Apple tests the M3 Max chip for new MacBook Pro models offering a 40-core GPU and 16-core CPU

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Aug 7, 2023, 10:05 PM EDT

According to information from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is currently in the testing phase of its next-generation silicon chip, the M3 Max. This advanced chip is intended to succeed the existing M2 Max and is slated for integration into forthcoming MacBook Pro models in the subsequent year.

The existence of the M3 Max chip has been discerned through an evaluation of test logs undertaken by an independent developer of Mac software. Notably, the chip appears to encompass a robust 40-core GPU, along with a formidable 16-core CPU consisting of 12 high-performance cores and an additional four efficiency cores. In contrast, the contemporary M2 Max chip is outfitted with a 12-core CPU and a 38-core GPU. It is pertinent to mention that the testing apparatus is provisioned with 48GB of memory, though it is reasonable to anticipate enhanced memory upgrade alternatives given that the present MacBook Pro can be configured with a maximum of 96GB of memory.

Apple’s strategic approach towards the development of the M3 Max chip involves its fabrication using an innovative 3-nanometer manufacturing process. This shift is anticipated to result in noteworthy enhancements in terms of both speed and energy efficiency when juxtaposed with the M2 Max chip. The experimental assessment of the M3 Max is being conducted within a yet-to-be-revealed premium-tier MacBook Pro, internally designated as “J514.”

The forthcoming M3 Max will function as the premier offering within a trio of chipsets, which also encompasses the standard M3 variant as well as the M3 Pro iteration. The standard M3 chip configuration entails an 8-core CPU and the capacity for a 10-core GPU. On the other hand, the M3 Pro iteration boasts a 12-core CPU configuration coupled with an 18-core GPU.

The product release schedules indicate that the inaugural M3 Macs are slated for introduction in the month of October. The initial focus is likely to center on systems powered by the standard M3 chip, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the various MacBook Air models. Subsequent to this, the forthcoming 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, featuring the advanced M3 Max chip, are envisaged to make their debut in the year 2024.