Apple’s MacBook line is lots of great laptops, but the 13-inch MacBook Pro really doesn’t feel like it belongs. Yet a new report claims that Apple will update this device with an M3 chip later this year instead of just To kill him.
The news is coming from 9 to 5 Macand the website says its sources have confirmed the 13-inch MacBook Pro will be refreshed with a new M3 chip, potentially during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
Why is this a baffling decision? 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 you pay $100 more for this privilege. It has bigger display bezels, a worse webcam, and overall it just feels outdated compared to Apple’s other MacBooks.
Equipping the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip won’t change that, as Apple is expected to update the MacBook Air to get the same chip as well. While the M3 will be a next-gen upgrade thanks to its use of a 3-nanometer manufacturing process, putting it in both laptops will rob the 13-inch MacBook Pro of any significant advantage and ensure it remains a unattractive option for buyers.
Tellingly, 9to5Mac’s report claims that Apple even considered dropping the “Pro” part of the 13-inch MacBook Pro’s name, but ultimately decided against it. This suggests that even Apple knows its laptop isn’t a true pro-level device, which doesn’t bode well.
Much more on the horizon
The report also touched on other topics, including the note that Apple is working on a 15-inch MacBook Air alongside a 13-inch model, both featuring the M3 chip. These devices will be announced together, potentially at WWDC.
Interestingly, 9to5Mac says the M3 chip will be the only choice for these laptops, which means there are no M3 Pro or M3 Max options. There’s been speculation that the 15-inch MacBook Air might come with a higher-tier chip, but this latest report suggests that won’t be the case. That’s not too surprising, as those high-end chips would probably need a fan to keep them cool, and the MacBook Air is designed without a fan.
The report follows claims by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman that a bunch of new Macs are in the worksincluding 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs, a new iMac and a Revamped Mac Pro. Gurman’s report didn’t mention the 13-inch MacBook Pro, so it seems there’s no consensus on that device yet.
With WWDC only a few months away, we won’t know for long whether Apple has decided to keep the 13-inch MacBook Pro in the lineup or ultimately drop it. While the M3 chip could dramatically increase performanceApple will have to do a lot more to convince everyone that this is a laptop worth buying.
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