Apple is reportedly testing the M3 Max chip, a high-end variant of its upcoming M3 chip, which is expected to power next-generation Mac products like the MacBook Pro. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, a third-party Mac developer discovered references to the M3 Max chip in Apple’s test logs.
The M3 Max chip is said to feature a 16-core CPU with 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. It will also include a 40-core GPU, a slight increase from its predecessor, the M2 Max, which had 8 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores.
One notable aspect of the M3 Max chip is that it will be manufactured using a new 3nm process, offering potential improvements in both performance and power efficiency compared to the M2 series, which used a 5nm process.
While details about the specific device in which Apple is testing the M3 Max remain undisclosed, it is reportedly an unreleased MacBook model with the codename “J514.” This aligns with previous leaks suggesting a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same codename.
The leak also indicates that the J514 MacBook has 48GB of RAM, which is lower than the current-generation MacBook Pro’s maximum of 96GB. However, this test machine may not represent the highest-end configuration that will be available.
While Gurman previously suggested that M3 devices would be released this year, it is unlikely that the M3 Max will be part of the initial lineup. Apple is expected to introduce Mac products powered by the standard M3 chip first, possibly including a new MacBook Air. The M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are likely to arrive later, possibly in professional-grade Mac products in 2024.
The M3 chip series is expected to offer significant performance improvements, building on the foundation laid by the M1 and M2 chips, and further solidifying Apple’s position in the laptop and desktop market.
