Rumors are swirling about a fall launch of M3 Apple Silicon Macs, but why so soon after last month’s new M2 Macs? And what could the M3 actually bring?

According to Bloomberg rumormonger Mark Gurman, the first M3-based Macs will arrive in October, likely a new iMac and a 13-inch MacBook Air. It’s an odd timing considering Apple just announced the M2-based 15-inch MacBook Air, along with the M2 Ultra chip that powers updated versions of the Mac Pro and Mac Studio . But as we’ll see, it all makes sense in the end.

"Personally, given Apple's marketing and strategy, I feel like there won't be any groundbreaking innovations. The M3 chip may be faster than the M2, but I don't think the difference will be that noticeable," Yurii Husynskyi, Senior Marketing Designer at software company MacPaw, told Lifewire via email. "Look at iPhones for example: there aren't many major changes from one model to the next. They usually make minor tweaks and call it a 'new' product."

This odd scheduling happens for two reasons. First, Apple, like everyone else, has been hit by delays and shortages due to the pandemic. This explains why the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air launched last month instead of alongside the 13-inch M2 Air in July 2022.