Expert’s Rating
Pros
- 18GB unified reminiscence commonplace
- Quiet
- Good efficiency
Cons
- Low efficiency benefit over M2 Pro
Our Verdict
The $1,999 commonplace configuration of the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro affords a balanced set of processor, reminiscence, and SSD at a value that isn’t a lot larger than that of the bottom M3 MacBook Pro. The M3 Pro mannequin is a a lot better efficiency worth than the M3 mannequin.
Price When Reviewed
$1,999
Best Prices Today: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 2023)
$1,933.50
$1999
The $1,999 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro System on a Chip is $400 greater than the bottom 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 SoC. While that larger price ticket appears like quite a bit, the $1,999 laptop computer finally ends up being a greater worth. You get a quicker CPU and GPU, extra reminiscence to work with, and extra versatile connectivity choices.
This evaluate appears at how the $1,999 MacBook Pro compares to the $1,599 mannequin. A full review of the $1,599 MacBook Pro M3 is on the market for a extra in-depth evaluation of that laptop computer.
This evaluate initially appeared on Macworld.com.
MacBook Pro M3 Pro: Specifications
Apple affords two commonplace configurations of the 14-inch MacBook Pro with a M3 Pro chip. The mannequin on this evaluate is the $1,999/£2,099 model. Our guide to the M3 chips explains the differences in greater detail.
All of Apple’s laptops can custom-made with extra reminiscence and a bigger SSD, which is able to elevate the value. Our evaluate unit has the next specs:
- CPU: M3 Pro with a 11-core CPU (5 efficiency cores, 6 effectivity cores), 16-core Neural Engine
- GPU: 14-core GPU
- Memory: 18GB unified reminiscence (150GBps reminiscence bandwidth)
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR show; 3024-by-1964 native decision at 254 pixels per inch; 1,000,000:1 distinction ratio; 1,000 nits sustained full-screen XDR brightness, 1,600 nits peak HDR content material solely, 600 nits SDR brightness; P3 coloration; True Tone; ProMovement
- Ports: 3 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C; SDXC card slot; HDMI 2.1; MagSafe 3; 3.5mm audio
- Networking: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
- Weight: 3.5 kilos (1.61 kg)
- Dimensions: 0.66 x 14.01 x 9.77 inches (1.68 x 35.57 x 24.81 centimeters)
- Battery capability: 72.4Wh
- Price: $1,999/£2,099
MacBook Pro M3 Pro vs M3: Similarities and variations
The M3 Pro MacBook Pro has the identical design and measurement because the M3 MacBook Pro, however with three main variations. The first distinction is that the M3 Pro has three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, whereas the M3 has two. The second distinction is that the M3 Pro is on the market in Space Black, whereas the M3 isn’t.
The third distinction is the exterior show help, which is extra strong with the M3 Pro. Here’s what every laptop computer can do:
- M3 Pro:
- Two exterior shows with as much as 6K decision at 60Hz over Thunderbolt
- One exterior show with as much as 6K decision at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one exterior show with as much as 4K decision at 144Hz over HDMI
- One exterior show over HDMI at 8K decision at 60Hz, or one show at 4K decision at 240Hz
- M3:
- One exterior show with as much as 6K decision at 60Hz
Everything else concerning the two laptops is similar. There’s no distinction with the show, webcam, audio system, keyboard, and trackpad.
MacBook ProM3 Pro vs. M3: CPU efficiency
The SoC inside our evaluate unit is the slimmed-down model of the M3 Pro, which has 11 CPU cores (5 efficiency cores, six effectivity cores). The base M3 has eight CPU cores (4 efficiency and 4 effectivity cores).
The M3 Pro that we examined additionally has extra reminiscence: 18GB, in comparison with 8GB within the M3. The M3 will be upgraded to 16GB, however not 18GB, and that improve will value an additional $200, half of the value distinction between the M3 and M3 Pro laptops.
Both the M3 Pro and M3 laptops embrace a 512GB SSD. The M3 Pro has improve choices for 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, whereas the M3 choices are just for 1TB or 2TB.
For the take a look at of the CPU, we use Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024. The scores from every laptop computer are in comparison with gauge the efficiency of every and to notice the variations.
Geekbench 6 benchmarks
In the benchmark outcomes involving single-core efficiency, there are hardly any variations between the completely different M3 variants in Geekbench or Cinebench. That’s to be anticipated since all chips use the identical core know-how.
The variations stand out with the multi-core take a look at outcomes. In Geekbench, the M3 Pro had a 44 p.c enhance over the M3. In the Cinebench take a look at, the M3 Pro will increase was 31 p.c in comparison with the M3.
We additionally included Geekbench outcomes for the M2 Pro with a 12-core CPU. That M2 Pro truly carried out higher than the 11-core M3 Pro, as a result of it has eight efficiency cores–two greater than the M3 Pro.
Cinebench 2024 benchmarks
During the take a look at with Cinebench 2024, we used the powermetrics Terminal utility to show the core frequencies and energy consumption of the CPU. The M3 Pro clocks each the effectivity cores and the ability cores barely decrease in comparison with the M3. In phrases of energy consumption, we see a rise from the M3 with round 20 watts to the M3 Pro with round 23 watts. This is about 13 p.c extra, with a efficiency improve of 31 p.c.
The MacBook Pro M3 Pro has two followers to keep up a correct working temperature. These labored properly and have been very quiet even when all of the CPU cores have been working at most pace. With the MacBook Pro M3, its one fan had extra and was louder.
Blackmagic Disk Test
Although the M3 Pro and M3 in our testing have the identical sized SSD at 512GB, the M3 Pro’s drive was quicker, particularly when studying. In common use, nonetheless, that is in all probability solely noticeable if you happen to should write or learn bigger quantities of knowledge.
When engaged on 362 photographs within the Photos app, we didn’t discover any hitches in efficiency on the M3 Pro, however we did see that the 18GB of reminiscence was not sufficient for the app and a number of other gigabytes of the SSD have been used as digital reminiscence.
iMovie benchmarks
In iMovie, there are not any disagreeable surprises when modifying and exporting initiatives with the M3 Pro and its 18GB of reminiscence–we had points with the MacBook Pro M3 and its 8GB of reminiscence. In addition, the M3 Pro handles modifying of 4K video from an iPhone 14 a lot quicker than the M3.
HandBrake 6.1 benchmarks
When changing a 6.7GB 4K film with Handbrake, the M3 Pro can also be completed quicker than the M3, however solely takes about so long as the M2 Pro.
MacBook Pro M3 Pro vs. M3: GPU efficiency
The M3 Pro in our take a look at has a 14-core GPU, which is 4 greater than the M3’s 10-core GPU. In Geekbench’s Compute Metal take a look at, the M3 Pro has a major efficiency improve of 44 p.c in comparison with the M3. Compared to the 16-core GPU within the M2 Pro, nonetheless, the M3 Pro is slower.
Geekbench 6 Compute benchmarks
The Cinebench 2024 GPU take a look at provides one other image. The M3 Pro surpasses the M3 by a whopping 65 p.c, and the M2 Pro with 19-core GPU by 58 p.c.
3D Wildlife Extreme benchmarks
When testing with 3D Wildlife Extreme the M3 Pro was 47 p.c quicker than the M3. The M3 Pro and the M2 Pro virtually had the identical outcomes. We additionally seen that the M3 Pro clocks the GPU minimally larger than the M3 and requires round 6 watts, which is round 35 p.c extra energy than the M3.
MacBook Pro M3 Pro vs. M3: Battery life
After about ten hours of use, the MacBook Pro M3 Pro’s reached 19 p.c, which continues to be sufficient for a two-hour film in Amazon Prime. After watching the film, the battery reached 10 p.c. You can simply recover from a working day with this laptop computer.
In a battery take a look at with the Endurance: CPU Stress Test, the M3 Pro lasted about 2.5 hours earlier than reaching the 4 p.c mark at which the efficiency COU cores swap off. The M3 lasted two hours. Using solely the clocked down effectivity cores, each laptops continued to work for 30 minutes.
Fully charging the laptop computer battery took about 90 minutes utilizing the 70-watt energy adapter.
Should you purchase the MacBook Pro M3 Pro?
The MacBook Pro M3 Pro proves to be work software for on a regular basis duties. It’s noticeably quicker than the MacBook Pro M3–the additional cash you will need to pay to improve from the M3 to the M3 Pro is properly spent cash. The MacBook Pro M3 isn’t a foul laptop computer–it’s Apple’s pricing that’s out whack.
As a substitute for a MacBook Pro from the Intel period, or a M1 MacBook Air or a 13-inch MacBook Pro, the lower-end M3 Pro it’s a nice step ahead. However, when you’ve got an M2 Pro MacBook Pro, the lower-end M3 Pro doesn’t supply any added worth that makes a swap appear wise–the lower-end M3 Pro simply doesn’t present sufficient of a lift over the M2 Pro.
This article initially appeared on Macwelt and was translated by Roman Loyola.