Apple Unveils M3 Chips, Analysts Expect It To Propel MacBook and iMac Performance and User Transition from Intel

Apple Inc AAPL hosted a product launch event, "Scary Fast," focused on Mac products on October 30. The event unveiled a new M3 chips family (M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max) along with new MacBook Pro models and iMac equipped with the new chips. 

Highlights of the M3 chips include next-generation GPU with "Dynamic Caching" technology that enables faster rendering performance and more powerful CPU performance and efficiency cores. 

Apple introduced in-house M1 chips back in 2021, and now the M3-equipped MacBook Pro models can be up to 11x faster than the Intel-based models, and the new iMac can be up to 4x quicker than the 21.5-inch Intel-based models. 

Citi analyst Atif Malik notes the introduction of M3 chips will continue to drive customers with the Intel Corp INTC-based models to switch to the in-house based models, which provide faster performance, longer battery life, and work more smoothly with other Apple products. 

Needham analyst Laura Martin reiterated Apple with a Buy and a $195 price target.

The analyst recapitulated AAPL's "Scary Fast" event and the potential investment implications.

The most irritated incoming calls Martin took last night were from money managers who now note that AAPL hates families because they forced folks to leave the dinner table to listen to their pre-recorded event. Several incoming callers Martin spoke with after 8:30 pm ET agreed with the statement - "An unintended consequence of 'making its own weather' is that AAPL can lack empathy."

The odd timing, just three days before earnings, concerned the analyst over possible weakness in laptop and iMac sales during the September quarter. 

That would suggest that last night's launch was a way to mitigate any adverse share price reaction. 

AAPL can focus on the future and reiterate its optimism about unit sales of its new laptops and iMac products discussed last night.

Price Action: AAPL shares closed higher by 0.28% at $170.77 on Tuesday.