While WWDC is typically a software-focussed event, Apple has taken the opportunity to release one new computer to the Mac range, updated another and resurrected a third. There’s an all new MacBook Air with a 15-inch display, the re-emergence of the Mac Pro and an updated Mac Studio.
15‑inch MacBook Air
The 15-inch MacBook Air boasts a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, and M2 SoC (system on a chip) which the company says will give up 18 hours of battery life. While delivering on the power, it will do so quietly with a fanless design.
The all-new six-speaker sound system supports Spatial Audio with two tweeters and two sets of force-cancelling woofers. The new speakers deliver twice the bass depth for fuller sound, and Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos provides immersive experiences whether listening to music or watching movies.
The MacBook Air gets MagSafe charging – a feature previously available on the MacBook Pro.
Customers can order starting today, with availability beginning Tuesday, 13 June 2023.
- The 15-inch MacBook Air with M2, available in midnight, starlight, silver, and space grey, starts at RRP A$2,199 inc. GST and RRP A$1,999 for education.
- The 13-inch MacBook Air with M2, available in midnight, starlight, silver, and space grey, now starts at RRP A$1,799 inc. GST and RRP A$1,649 for education. That’s a reduction of $100 on the previous price.
- The 13-inch MacBook Air with M1, available in gold, silver, and space grey, remains in the lineup, starting at RRP A$1,499 inc. GST and RRP A$1,349 inc. GST for education.
- The 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 gets a new starting price of RRP A$1,799 inc. GST — A$100 less than before — to deliver even more value and choice to everyone, from upgraders to first-time Mac customers.
2023 Mac Studio
The Mac Studio gets the widely anticipated speed bump with a boost from the M1 SoC to the M2 Max and M2 Ultra. Apple says the Mac Studio with M2 Max is up to 50 per cent faster than the previous-generation Mac Studio. It features a 12-core CPU, up to a 38-core GPU, and up to 96GB of unified memory with 400GB/s of memory bandwidth.
When compared to Mac Studio with M1 Max Mac Studio with M2 Max:
- Empowers motion graphics designers using After Effects to render up to 50 per cent faster.
- Enables developers to build new versions of apps with Xcode at blazing speed, with up to 25 per cent faster performance.
The new Mac Studio also gets higher-bandwidth HDMI, enabling up to 8K resolution and 240Hz frame rates and theM2 Ultra Mac Studio supports up to six Pro Display XDRs — driving over 100 million pixels — allowing for a vast amount of screen real estate for pro workflows. Additionally, it now features advanced built-in wireless technologies. Wi-Fi 6E delivers download speeds that are up to twice as fast as the previous generation, while Bluetooth 5.3 allows users to connect to the latest Bluetooth accessories. Cabled connectivity is covered with four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10Gb Ethernet port, an enhanced HDMI port, and two USB-A ports on the back and two USB-C ports and an SD card slot on the front.
The new Mac Studio is available to order today on apple.com/au/store and in the Apple Store app. They will start to arrive to customers, and will be available in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorised Resellers from Tuesday, 13 June 2023.
- Mac Studio starts at RRP A$3,299 inc. GST and RRP A$2,969 inc. GST for education. Additional configure-to-order options are available
The Mac Pro (finally) gets Apple Silicon
Mac Pro gets the power of the M2 Ultra with PCIe expansion. The new Mac Pro can also be configured with up to 192GB of memory with 800GB/s of unified memory bandwidth. This is far more memory than the most advanced workstation graphics cards. Now every Mac Pro has the performance of not just one but seven Afterburner cards built in. It also features the same industry-leading media engine as Mac Studio with M2 Ultra. Both can play an unprecedented 22 streams of 8K ProRes video.
The new Mac Pro brings PCIe expansion to Apple silicon for pros who want the performance of M2 Ultra and rely on internal expansion for their workflows. Mac Pro features seven PCle expansion slots, with six open expansion slots that support gen 4, which is 2x faster than before, so users can customise Mac Pro with essential cards. From audio pros who need digital signal processing (DSP) cards, to video pros who need serial digital interface (SDI) I/O cards for connecting to professional cameras and monitors, to users who need additional networking and storage, Mac Pro lets professionals customise and expand their systems, pushing the limits of their most demanding workflows.
The Mac Pro gets eight built-in Thunderbolt 4 ports — six on the back and two on the top — which is twice as many as before. It supports up to six Pro Display XDRs, along with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. There are also three USB-A ports, two higher-bandwidth HDMI ports that support up to 8K resolution and up to 240Hz frame rates, two 10Gb Ethernet ports, and a headphone jack that enables the use of high-impedance headphones.
The Mac Pro comes in both tower and rack-mounted enclosures. You can order one today from the Apple Store with delivery expected from 13 June 2023.
- Mac Pro (Tower Enclosure) starts at RRP A$11,999 inc. GST and RRP A$11,309 inc. GST for education
- Mac Pro (Rack Enclosure) starts at RRP A$12,999 inc. GST and RRP A$12,129 inc. GST for education.
- Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options are available
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.