According to Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, Apple is currently testing a Mac Mini powered by the M3 chip. This tested device, known as Mac 15,12, is confirmed to be a Mac Mini. While it is not scheduled for release this year, Gurman suggests a potential launch in 2024, which aligns with the release of other Mac models.
Reportedly, the device being tested operates with an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. It also has 24GB of RAM and runs on macOS Sonoma 14.1, which, apart from the RAM capacity, matches the specifications of the M2 Mac Mini. Gurman notes that due to a significant decrease in Mac revenues in the fourth quarter of this year, he does not expect any M3-powered product to be launched before October.
In a previous newsletter, Gurman revealed that the upcoming M3 SoC from Apple will debut with the next iMac, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro. However, it is unlikely that the higher-tier MacBook Pros will adopt the M3 chip at this point. Speculations suggest that the M3-powered Macs might be unveiled in October, shortly after Apple’s Fall event.
Furthermore, according to Gurman, the highly anticipated launch event for the Apple iPhone 15 series is rumored to take place either on September 12 or Wednesday, September 13 of this year. If this information is accurate, pre-orders for the new iPhones are expected to begin on September 15, with the Apple iPhone 15 series likely to be released for sale on September 22.
Last week, an additional report from 9to5Mac supported this schedule, stating that various carrier partners have already prohibited their employees from taking time off on Wednesday, September 13, in anticipation of a significant smartphone announcement on that day.