Apple has updated its 14 - column inch MacBook Pro grasp , add the late M3 , M3 Pro and M3 Max silicon to make them even faster than the models they replace .
So , if you ’re thinking of upgrade an old Intel - powered MacBook Pro or your M1 - power machine needs replacing , you might be wondering whether to leap to the late MacBook Pro . In this clause , we equate the last two generation so you may decide whether to corrupt the latest modeling or , if you see a good deal , perhaps the model that launched in early 2023 would be suited .
We discuss what ’s new about the M3 MacBook Pro one by one in13 - inch M2 vs 14 - in M3 MacBook Pro : Big upgrades in a small package .
New features for the M3 are in bold.
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Specs
Before we go into more particular on how the various models stack up , here ’s a breakdown of the technical specs :
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Price
With the debut of the M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro good example , Apple has discontinued the M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro . This means you ca n’t corrupt them flat from Apple . However other retailers are likely to have stock of those models for some sentence , and they will probably be discounting them . You may also see Apple selling them in itsrefurbished computer storage .
Of course , you wo n’t be capable to configure any of the older M2 - serial MacBook Pro now , so if you require to choose higher storage allocation of RAM or onboard storage , then you ’ll need to go for the M3 - serial rather .
Here ’s how the standard choice 14 - inch MacBook Pro M3 ( Pro / Max ) models are price at launching :
For cite , here ’s how the 14 - inch MacBook Pro M2 Pro and Max models were price :
As you may see there are some change to the pricing , with some equivalent models costing more and others less in the U.S. while all modeling are now tacky in the U.K. you may regain the good price for every example in our round - up of thebest MacBook Pro deals .
Best cost for the 14 - inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro , from $ 1,999/£2,099
good Price for the 14 - inch MacBook Pro M3 Max , from $ 3,199/£3,299
honest prices for the 14 - inch MacBook Pro M2 Pro , was from $ 1,999/£2,149
Best price for the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro M2 Max , was from $ 3,099/£3,499
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Design
Most of the changes that have occur between these generations are found on the interior of the case . In fact , the variant in interrogative all divvy up the same metal body building and behave identical dimension :
Weight is almost the same , with the elder model being 0.01 kg heavier than their replacements ( this difference of opinion is so slight it does n’t seem to figure in pounds ) . They all issue forth with 3x Thunderbolt 4 / USB - C ports , HDMI , SDXC card time slot , and a 3.5 mm headphone jack .
There ’s the same keyboard , which admit a Touch ID button . The 14.2 - in Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion has only changed somewhat – the screen on this generation is slightly bright than the predecessor . There ’s also the same six - loudspeaker system phone organization , 1080p Facetime HD webcam , and battery life history also has n’t changed .
Apple
One difference is the colour - schemes useable . The M2 - powered devices came in Space Grey and Silver livery , while the M3 furrow - up add up in the blue Space Black or Silver . apropos it ’s only the M3 Pro and Max that number in Space Black , the entry - story M3 MacBook Pro comes in Space Grey or Silver .
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Performance
Obviously , the independent differentiator between these model ( aside from Mary Leontyne Price ) is the silicon deep down . The novel M3 Pro and M3 Max are , on newspaper , weirdly lower in some specification to the M2 equivalents they replace . But Apple has been doing some reconfiguring in the invention to make them quicker than the older chips .
For instance , the baseline M2 Pro has a 10 - core CPU ( 6 performance and 4 efficiency ) and 16 - burden GPU . The same tier M3 Pro has an 11 - meat C.P.U. ( 5 execution and 6 efficiency ) and 14 - core GPU . appear at those figures , the M2 Pro could be faster , at least in the graphics section , but as you may see from the benchmarks below , this is n’t the case .
It ’s more clearly - cut with the M3 Max , which do with a 14 - core C.P.U. ( 10 performance and 4 efficiency ) and a 30 - core GPU , while the M2 Max has a 12 - core CPU ( 8 performance and 4 efficiency ) and a 30 - core GPU .
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As you ’d expect , the newer M3 chipsets have operation advance across the board , although it ’s far from night and Clarence Day . While the M3 Max variants are some of the most powerful Apple has ever put in a Mac , with only the M2 Ultras managing to crush them . The M3 Pros are much closer to the M2 Pros they replace .
As you may see from our benchmarks below , the M3 Pro ( 11 - burden ) outclasses the M2 Pro ( 10 - nub ) that was its direct contender . But it is marginally edged out by the M2 Pro ( 12 - core ) . That being said , the M3 Pro ( 12 - core ) is well ahead of all of these . So , in terms of oral sex - to - heading matchup , the M3 modelling are definitely an advance on the M2 form . But you could get upright carrying into action if you could pick up the higher interpretation of the M2 Pro alternatively of the baseline M3 Pro .
you’re able to find more detail in our deep dive ofhow the M3 compare to every other Apple processor .
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Display
As we ’ve noted above , you get pretty much the same display across the grasp . This is a 14.2 - in Liquid Retina XDR gore , running at a resolution of 3024 x 1964 , and with the 120Hz ProMotion freshen rate to make scroll unruffled . There ’s also broad Color ( P3 ) , True Tone , and XDR luminousness of 1000 nit affirm full - blind or 1600 nits peak ( HDR subject matter only ) .
The only difference is that the M3 models have an SDR brightness of 600 nits , which is 100 more than the M2 Pro and Max models .
At the top and centre of the display is the notch that houses the 1080p FaceTime HD camera , which at least denotes ( if it ’s important to you ) that all of these MacBooks came after the M1 role model . You do n’t fall back any screen infinite though , as the facial expression ratio of these MacBooks is 16×10 , rather than the 16×9 of the yesteryear . This means that the descent at the top where the nick live is in reality additional place rather than cut into the traditional display .
Basically , you get an excellent display , no matter which role model you choose . Should you prefer something bigger , then there are the 16 - column inch MacBook Pro model , which we ’ve look at in our14 - inch MacBook Pro vs 16 - in MacBook Pro comparing .
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Audio
Apple fits the same six - speaker High - Fidelity auditory sensation arrangement with personnel - scrub woofer on all the models . These fork out a wide-cut stereophonic system sound , with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos . If you use AirPods ( 3rd genesis ) , AirPods Pro or AirPods Max , then you ’ll also get accompaniment for dynamic head - trailing when using Spatial Audio .
There ’s a triple mic - array with directing beamforming for clear audio frequency on picture calls , plus the 3.5 millimetre headphone jack has support for high - impedance headphones such as studio - quality ones that require more mogul .
If that is n’t enough , then the onboard HDMI ports can also palm multi - channel audio end product .
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Webcam
webcam have never been a standout characteristic on MacBooks , but with the new 1080p FaceTime HD that arrived on the M2 models , things are finally looking up . Although Apple has used a notch to house the camera , do n’t be fooled into thinking it ’s a TrueDepth camera like that on the iPhone . You ca n’t use Face ID on these Macs or Animoji . It ’s just a webcam , albeit one that ’s a snatch clearer than on old version of the MacBook .
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Battery life
Again , there ’s nothing to differentiate the modeling here . This is interesting though , as they do have different battery capacities . The M2 equipment come with a 70 - James Watt - 60 minutes lithium - polymer electric battery , while the M3 versions contain a larger 72.4 watt - hour Li - polymer cell . But Apple states that either will deliver up to 12 hours of wireless web utilisation or 18 hours of video playback . All support fast - charge when using a 96W USB - C great power charger , but this not let in with the baseline models for either chipset , which are alternatively give 67W ( M2 Pro 10 - core CPU ) or 70W ( M3 Pro 11 - core CPU ) chargers .
14-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro/Max: Verdict
With the 14 - inch MacBook with M2 Pro or Max now defunct , you will have to shop around if you require to pick one up . It ’s worth a look though , as the actual MacBooks are pretty much identical and carrying into action differences are n’t so huge that you ’d pretermit out if you could save a chunk of money on the M2 Pro or Max . If you want the fastest processor though , not to mention the ability to configure your system before you purchase , then the M3 Pro or Max MacBooks should keep you happy for a long time .
For buying advice on thebest Windows laptop , see our sister website PCWorld .
