With new Macs on the way, here's what to expect from the M3 chip

Apple's M3 is coming to make Macs faster. But exactly how much faster, and what other features can we expect?

- JASON CROSS

With the introduction of the W M2 Ultra, bringing us Mac Studio updates (fave.co/ 44RXssy) and the Mac Pro (fave.co/3K6wVQb) with it, Apple has completed its transition away from Intel and wrapped up the M2 family of processors.

Now all eyes are looking ahead to M3. Reports say that Apple is already testing new laptops with the M3 (fave.co/ 3DrgM4c) and the first possibly arriving later this year (see page 7). We don't know much about the M3 yet, except that it will likely be made using TSMC's 3nm manufacturing process.

If we want to have some idea of what to expect with the M3, we can look at the evolution of M-series processors and how they relate to the A-series used in iPhones and iPads. Nobody really knows what the M3 will bring until Apple tells us, but we can use the past to help predict the future.

HOW THE M3 RELATES TO THE A16

When we estimated the performance of the M2 processor (fave.co/3YkjEK5) early last year, we based our assumptions on a simple concept: Just as the M1 is essentially a big A14 with a few tweaks, the M2 would be a big A15. If you look at the performance difference between the A15 and A14, you can estimate the performance gap between the M2 and M1.

That turned out pretty well-our predictions weren't far off. We believe the M3 will be based on the same architectural updates found in the A16, only again with more cores and a few other adjustments. Is it fair to say the M3 will have the same performance gap over the M2 as the A16 has over the A15? That's probably an oversimplification, but it's the best place to start for any discussion of a processor that's we can't evaluate in person right now.

TSMC'S 3NM PROCESS