In October 2023 Apple updated the whole of its MacBook Pro batting order , introducing new theoretical account powered by the M3 , M3 Pro and M3 Max splintering . The biggest conflict by far is at the bottom of the line - up where the companionship has retired the 13 - inch MacBook Pro with M2 in favor of a 14 - inch MacBook Pro with M3 . Not only does the fresh MacBook Pro have a new , faster chip , it also benefits from the 14 - inch design with its ranking screen and other improvements . We take a looking at at how the unexampled 14 - column inch MacBook Pro M3 compares to the 13 - inch MacBook Pro it replaces .
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Specs compared
Before we turn over into more item about the differences between the two Pros , here ’s a breakdown of their technical specification :
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Price
With the entry of the raw 14 - inch MacBook Pro with M3 Apple has discontinued the13 - inch MacBook Pro M2 . The spoiled news show is that this mean that price of the cheap MacBook Pro is now a lot higher . The 13 - inch MacBook Pro started at $ 1,299/£1,299 while the new 14 - inch eq starts at $ 1,599/£1,699 , which is quite a price hike .
You could save some money while the older modelling is still available from retail merchant who are selling off their old stock , or perhaps you could buy a refurbished model .
You may also see a proficient deal on the new M3 MacBook Pro , we often see resellers shorten prices . Have a look at ourBest MacBook Pro deal round - up . You ’ll also see the best cost right now for both models .
M3 Chips
14 - inch MacBook Pro , M3 , from $ 1,599/£1,699
The14 - column inch MacBook Pro M3is uncommitted from Apple and other suppliers , with the be variance :
you could also add more RAM and storage , with both topping out at 24 GB and 2 TB .
13 - inch MacBook Pro , M2 , was from $ 1,299/£1,299
At launching the 13 - inch framework initiate at $ 1,299/£1,299 for the 8GB/256 GB configuration , locomote up to $ 1,499/£1,499 for 512 GB and $ 1,899/£1,899 if you need 1 TB of storage and to double the RAM to 16 GB . While resellers enlighten out excess stock you may see some near deals .
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Performance
When Apple last updated the 13 - column inch MacBook Pro in June 2022 it was only available with the M2 chip . Previously the 14 - inch MacBook Pro could only be configured with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip , but now it can be configure with the M3 , M3 Pro or M3 Max .
The new M3 series of silicon chip are the first to be built on a unexampled 3 - nanometre process . This should result in public presentation increase beyond the usual generational bump because it allows the technologist to pack the transistors in pixilated , closing the aloofness that data has to travel and also aiding vim efficiency .
Apple claims that the M3 chip has a CPU that ’s 20 % quicker than that of the M2 , plus it has quite an vantage over the M1 chips that powered the earlier MacBook Pros too . render speeding are up to 2.5x faster in the M3 , while the central processor cores can exercise at up to 50 % the rate of the original M - series mainframe . So , if you ’re thinking of prompt up from an M1 - power gimmick or the even elder Intel machines , then the M3 will palpate lightning tight in comparison . The M2s are no slouch though and any climb will deliver quick all - pear-shaped performance , but the M3s are the fastest .
M3 Chips
M3 Chips
Thomas Armbrüster
As you could see from our bench mark below , the M3 really outperforms the 8 - effect M1 Pro . Obviously , if you want the fastest pick the M3 is n’t it , but it is a lot faster than the M2 and M1 , both of which sped ahead of the Intel choice that used to power the Mac .
Mac processor benchmarks
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Display and screen size
As the name suggest , the new 14 - inch MacBook Pro M3 has grow a small . For many age , the 13.3 - inch Retina display has been a fixture of the MacBook Pro line of merchandise - up , but Apple has finally put those dimensions to seam with its latest update . It was time to do so : even the 13.6 - in screenland on the MacBook Air was bigger and better , mean that the 13.3 - inch concealment on the MacBook Pro looked date by comparison .
The 14.2 - in Liquid Retina XDR display in the MacBook Pro is n’t just larger than its 13.3 - inch predecessor , it ’s also bright ( up to 1,600 nits compared to 500 nit ) and offers double the refresh rate of the older edition thanks to its 120Hz ProMotion technology ( a feature that the MacBook Air lacks ) .
This is all provide by the new mini - LED panel , which can gain brightness levels over three times higher than that of the 13 - inch modeling . If you ’ve ever taste working on a document or editing a picture in bright environs , you ’ll know how of import this improvement could be to your poor eyes .
Foundry
The bezel on the 13 - column inch MacBook Pro were n’t exactly immense , but they ’ve been made thinner on the new model , with one exclusion . Along the top , you ’ll see that the snick has come to the MacBook Pro . Here the notch houses nothing but the FaceTime photographic camera , there’sno Face ID on any Macs , yet ) , this only cuts into the bill of fare saloon at the top of the screen so it should n’t take away too much from the screen space available . If the presence of the notch discommode you then the older model is the only MacBook not to have a notch as a feature so you might want to invest in one while they are still uncommitted .
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Audio
Audio has also been upgraded with the new 14 - in MacBook Pro , as Apple moves from the stereoscopic picture speakers in the 13 - in model to a newfangled six - speaker high - faithfulness arrangement with force - cancel woofer . Both simple machine keep going Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos , but this will sound better on the 14 - inch MacBook Pro thanks to those specialized verbaliser .
There ’s the same three-fold mic array on both twist , so you ’ll sound serious on league calls , and should you favour a bit of privacy you could secure some headphones into the 3.5 mm on either twist . One additional option on the 14 - inch MacBook Pro is that its HDMI port supports audio output .
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Webcam
One of the cock-a-hoop disadvantage of the old 13 - inch MacBook Pro was its decrepit 720p FaceTime camera . as luck would have it the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro features a much in force 1080p television camera for those FaceTime , Zoom and Teams calls . Macs still lack Apple ’s Centre Stage feature available on iPads that keep back you in the frame if you move about .
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Connectivity
The selection of ports on the 13 - in MacBook Pro was somewhat minimalist . All you got was two USB - C / Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5 millimeter headphone diddlysquat . These could be expanded via aUSB - snow hubat an extra disbursement .
The 14 - inch MacBook Pro with M3 bluster two USB - coulomb / Thunderbolt 4 larboard , plus an SXDC card slot , HDMI embrasure and 3.5 mm earphone Jack-tar . If you want more USB ports the M3 Pro verison includes three . There ’s also a separate MagSafe charge port so you do n’t have to give up charge in guild to stop up in something else .
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: The end of the Touch Bar
The notch may have arrive with the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro , but one notable absence seizure is that of the Touch Bar . Love it or loth it , this synergistic strip , that changes calculate on the app you are using , is no more .
If you wish the Touch Bar the 13 - in MacBook Pro is the last hazard you ’ll have to use it .
Malus pumila
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Battery Life
With the M3 silicon , there are some significant battery life improvements on the 14 - inch MacBook Pro , but not in all cases . Apple says that you ’ll get a maximum of 22 hour of video playback with the new machine , two more than its harbinger . But , when it come to using the cyberspace , the M2 - power 13 - inch MacBook Pro keep on a surprising lead as it can last for up to 17 minute , which is two more than the newer poser .
One modest advantage the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro M3 offer is that it supports flying charging , although you ’ll take to purchase a 97W charger to get at the quicker recharge hurrying .
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Pro 14-inch M3: Verdict
Apple has put some serious piece of work into upgrading the MacBook Pro this metre around . While the 13 - inch MacBook Pro M2 remains an excellent gadget , it might not be well-fixed to recover now that Apple has give up it . To be dependable though , the larger , brighter display , extra embrasure , faster central processor , meliorate webcam and offer battery animation ( in some situations ) earn the 14 - in MacBook Pro a more rounded political machine for the demands of modern users . We just wish Apple had n’t hiked the price up quite so much .
For buy advice on thebest Windows laptops , see our sister land site PCWorld .
