• Apple introduces the new M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips for personal computers.
• These chips are manufactured using a 3nm process and boast a substantially improved GPU.
• M3 chip: 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 65% M1 graphics improvement.

During Apple‘s latest product launch event, the company introduced a new range of chips for personal computers, featuring the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max.

These chips are integrated into the recently revealed 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro laptops, with the basic variant also powering the 24″ iMac. More detailed information about these products is available in a separate article.

The key improvement in these chips lies in their GPU, which is tailored to boost the performance of professional applications and gaming. These chips notably introduce support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, marking a groundbreaking milestone for Apple’s silicon. Moreover, Apple takes the lead by being the first to utilize a 3nm manufacturing process for personal computer chips.

The entry-level M3 chip features an eight-core CPU, with a division into two clusters: four cores focused on performance and the remaining four on efficiency. Its 10-core GPU employs a next-generation architecture, resulting in an impressive 65% increase in graphics performance compared to the M1. Unified storage support has been expanded to accommodate up to 24 GB.

In the case of the M3 Pro, it comes equipped with a 12-core CPU, evenly distributed with six cores optimized for performance and the remaining six for efficiency. Its 18-core GPU showcases an impressive 40% improvement in graphics performance when compared to the M1 Pro. Unified storage support has been extended to handle up to 36 GB.

The pinnacle of Apple‘s chip series, the M3 Max, elevates performance to new heights with a 16-core CPU configuration, featuring 12 cores designed for performance and 4 for efficiency. Its 40-core GPU represents a significant advancement, providing a remarkable 50% overall performance increase compared to the M1 Max, with graphics alone achieving an impressive 80% enhancement.

This marks a significant performance improvement, notably when compared to the previous year, when the M2 Max was just 30% faster than its forerunner.

The M3 chips are notable for their significant power efficiency, made possible by their adoption of the 3nm manufacturing process, akin to the A17 Pro platform found in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.