What to Expect at Apple's Oct. 30 'Scary Fast' Event: A Mash of M3 Monster Macs

pcmag.com:

Smack dab in the middle of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite X laptop processor unveiling, Apple teased a Mac-focused product reveal for Oct. 30. In a more revealing mood than usual, Apple nodded to Macs being the focus of the event, with a macOS Finder logo hidden in the invitation.

But, wait: Didn't we just get a bunch of new MacBook Pros and Mac desktops earlier this year? Yes, we did. However, Bloomberg just brought our attention to the fact that shipping times for the 24-inch iMac and all three MacBook Pro sizes are longer than usual—a key indicator that replacements are around the corner.

These are likely to be sizable refreshes, with Apple’s third edition of its M-series processors, M3, expected to make its debut in each of these products. Plus, we may see all three M3 chip models—M3 Pro and Max included—launch at once, a feat we’ve yet to see Apple pull off.

Digging into the details, here’s what to expect from Apple’s upcoming virtual event.

The most-rumored Mac product for this seemingly impromptu event is an updated 24-inch iMac desktop, this time with an M3 processor. With the iMac turning 25 this year, an M3 iMac is likely to be the centerpiece of Apple’s announcement.

With good reason: It’s been about two years since we’ve seen a fresh iMac desktop, 24-inch or otherwise, so it’s high time for an update. Expected to skip the M2 series of chips entirely, this new iMac will likely come in a similar 24-inch screen size, and be limited to the base-level M3 chip regardless of its power level. You might have an option for an M3 with slightly more graphics cores, but an iMac with a supposed M3 Pro is unlikely. (An iMac with an M3 Max? Unspeakable!)

This is because the iMac is supposed to be Apple’s most accessible and