From M3 SoCs to new MacBook Pros, these are the biggest announcements from Apple's Scary Fast event

In a much-anticipated event, Apple’s “Scary Fast” showcase has wrapped up, revealing an array of groundbreaking Macs powered by the latest iteration of Apple’s proprietary chips.

Enthusiasts and tech aficionados eager to learn more about the event’s highlights can find a comprehensive overview of the key announcements below.

Here are the biggest announcements from Apple’s Scary Fast Mac launch event.

A Potent Lineup of M3 Chips
As anticipated, Apple’s event prominently featured the unveiling of the all-new M3 chip series. The M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips are the focal points of this cutting-edge lineup, representing Apple’s claim to fame as the pioneers of “first personal computer chips” crafted via the highly efficient 3-nanometer process.

In addition to sporting a “swifter and more efficient CPU,” this trio of chips introduces an upgraded GPU capable of supporting ray tracing, mesh shading, and Dynamic Caching—a feature designed to optimize memory usage during various tasks. The M3 chips impress with up to 128GB of unified memory, with the flagship M3 Max chip boasting a remarkable 92 billion transistors, a formidable 40-core GPU, and a formidable 16-core CPU.

24-inch iMac Receives M3 Chip Upgrade
Apple’s signature 24-inch iMac undergoes a transformation with the infusion of the M3 chip, promising twice the performance speed compared to its M1-equipped predecessor. Alongside the new processor, the updated iMac features a 4.5K Retina display boasting over a billion colours, support for Wi-Fi 6E, and an enhanced 1080p webcam.

This refreshed iMac comes in a vibrant array of seven colours: green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver, with colour-coordinated accessories. However, it’s worth noting that the accessories still employ Lightning connectors. The 24-inch iMac is available for pre-order starting today, with a release date slated for November 7th.

M3-Powered 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros
The iMac is not the sole beneficiary of the M3 chip upgrade. Apple also introduced a new pair of MacBook Pro models, available in 14 and 16-inch sizes, equipped with either the M3 Pro chip or the more advanced M3 Max. These laptops feature Mini LED displays, a high-quality 1080p camera, a six-speaker sound system, an impressive 22 hours of battery life, and memory configurations of up to 128GB. Customers have a choice of a sleek space black finish with a fingerprint-resistant coating or the classic silver option.

A More Affordable MacBook Pro, minus a few bells and whistles
In addition to the M3 Pro and M3 Max-powered MacBook Pro models, Apple introduces a budget-friendly 14-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the base M3 chip. This model succeeds the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 chip released last year, offering performance gains of up to 60 per cent.

Notably, the Touch Bar has been phased out in this entry-level model, replacing it with traditional physical keys. However, there are some trade-offs: this model comes with a modest 8GB of RAM and is available in silver and space grey, with the black colour exclusive to higher-end MacBook Pros. Pre-orders for this device are now open, and it will officially launch on November 7th.