14-inch M3 MacBook Professional evaluation: So shut but to date

Value When Reviewed

$1,599

Finest Costs Immediately: Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3, 2023)

$1399

$1,399

$1449

$1562

$1599

Apple launched the 14-inch MacBook Professional with a base M3 chip as a alternative for the 13-inch MacBook Professional that served as the corporate’s most reasonably priced professional laptop computer. Typically, the M3 MacBook Professional succeeds in that position, providing a mixture of options that enhance upon its predecessor.

Nonetheless, as a “professional” laptop computer, a query of efficiency worth arises. Is it actually as much as the professional-level duties which might be related to professional utilization?

MacBook Professional M3: Specs

The laptop computer on this evaluation is the bottom mannequin 14-inch MacBook Professional with a base M3 System on a Chip (SoC).

• CPU: M3 with an 8-core CPU (4 efficiency cores, 4 effectivity cores), 16-core Neural Engine
• GPU: 10-core GPU
• Reminiscence: 8GB unified reminiscence (100GBps reminiscence bandwidth)
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Show: 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 shade; True Tone; ProMotion
• Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4/USB 4; SDXC card slot; HDMI 2.1; MagSafe 3; 3.5mm audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
• Weight: 3.4 kilos (1.55 kg)
• Dimensions: 0.61 x 12.31 x 8.71 inches (1.55 x 31.26 x 22.12 centimeters)
• Battery capability: 70Wh
• Value: $1,599/£1,699

M3 MacBook Professional: Show, audio system, ports

• Excessive-quality Liquid Retina XDR show
• Excessive-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers
• Port configuration has not modified from the earlier era

As with the M3 Professional and M3 Max laptops within the lineup, the 14-inch MacBook Professional M3 has a Liquid Retina XDR show, one of the best show accessible from Apple–it additionally bests most Home windows PC laptop computer shows. It’s a giant enchancment over the 13.3-inch Retina show used within the 13-inch MacBook Professional.

The audio high quality from the six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers leaves nothing to be desired–exterior audio system are superfluous. It’s one other huge enchancment over the stereo audio system within the 13-inch MacBook Professional. Whereas Apple’s present 15-inch MacBook Air additionally has a six-speaker sound system, the 14-inch MacBook Professional produces higher sound.

As with the 15-inch MacBook Air, the 14-inch MacBook Professional has two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, a MagSafe port, and a headphone jack. The MacBook Professional additionally has an SDXC card reader, which is used to switch information between the laptop computer and a tool. Photographers and videographers can use the slot for the playing cards from cameras–although, as we’ll talk about in a bit, professionals who take care of many very giant information mustn’t get the bottom M3 MacBook Professional. And there’s an HDMI 2.1 port, which is sensible for individuals who make shows and wish to rapidly connect with a projector or giant exterior show.

Foundry

M3 MacBook Professional: CPU and GPU efficiency

• Identical variety of CPU cores as older chips, however higher efficiency
• Improved GPU efficiency
• Watch out for the 8GB of reminiscence base configuration

With the bottom variations of Apple’s System on a Chip, the variety of CPU cores doesn’t differ between the M3, M2, and M1; every chip has eight whole CPU cores, divided between 4 efficiency and 4 effectivity cores. With the MacBook Professional’s M3, the CPU clock pace is quicker, and the 3nm course of used to create it permits for extra transistors. In all, the M3 can full extra instructions on the identical time than its predecessors.

To gauge efficiency, we ran benchmark assessments utilizing Geekbench 6, Cinebench 23, and Cinebench 2024. We in contrast the take a look at outcomes of the M3 with the outcomes we now have accessible for the M2 MacBook Professional, the M1 13-inch MacBook Professional, and the M1 MacBook Air. Every take a look at consequence differed barely by way of the M3’s enhance over its predecessors, so for the sake of simplicity, we’re discussing the outcomes as a median of all three assessments.

Cinebench 2024 benchmarks

In comparison with the M1, the M3’s efficiency enhance in single-core assessments is 30 p.c, whereas the multi-core assessments present a 43 p.c enchancment. In comparison with the M2, the M3’s assessments present a 19 p.c single-core and a 24 p.c multi-core enchancment.

We additionally ran the Mac Energy Monitor app through the multi-core take a look at with Cinebench 2024 to find out the utilization of the CPU cores and energy consumption. The efficiency cores ran at 3.7GHz, and the effectivity cores at 2.7GHz. All cores have been used at 100%, and Mac Energy Monitor decided a median energy consumption of just below 18 watts–the graphics processor has nothing to do on this take a look at besides briefly refresh the monitor show. Because the benchmark runs, the laptop computer’s followers kick in to keep up a correct working temperature, however the clock pace of the cores is just not throttled.

To measure the efficiency of the M3’s graphics processing unit (GPU), we used 3D Mark, which confirmed a 19 p.c enchancment of the M3 over the M2, and a 73 p.c enhance over the M1. With Geekbench 6’s Compute Steel take a look at (which isn’t as difficult because the 3D Mark take a look at), the M3 had a 9 p.c enhance over M2 and a 50 p.c enhance over M1.

When testing with 3D Mark Excessive, we measured the GPU’s clock pace and its energy consumption with Mac Energy Monitor. The GPU cores clocked in at 1.34GHz and eat round 17 watts on common. We noticed that with the CPU, solely the effectivity cores are used, consuming about 1 watt.

We tried to run Cinebench 2024’s GPU take a look at, however we encountered an issue: the take a look at can not run with the M3 MacBook Professional’s base configuration of 8GB of unified reminiscence. This brings up a difficulty that has stirred up controversy within the Mac group: Whereas Apple considers this laptop computer a pro-level gadget, no severe professional utilizing high-end professional apps would purchase a Mac with simply 8GB of RAM. Even 16GB of reminiscence barely makes this mannequin appropriate for such duties. Learn our separate article that explains why 8GB of reminiscence is just not sufficient on the M3 MacBook Professional, even for general-purpose use with non-pro software program.

M3 MacBook Professional: SSD and SDXC efficiency

The usual configuration of the M3 MacBook Professional features a 512GB SSD, which Apple has put in as a pair of 256GB chips. When examined with the Blackmagic Disk Velocity Take a look at, the SSD write pace was 29 p.c quicker than the M1 MacBook Professional’s 512GB SSD, and the learn charge elevated by 10 p.c. In comparison with the 1TB SSD within the M2 MacBook Air, there is no such thing as a distinction when writing, however the M3 is 10 p.c quicker when studying.

SSD efficiency can fluctuate from laptop computer to laptop computer, even when they’ve the identical storage capability. We’ve discovered that write and browse speeds are round 3,000MBps, so that you’re in good arms with the M3 MacBook Professional.

We additionally checked the pace of an exterior USB 3.2 Gen 2 1TB Samsung T7 SDD by performing file transfers of 52GB value of music information (6,288 whole information) and 9 giant picture information that totaled 39 GB. Averaged throughout all assessments, we decided a write charge of 639MBps and a learn charge of 710MBps.

When transferring information from an SDXC card through the laptop computer’s built-in SDXC card slot, we noticed learn speeds of 94MBps and write speeds of 81MBps.

Foundry

Do you have to purchase the 14-inch M3 MacBook Professional?

As a successor to the 13-inch M2 MacBook Professional, the 14-inch MacBook Professional M3 is worthy. At $1,599/£1,699, the brand new MacBook Professional is $100/£100 greater than the 13-inch MacBook Professional with 8GB of reminiscence and a 512GB SSD, however the brand new laptop computer presents vital updates in all areas: the show, the audio system, the ports, and naturally, the chip. 

Nonetheless, the MacBook Air complicates a buyer’s shopping for resolution. The 13-inch MacBook Air M2 with 8GB of reminiscence and a 512GB SSD is $1,399/£1,449, and a equally configured 15-inch MacBook Air is $1,499/£1,599. So, the Air is cheaper, however its show isn’t as good (nevertheless it’s nonetheless prime quality) because the MacBook Professional’s, and the Air doesn’t have an HDMI port or an SDXC card slot. It’s doubtless you don’t want these options and might’t justify the additional cash for the MacBook Professional. Sure, the M3 is quicker than the M2, however when you’re performing common productiveness duties and never venturing into professional apps in any respect, you gained’t discover the pace distinction.

This brings us to 1 main cause why you shouldn’t purchase the 14-inch MacBook Professional M3: Apple’s resolution to equip the $1,599/£1,699 normal configuration with 8GB of reminiscence. It’s merely not sufficient for skilled graphics, picture, and video software program or developer instruments. You’ll be able to improve the reminiscence to 16GB or 24GB, however that can add an extravagant $200/£200 or $400/£400 to the worth tag, respectively. At that time, you would possibly as nicely spend a bit more cash and improve to a 14-inch MacBook Professional with a quicker M2 Professional (11-core CPU, 14-core GPU), 18GB of reminiscence, and a 512GB SSD, which is $1,999/£2,099.

This text initially appeared on Macwelt and was translated by Roman Loyola.