Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Generally , the M3 MacBook Pro win in supersede the 13 - column inch MacBook Pro , provide a combination of features that improve upon its herald . However , as a “ pro ” laptop computer , a question of performance value come up – the 8 GB standard configuration is not enough for pro apps , and upgrading the computer memory to 16 GB or 24 GB is pricy .
Best Prices Today: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M3, 2023)
Apple precede the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro with a base M3 fleck as a renewal for the13 - inch MacBook Prothat serve as the party ’s most affordable pro laptop . broadly , the M3 MacBook Pro succeeds in that role , offer a combining of characteristic that improve upon its predecessor .
However , as a “ pro ” laptop , a question of performance value stand up . Is it really up to the professional - level tasks that are associated with pro usage ?
MacBook Pro M3: Specifications
The laptop in this review is the mean model 14 - inch MacBook Pro with a base M3 System on a Chip ( SoC ) .
M3 MacBook Pro: Display, speakers, ports
As with the M3 Pro and M3 Max laptop in the lineup , the 14 - in MacBook Pro M3 has a Liquid Retina XDR display , the ripe display available from Apple – it also best most Windows PC laptop display . It ’s a big improvement over the 13.3 - inch Retina show used in the 13 - column inch MacBook Pro .
The audio character from the six - loudspeaker sound system with force - scratch woofers leaves nothing to be desire – international speaker are extra . It ’s another bighearted advance over the stereo utterer in the 13 - inch MacBook Pro . While Apple ’s current15 - inch MacBook Airalso has a six - verbalizer sound system , the 14 - in MacBook Pro produces well strait .
As with the 15 - inch MacBook Air , the 14 - in MacBook Pro has two Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 interface , a MagSafe port , and a headphone jack . The MacBook Pro also has an SDXC menu reader , which is used to transfer data between the laptop and a equipment . Photographers and videographers can use the slot for the cards from cameras – though , as we ’ll discuss in a second , professional who dole out with many very large file should not get the fundament M3 MacBook Pro . And there ’s an HDMI 2.1 port wine , which is practical for citizenry who make presentations and want to quickly link up to a projector or big external video display .
The 14-inch MacBook Pro ports now include an SDXC card slot and an HDMI 2.1 port.
The 14 - in MacBook Pro ports now admit an SDXC card slot and an HDMI 2.1 port .
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M3 MacBook Pro: CPU and GPU performance
With the base versions of Apple ’s System on a Chip , the number of CPU kernel does not take issue between the M3 , M2 , and M1 ; each chipping has eight full CPU substance , divided between four carrying into action and four efficiency meat . With the MacBook Pro ’s M3 , the CPU clock speed is faster , and the 3 nanometer physical process used to create it grant for more transistors . In all , the M3 can complete more instruction at the same sentence than its precursor .
To judge operation , we ran benchmark tests usingGeekbench 6,Cinebench 23 , andCinebench 2024 . We compared the test results of the M3 with the upshot we have available for theM2 MacBook Pro , theM1 13 - column inch MacBook Pro , and theM1 MacBook Air . Each test result differed slimly in terms of the M3 ’s increase over its harbinger , so for the sake of simplicity , we are hash out the outcome as an average of all three tests .
Geekbench 6 benchmarks
Cinebench R23 benchmarks
Cinebench 2024 benchmarks
Compared to the M1 , the M3 ’s performance increase in single - core tests is 30 percentage , while the multi - core tests show a 43 percent improvement . Compared to the M2 , the M3 ’s exam show a 19 percent individual - sum and a 24 percent multi - core improvement .
We also ran theMac Power Monitorapp during the multi - core test with Cinebench 2024 to determine the use of the C.P.U. cores and business leader consumption . The carrying into action Congress of Racial Equality range at 3.7GHz , and the efficiency core at 2.7GHz . All cores were used at 100 percent , and Mac Power Monitor ascertain an average power uptake of just under 18 watts – the graphics processor has nothing to do in this test except briefly refresh the monitor display . As the benchmark runs , the laptop ’s fans kick in to maintain a right operating temperature , but the clock speeding of the core is not strangle .
To measure the public presentation of the M3 ’s art processing social unit ( GPU ) , we used3D Mark , which prove a 19 percent melioration of the M3 over the M2 , and a 73 percent gain over the M1 . With Geekbench 6 ’s Compute Metal examination ( which is n’t as thought-provoking as the three-D Mark test ) , the M3 had a 9 percent increase over M2 and a 50 percentage increase over M1 .
The 14-inch MacBook Pro ports now include an SDXC card slot and an HDMI 2.1 port.
3D Mark Wildlife Extreme benchmark
When testing with 3D Mark Extreme , we evaluate the GPU ’s clock speed and its index uptake with Mac Power Monitor . The GPU core clocked in at 1.34GHz and consume around 17 watts on average . We saw that with the CPU , only the efficiency cores are used , consuming about 1 watt .
We attempted to run Cinebench 2024 ’s GPU trial run , but we encounter a trouble : the test can not run with the M3 MacBook Pro ’s base conformation of 8 GB of co-ordinated memory . This contribute up an issue that has stirred up contestation in the Mac community : WhileApple considers this laptop a pro - unwavering gadget , no serious pro using gamey - destruction pro apps wouldbuy a Mac with just 8 GB of RAM . Even 16 GB of memory hardly makes this mannequin suited for such tasks . Read our separate clause that explainswhy 8 GB of computer storage is not enough on the M3 MacBook Pro , even for world-wide - purpose use with non - pro software .
M3 MacBook Pro: SSD and SDXC performance
The received configuration of the M3 MacBook Pro includes a 512 GB SSD , which Apple has instal as a twosome of 256 GB chips . When tested with theBlackmagic Disk Speed Test , the SSD write speed was 29 percent faster than the M1 MacBook Pro ’s 512 GB SSD , and the read charge per unit increased by 10 percent . liken to the 1 TB SSD in the M2 MacBook Air , there is no deviation when writing , but the M3 is 10 percent faster when reading .
SSD performance can alter from laptop to laptop , even if they have the same storage capacity . We ’ve found that save and read hurrying are around 3,000MBps , so you ’re in upright hands with the M3 MacBook Pro .
We also find out the speeding of an external USB 3.2 Gen 2 1 TB Samsung T7 SDD by performing file cabinet transfers of 52 GB Charles Frederick Worth of music files ( 6,288 entire files ) and 9 large image file cabinet that total 39 GB . Averaged across all trial , we determined a write rate of 639MBps and a read rate of 710MBps .
The M3 MacBook Pro brings a new design adn an upgraded display compared to the 13-inch M2 model.
When transferring files from an SDXC card via the laptop computer ’s built - in SDXC placard time slot , we saw read speeds of 94MBps and write stop number of 81MBps .
The M3 MacBook Pro wreak a novel design adn an upgraded display equate to the 13 - in M2 model .
Should you buy the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro?
As a replacement to the 13 - inch M2 MacBook Pro , the 14 - inch MacBook Pro M3 is worthy . At $ 1,599/£1,699 , the new MacBook Pro is $ 100/£100 more than the 13 - inch MacBook Pro with 8 GB of memory and a 512 GB SSD , but the new laptop computer offers significant updates in all areas : the showing , the audio arrangement , the ports , and of course , the chip .
However , the MacBook Air complicates a customer ’s buying decision . The 13 - in MacBook Air M2 with 8 GB of memory board and a 512 GB SSD is $ 1,399/£1,449 , and a similarly configured 15 - in MacBook Air is $ 1,499/£1,599 . So , the Air is brassy , but its showing is n’t as decent ( but it ’s still gamey quality ) as the MacBook Pro ’s , and the Air does n’t have an HDMI interface or an SDXC card time slot . It ’s likely you do n’t require those characteristic and ca n’t apologise the extra money for the MacBook Pro . Yes , the M3 is faster than the M2 , but if you ’re performing general productivity job and not venturing into pro apps at all , you wo n’t notice the speed remainder .
This brings us to one major reason why you should not buy the 14 - inch MacBook Pro M3 : Apple ’s decision to equip the $ 1,599/£1,699 standard form with 8 GB of remembering . It ’s plainly not enough for professional artwork , photo , and TV software or developer tools . you may upgrade the retentiveness to 16 GiB or 24 GB , but that will add an extravagant $ 200/£200 or $ 400/£400 to the price tatter , respectively . At that point , you might as well expend a bit more money and upgrade to a 14 - in MacBook Pro with a faster M2 Pro ( 11 - core CPU , 14 - core group GPU ) , 18 GB of retentivity , and a 512 GB SSD , which is $ 1,999/£2,099 .
Also : best power bank for MacBook .
This article originally appeared onMacweltand was translated byRoman Loyola .
