[Comprehensive] Apple Accelerates De-Intelization, Unveils MacBook Pro Featuring M1 Pro and Max Processors

Apple Holds Special Event to Unveil New Premium Laptop 'MacBook Pro'
Features New 'M1 Pro·Max' Chips with Major GPU, CPU, and Memory Performance Improvements
Also Reveals New Entry-Level Wireless Earbuds 'AirPods 3'
Includes Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ, Battery Life Extended to 6 Hours

Apple's New Premium Laptop 'MacBook Pro'

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Apple unveiled the premium laptop 'MacBook Pro' equipped with the next-generation processors 'M1 Pro' and 'M1 Max.' Both speed and efficiency have been improved compared to the existing chip 'M1' and competitor chips such as Intel's. Apple also introduced the new wireless earphones 'AirPods 3rd generation,' featuring a new curved design and the 'Adaptive EQ' function previously included in the 'AirPods Pro.'

"Faster and Longer-lasting" New 'MacBook Pro' Equipped with M1 Pro and Max

Apple's New Premium Laptop 'MacBook Pro'

On the 18th (local time), Apple held a special streaming event at its headquarters Apple Park in Cupertino, California, USA, and announced two new MacBook Pro models: 16-inch and 14-inch versions.

Greg Joswiak, Apple's Senior Vice President of Marketing, said, "The MacBook Pro combines astonishing performance, unparalleled battery life, and groundbreaking features to change the landscape of the laptop market," adding, "It is an unrivaled laptop equipped with an XDR display, more ports including MagSafe 3, an advanced 1080p camera, and a six-speaker sound system."

Apple's premium laptop, the MacBook Pro, is powered by Apple's independently designed new high-performance chips 'M1 Pro' and 'M1 Max.' These are upgraded versions of the 'M1' announced last year, offering stronger performance while significantly reducing power consumption to enhance efficiency.

The M1 Pro, installed in both 14- and 16-inch models, features up to a 10-core central processing unit (CPU), making it 70% faster than the M1, and up to a 16-core graphics processing unit (GPU), which is twice as fast as the M1. According to Apple, it delivers up to 1.7 times the CPU performance of competitor chips at the same power level. Apple explained, "High-performance tasks such as editing high-resolution photos can be easily handled with the M1 Pro." The GPU, with 16 cores, is up to twice as fast as the M1 chip and can deliver graphics processing speeds three times faster than the latest competitor chips.

The M1 Max, installed in the 14-inch model, has a CPU specification similar to the M1 Pro but features a 32-core GPU, offering four times the graphics performance of the M1 and twice that of the M1 Pro. The M1 Max contains 57 billion transistors, 70% more than the M1 Pro and 3.5 times more than the M1, making it the largest chip Apple has produced. The M1 Max's GPU delivers performance comparable to high-end GPUs in professional compact PC laptops while reducing power consumption by up to 40% compared to previous products. This results in less heat generation and longer battery life.

The M1 Pro and M1 Max feature up to a 10-core CPU, delivering up to 1.7 times faster performance compared to the latest 8-core PC laptop chips at the same power level, while achieving maximum PC chip performance with up to 75% less power consumption.

With the high-efficiency chips, usage time has also increased. Compared to the previous generation MacBook Pro, the 14-inch new MacBook Pro offers 17 hours of video playback, 7 hours longer. The 16-inch model also provides up to 21 hours of video playback, 10 hours longer than the previous generation.

The display features a Liquid Retina XDR display. This display, equipped with mini-LED technology, offers a sustained full-screen brightness of up to 1000 nits and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. It also includes ProMotion technology with a variable refresh rate of 120 Hz, enhancing screen smoothness.

Apple's New Premium Laptop 'MacBook Pro'

Additionally, connectivity has been enhanced with ports such as HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, and an SDXC card slot, and the wireless charging feature MagSafe has been revived. The keyboard has removed the 'Touch Bar' and brought back a mechanical keyboard.

The new MacBook Pro is available for order starting today and will be sold in stores from the 26th. Prices start at 2,690,000 KRW for the 14-inch model and 3,360,000 KRW for the 16-inch model.

'AirPods 3' Supports Spatial Audio, 1 Hour Use with 5-Minute Charge... 249,000 KRW

Apple New Wireless Earphones 'AirPods 3'

Apple also announced the new wireless earphones '3rd generation AirPods' today. They feature a new design, support spatial audio for improved sound quality, and have extended battery life.

First, the exterior design has been renewed. With a lightweight and contoured shape, it achieves an optimal angle to comfortably fit and deliver sound inside the ear. The main body is shorter than before and includes an intuitive force sensor for media control, similar to the 'AirPods Pro.' The earphones are sweat- and water-resistant to allow jogging or exercising while wearing them. Both the earphones and charging case have an IPX4 water resistance rating.

Most notably, the AirPods 3 have improved sound performance compared to previous models. They produce rich bass and clear treble through specially designed drivers and high dynamic range amplifiers. The microphones are made of acoustic mesh material to reduce wind noise and deliver clear voice during calls. They support the AAC-ELD voice codec, which provides full HD voice quality, offering clear and natural conversation experiences during FaceTime (video calls).

The 'Adaptive EQ' feature is also a highlight. Adaptive EQ adjusts the sound in real-time according to the fit inside the ear. An internal microphone monitors the sound, and Adaptive EQ adjusts the bass and midrange frequencies to compensate for any loss caused by differences in fit. The 'Spatial Audio' feature enables a three-dimensional experience like a theater. AirPods 3 enhance users' music listening immersion through 'Dolby Atmos.'

Apple New Wireless Earphones 'AirPods 3'

Battery life has also increased by one hour compared to previous models. Listening time is up to 6 hours, and talk time is up to 4 hours. A 5-minute charge provides about 1 hour of use. The AirPods 3 case also includes wireless charging functionality.

Additionally, AirPods 3 automatically connect to Apple devices such as iPhones when the charging case is opened. The newly introduced skin detection sensor accurately determines whether the AirPods are in the ear or in a pocket or on a table, pausing playback if they are not properly positioned.

The price of AirPods 3 is 249,000 KRW. They can be ordered from Apple's website starting today and will be available in stores from the 26th.

Furthermore, Apple announced that starting this fall, it will launch a new subscription music streaming plan called 'Apple Music Voice' in 17 countries including the United States, Australia, and Japan. This plan allows users to listen to music through simple voice commands using the AI voice assistant 'Siri.'