores; With an M3 Ultra, which could probably appear later, up to 28 CPU and 80 GPU cores would be conceivable, says Gurman. In addition to an increase in CPU and GPU cores, we can also expect a stronger Neural Engine intended for AI tasks and machine learning. Apple, like Microsoft and Google, is ultimately planning to rely more on AI, which will tend to be calculated on device.
Which Macs and Macbooks can we expect at the Apple event on October 31st?
The next iMac with M3 chip will appear in many bright colors like the current model. (Image: Apple)
New models from four categories could be shown on October 31st, it is said. A new iMac with a 24-inch display is currently expected in the lower segment with a basic M3 chip. The all-in-one Mac would thus make a jump from M1 to M3, because the
computer has not been updated since April 2021 . In addition to a new chip, the iMac could receive smaller detailed updates such as an improved stand, it is said.
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The entry-level MacBook Pro with a 13-inch display could also have an M3 base processor. However, with this model we ask ourselves whether it still has a right to exist. Finally, with the Macbook Airs, Apple offers notebooks with a fresh design and similarly high computing power. With the entry-level MacBook Pro, it would also be questionable whether Apple will retain the now outdated design with a touch bar or whether it will get a new coat of paint - if the computer were to be relaunched on Tuesday.
Apple's Mac Mini could also get an upgrade. (Photo: t3n)
There is also speculation about a makeover for the Mac Mini, which was delivered at the same time as the high-end MacBook Pros at the beginning of the year. If that is the case, the small desktop computer should be equipped with M3 and M3 Pro chips.
Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo are also convinced that the Macbook Pros, which were only updated in January with M3 Pro and M3 Max processors, should receive a new edition earlier than usual.
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The Macbook Pro with M2 Max was only introduced at the beginning of 2023 and could be replaced by an M3 Max model on October 31st. (Photo: t3n)
According to Kuo, the fact that Apple could already come up with new Macbook Pros is due to a “significant decline in Macbook deliveries in 2023”. He assumes that the performance boost from M1 to M2 is not a reason for customers to upgrade. The group is hoping for a new upswing with the M3. Meanwhile, the analyst assumes that the production volume of the new chips is still low.
New Macbook Air models and an updated Mac Studio will most likely not be available this year. Apple only re-released these products in June - although: The
Macbook Air 13 with M2 chip (our test) is already over a year old. But it would be strange if Apple didn't equip the 13 and 15 Air models with new chips at the same time.
Accessories with USB-C port?
In this context, Apple's switch to USB-C port, which is taking place gradually, should not be forgotten. In the course of the Halloween event, it can be assumed that other accessories will lose their Lightning port. The Magic Trackpad, the Magic Mouse and the Magic Keyboard would be conceivable here. Maybe the mouse will finally get a charging port in a better location.
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Apple event with an extra focus on gaming?
In addition, there are not too far-fetched rumors circulating that Apple will place a further focus on gaming on the Mac at the event. With
macOS Sonoma , the manufacturer introduced a gaming mode, and an Apple manager recently suggested in an interview that third-party developers would deliver significantly more AAA games for Macs. Names like the
Resident Evil 4 remake,
Death Stranding Director's Cut and
Assassin's Creed Mirage were mentioned. In addition, there are also said to be indications that the Japanese game companies Capcom and Sony could work more closely with Apple in the future.
Resident Evil Village will soon be coming to the iPhone – and possibly other AAA Mac games. (Photo: IGDB)
There is also speculation that Apple chose the unusual time for the event because it falls during Japanese business hours and game developers could tune in live,
Macrumors claims to have learned. Resident Evil Village is also expected to be released
on October 30th, and the game will run not only on the iPhone 15 Pro, but also on iPads with an M chip. It is quite possible that further Mac-related game innovations will be announced on October 30th with the release of the iPhone game.
For night owls: The live stream for the Apple event
Apple will provide a livestream for the event, which will be available on both the event website and YouTube. This time there will be no live ticker from us due to the late hour. However, we will serve you the Apple innovations piping hot with a cup of coffee and a croissant the following day.
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Anyone who would like to watch the event. You can watch it here on October 31st at 1am:
