If you’ve been counting down the days until Apple‘s M3-powered MacBooks hit the market, I’ve got some bad news for you. It seems like we might have to hold our horses a bit longer, as there’s growing speculation that Apple won’t be launching these powerhouse laptops before the end of this year.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has dropped a hint that has us all a little anxious. While we’re all eager to know when these next-gen laptops will grace our desks, there haven’t been any concrete rumors about their release date. Kuo’s recent statement is a bit of a buzzkill, suggesting that we might need to be patient a while longer.

But hold on, because there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman recently stirred the pot by suggesting that Apple could surprise us with an October launch event featuring the M3 chip in some “entry-level” Macs. This sparked a burst of excitement, hinting at a possible unveiling of the M3-powered MacBooks. Of course, it’s crucial to remember that even the best analysts can sometimes disagree.

Rumor has it that this chip will be a game-changer, built on a more efficient 3nm process. Means more power and longer battery life.

Reports are swirling that Apple could use the M3 chip in a variety of devices. Think of a new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops, and even a Mac Mini. Gurman’s crystal ball suggests that we might not see all of these goodies until next year, but it’s a tantalizing thought that Apple is cooking up something big.

If you’re thinking this delay sounds familiar, you’re not wrong. Apple pulled a similar move last year when they skipped new Mac launches during the October event and dropped the MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January. So, this delay news shouldn’t come as a complete shocker.

While Kuo’s hint of a MacBook delay raises eyebrows, it doesn’t mean Apple is hitting the snooze button on everything. There’s still a chance we might see a new iMac gracing our homes in fall 2023. Apple’s got a knack for keeping us on our toes, and they’re not letting the secret out of the bag just yet.