Apple may launch the new Mac Pro at a huge March event

At the end of 2022, Apple passed an unwelcome milestone: It failed to release any new Macs in the fourth quarter for the first time in 22 years. Now, though, there’s some good news about those missing Macs.

If you believe LeaksApplePro, Apple may be planning to launch a slate of new computers at a barnstorming March event. The leaker took to Twitter to post their predictions, and they’ve understandably whetted the appetite of the Apple faithful.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

According to LeaksApplePro, the event will showcase at least five new Macs. That includes a Mac Pro, a Mac Mini, a 15-inch MacBook Air, plus 14-inch and 16-inch versions of the MacBook Pro.

Recommended Videos

Starting with the Mac Pro, LeaksApplePro says it will be “cheaper and more efficient” than the current model and will be powered by an M2 Ultra chip. That last point mirrors what reporter Mark Gurman has previously stated, including that the Mac Pro will no longer come with an M2 Extreme chip.

The Mac Mini will apparently get an unchanged design alongside M2 and possibly M2 Pro chips. There were no details shared about the 15-inch MacBook Air or the two MacBook Pro models, other than the remark that the MacBook Air was “innovative.” The leaker has promised more details in subsequent posts.

As well as that, LeaksApplePro posits that Apple will launch a successor to the Pro Display XDR and that the company is still developing a new iMac Pro. As well as that, they make the rather bold claim that Apple is planning to ditch the Mac Studio, despite having only launched it in March 2022.

Should you trust these claims?

Image used with permission by copyright holder

There have been murmurs for a while that Apple delayed its Macs because of production problems. However, LeaksApplePro claims that in fact Apple always intended to launch its next batch of MacBook Pro laptops at a spring event, and that it could bundle them up with other Macs that weren’t quite ready by the end of 2022.

Given Apple teased the Mac Pro at its event in March 2022, we’d say it’s long overdue, so a spring launch definitely makes sense. The Mac Mini still has an Intel option, while the MacBook Pro is also due for a refresh. That all lends weight to the idea of an update bonanza at a March event.

Indeed, Apple tends to hold an event in either March or April most years, so the leaker’s claims make a degree of sense. At the March 8, 2022 event, for example, Apple launched a new iPhone SE, new colors for the iPhone 13, a new iPad Air, plus the Mac Studio and Studio Display.

EXCLUSIVE: Apple plans to launch at least 3 Macs this March.

Full story here:https://t.co/41hFE5Mb0C

— LeaksApplePro (@LeaksApplePro) January 5, 2023

However, it is exceedingly rare for Apple to launch MacBooks at a spring event. The company did so in 2015 with the redesigned 12-inch MacBook, but that was virtually the only time it has ever happened.

As well as that, LeaksApplePro has what you might euphemistically call a “mixed” track record for accuracy. Before the iPhone 14 Pro launched, for instance, they claimed a source had seen it and that the notch/pill combination “doesn’t add anything new.” Apparently, no one told them about the Dynamic Island. They aren’t listed on AppleTrack’s leaker leaderboard either, indicating what that publication thinks of their accuracy.

All that’s to say you shouldn’t bet the farm on these rumors. While we expect new Macs soon, LeaksApplePro’s track record suggests you should be cautious.

Editors' Recommendations

In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…
A new wave of powerful laptops rises to challenge the MacBook Pro

The MacBook Pro got really powerful in its most recent update. The 16-inch M3 Max configuration bumps the graphics performance significantly, making it unlike anything you can buy for professional content creators.

But Windows laptops are responding. There's a new wave of non-gaming laptops that are integrating GPUs up to an RTX 4070 and challenging the performance of the MacBook Pro -- often at a much lower price.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra

Read more
MacBook Pro 16 vs. MacBook Pro 14: The important differences

MacBooks are typically seen as some of the best laptops money can buy, thanks to their combination of performance and longevity. It's not uncommon for MacBooks to be running flawlessly years after purchase -- so while their upfront costs are a bit steep, they're great long-term investments.

That holds true for the MacBook Pro lineup, which comes in two sizes -- 14 inches and 16 inches. Both are top-of-the-line computers designed to handle pretty much anything you can throw at them, offering access to the M3 chip, vibrant Liquid Retina XDR displays, and plenty of other high-end hardware.

Read more
If you buy one MacBook Air alternative, make it this one

I see you. You're considering a flashy new MacBook Air -- perhaps one of the new M3 models or even the cheaper M2 configurations. I'm not going to sit here and pretend like that isn't a wise option to consider for your next laptop. These are excellent laptops, and that M2 model in particular is a solid value at a starting price of $999.

But let me make an appeal to you about a laptop that upends the value proposition of the MacBook Air in a number of ways. The laptop I'm talking about is the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425MA). This is a laptop we reviewed earlier this year, but it continues to be the king of value. No other laptop you can buy right now offers this much bang for your buck -- the MacBook Air included.

Read more