Apple M3 Chip Guide: CPU, GPU, RAM Upgrades for Macs

Major improvements are slated for Apple’s next generation M3 chips based on the latest leaks. The M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max and M3 Ultra will bring sizable upgrades to CPU cores, GPU cores, memory bandwidth and RAM capacity.

We’ll break down what to expect across performance, efficiency and memory for the full M3 family. For MacBook, iMac and Mac mini buyers, understanding these impactful Apple Silicon upgrades will help guide purchase decisions over the next 1-2 years.

Apple M3: Efficiency and Architecture Gains

The entry-level M3 chip that will succeed the M2 will stay the course with:

• 8 total CPU cores
  • 4 high performance cores
  • 4 high efficiency cores
• 10 core GPU

On paper, the M3 looks identical to the M2. But with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) advanced 3nm process, Apple will realize crucial efficiency and architecture improvements.

Enabling M3 Advances

• Smaller 3nm transistors boost speed and reduce power consumption by 10-15%
• Fully redesigned GPU cores based on the A17 Bionic
• Upgraded Neural Engine and image signal processor
• Enhanced media encode/decode engines

While retaining the same core counts, these systemic enhancements will elevate the M3’s real-world performance and efficiency. It lays the foundation for the more radical upgrades in the pro-level M3 variations.

Apple M3 Pro: More Efficiency Cores

The first major core count change comes with the Apple M3 Pro:

• 12 total CPU cores
  • 6 high performance cores
  • 6 high efficiency cores
• Up to 20 core GPU

Adding 2 additional efficiency cores benefits battery life. But it is an unusual skew versus the M2 Pro’s 8 performance and 2 efficiency design.

The high-end 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro models will likely stick with maxing out performance cores:

• 14 core M3 Pro
  • 8 high performance cores
  • 6 high efficiency cores

For professional users, the extra performance cores provide more valuable headroom versus two extra efficiency cores. The 14-core M3 Pro will deliver a nice boost over the 12-core M2 Pro.

Apple M3 Max: More Performance Cores

This is where the core counts get truly exciting. The M3 Max will upgrade CPU performance with:

• 16 total CPU cores
  • 12 high performance cores
  • 4 high efficiency cores

After years of the Max chips lacking CPU advantages over their Pro counterparts, Apple is finally giving the Max a meaningful performance edge.

M3 Max CPU Benefits

• 50% more performance cores than M2 Max
• 4 more performance cores than M3 Pro
• Massive gains for multi-threaded workloads

With its abundant performance cores, the M3 Max will offer far more CPU muscle than prior Max models focused solely on graphics upgrades. This will better serve professionals needing significant processing power.

The M3 Max GPU also sees a small upgrade to 32 or 40 cores. But the CPU changes steal the show and should capture the most real-world performance gains.

Apple M3 Ultra: For Serious Computing

The new top dog M3 Ultra will cement itself as the chip for serious desktop-class computing:

• 32 total CPU cores
  • 24 high performance cores
  • 8 high efficiency cores
• Up to 80 core GPU

With 24 performance cores, the M3 Ultra packs even more processing punch than the already beefed up M3 Max. This will easily outmuscle comparative Intel and AMD desktop chips.

Paired with up to 80 GPU cores, the M3 Ultra will stand as Apple’s most powerful chip ever for pro users running intensive workloads. It culminates the substantial performance leaps across the entire M3 lineup.

Unprecedented Memory Upgrades

Just as important as the CPU and GPU gains are the expected memory improvements with the M3 series:

Chip	Base RAM	Max RAM
M3	12GB	24GB
M3 Pro	24GB	48GB
M3 Max	48GB	96GB
M3 Ultra	96GB	192GB

These represent enormous RAM upgrades compared to the miserly 8GB base memory that Macs have been stuck with for years. Having vastly greater memory capacities will significantly improve performance and multitasking ability.

Apple is achieving this by shifting to larger 12GB and 24GB memory modules supplied by SK Hynix. This long overdue RAM expansion will benefit all M3 models.

When Will Apple’s M3 Chips Launch?

Current rumors point to the M3 series debuting in 2023 and extending through 2024 across the Mac lineup:

• M3 and M3 Pro in late 2023
• M3 Max and M3 Ultra in 2024

The staggered release allows Apple to maximize the performance narrative as each new chip arrives. It all starts with the base M3 and M3 Pro powering the 2023 MacBook Air, 13″ Pro, Mac mini and 24″ iMac.

Then Apple will drop the M3 Max and Ultra bombshells in 2024, delivering massive gains that should thrill power users.

After years of minimal Mac upgrades, Apple Silicon has ushered in an era of rapid innovation. The upcoming M3 series spearheads this relentless improvement cycle.