The M1 MacBook Pro 13: A Step Up From the 13–inch to the M3 Pro and M3 Max Intel Core Processors

In nearly every scenario, the M3 MacBook Pro 14 is slightly better than the M2 MacBook Air 15 — close to the roughly 10 percent mark Apple stated at its “Scary Fast” event. Because most of the benchmarks we ran on the M1 MacBook Pro 13 have since been updated and are no longer comparable, I didn’t include our scores. I also didn’t have access to a similarly specced 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro. The M1 MacBook Pro 13 is in the database of Geekbench 6 scores. You can see that the improvement is roughly in line with the 35 percent boost Apple said it would get.

The MacBook Pro with the new M3 processor starts at $1,599 and comes with 512 gigabytes of storage. I got a step up configuration with the same M3 processor, 16GB of ram, and 1TB of storage at a higher price.

There isn’t anything to tell home about design. If you’re a longtime MacBook follower, you know what to expect. The display is pretty, the keyboard is easy to use, and typing has been pleasurable since Apple removed the butterfly switches a few years ago. The 1080p webcam makes you look like a human and not a potato on calls. Basically, it’s exactly what I’d want out of a MacBook Pro and includes all the good updates from the last few years. It’s still annoying that Apple doesn’t let you upgrade individual parts, but at this point, do we expect different from Apple?

Why is Apple gatekeeping that third Thunderbolt port to the M3 Pro and M3 Max? The M3 chip supports just one display, while the M3 Pro and Max chips support two. Another feature of Apple is gateKEEPS. The M3 Pro and M3 Max models have a third port sandwiched between them, so I believe it is the one Apple thinks you will use for external monitors. It still feels like an arbitrary line that’s drawn to encourage you to buy a more expensive model. Even if both of these limitations are due to the M3 chip, Apple designed these chips itself, and any limitations are intentional. It’s a choice Apple makes.

On the one hand, this is still a step up from the now-discontinued 13-inch and both Air models — all of which only have two Thunderbolt ports, a headphone jack, and nothing else. On the other hand, why?

The appeal of a Pro over the Air is that it gives you a ticket out of town. I often find myself wanting to plug a third device into my 15-inch Air, which means I have to scramble for a dongle or unplug something I’d rather not. I’ve had that issue with this M3 MacBook Pro, too. Is it the end of the world? Absolutely not. There are ways to work around it, and not everyone will miss that third port. It’s just the principle of the matter.

The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) Review: Entry-level Specs Batteries Battery-Ports: Where I am, Where I Am and What I Wanna Do

While I’m griping, the base 14-inch doesn’t get the space black color option. The way in which the upgrade models are differentiated is Apple Apple-ing. I got nothing against space gray, and I’ll have more thoughts on space black (and the M3 Max) in my forthcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro review. Give everyone the colors from where I am.

Cinebench has updated its benchmark since we looked at a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air, so those scores are not really comparable. The rest of the tests are the same across platforms.)

I believe that people care more about how the MacBook Pro fits in their everyday life than about the benchmarks. I also imagine there are lots of people like me who wonder if the extra juice of a MacBook Pro is worth it or if an Air would suffice.

This is a quiet machine. The fans rarely kicked on, even during the more intensive benchmark tests like PugetBench for Adobe Premiere Pro or our 4K export test, which simulates video editing workloads. The fans never got to the point where they felt like they were being distracted. It wheezed a bit while I ran Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the highest possible settings, though it never got too hot — and 32fps is playable, if not great, for single-player games. Even so, I maintain that Macs — let alone a base M3 — are not for gaming, no matter how much Apple keeps trying to make it happen. You can if you want to… so long as the game you want is even available for Mac.

Source: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) review: entry-level enigma

How Do I Get My MacBook? Comparing Battery Life and Power Features of the Air and the 14-inch Pro Computers, and Comparisons to the Air

As for battery life, this laptop refuses to die on me. (Which makes my life difficult when trying to do battery rundown tests.) With the display at 300 nits, adaptive brightness disabled, and all battery-saving options turned off, I got between 12 and 14 hours of constant use every day. 300 nits is bright, and you’ll get a little more time at 200 nits, which is typical for average usage. I bet you will use power- saving features or close the lid if you aren’t using it. After a roughly three-and-a-half-hour writing session with the aforementioned settings and various other apps running in the background, I only lost 15 percent battery. I only lost 20% of the movie that I watched. It will vary, but I have had a difficult time getting this thing to zero in a single workday.

My workload never put a strain on this MacBook. I had 55 open browser tabs, as well as my calendar app, YouTube video going, Messages, Slack, and several PDFs open at the same time. It was very groovy. I did it while using my monitor, streaming Peloton earnings and recording app. Again, no issues. And that made me realize how hard I whiffed it when I bought my 15-inch M2 Air.

The 14-inch’s display feels much less cramped than my company-issued 13-inch M1 Air. I can use it comfortably without my external display, whereas that’s a total pain on the M1 Air. The M3 16-inch Pro, which is side by side with the other two computers, is the perfect screen size for the weight and portableness of these three computers. Even though it is not as large as the 14-inch, you can fit a few more facts at a glance. The 14-inch is a close second to me. I highly recommend that you check them out in person.

I would have been able to upgrade the RAM on my Air, but alas. I am not sure if I should trade in my Air for a model with 16GB of RAM or just buy a 14-inch Pro. Budget aside, it comes down to whether you want extra screen or extra ports.

Even though the Pro has a larger screen, I can still see the difference in ProMotion and SDR capabilities compared to the Air. But for my workload, it rarely matters because I mostly use this indoors and use my big, beautiful TV for consuming media. If that does matter to you, the Pro is worth considering.

Weight is an odd thing. My MacBook Air weighs 3.3 pounds, while my 14-inch Macbook weighs 3.4 pounds. I held both, one in each hand, and because of the Air’s larger footprint, it sometimes felt heavier depending on my grip. The Air is still noticeably thinner, but as far as how it feels when you stick it in a backpack — they’re the same. Weight is no longer necessarily a point in the Air’s favor.

The Air is $400 less expensive than the similarly specced M3 but if I set the 15-inch Air to my needs, I’m looking at a difference of $100.

Apple made the right move by getting rid of the 13-inch Pro. The extra inches of screen is great, everything works well, and the physical function keys are back on the entry-level MacBook Pro.

I just wish you got more for the starting price — $1,599 is too much for 8GB of RAM, and just because you can’t use two external displays with an M3 chip doesn’t mean you couldn’t make the most out of three Thunderbolt ports.

It is hard to tell who uses the entry-level MacBook Pro. It seems to have a clearer idea of the serious Pros and the hordes of casual users. But the line between an Air and an entry-level Pro is blurrier than ever. I consider myself smack dab in the heavy Air user / light Pro user category. I ran numbers and searched through different configurations while writing this review, and spent a lot of time between them. It just turned me into the confused math lady meme.

Gripes aside, I’ve been very happy using this as my daily driver for the past week. Whichever way you fall, I think you’ll ultimately be happy with either 16GB machine. So, even though I very much believe no one with an M1 or M2 needs to upgrade for speed alone, I’m tempted to buy one of these for myself, if only to rectify my RAM mistakes and get rid of a couple of dongles.

Thank you for reading! I can answer any questions that you might have about the M3 Max or the 16-inch, as long as you remember that I am still working on the review. Just leave a comment on this quick post and I’ll be answering questions starting at 2PM ET!

Source: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) review: entry-level enigma

Making the Most of Your Smart Device Agreements: How Many Times Do You Need to Sign a Contract to Use It? A Case of the Space Black Finish

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It is impossible to read and analyze these agreements. We started counting how many times you need to agree to use devices when we review them, since these are agreements most people can’t negotiate.

I should start with the sole exception to my prior statement about cosmetic enhancements and point out availability of the new fingerprint-reducing Space Black finish. It is an alternative that makes for a more cohesive look and it helps cut down on smudges. Those opting for a silver Pro will likely be hard-pressed to find any physical difference at all.

The M3 series uses what is called unified memory that is shared between theCPU and graphics card. The entry-level configuration is 36 gigabytes and the final size is 128 gigabytes. Apple’s Neural Engine, designed to support machine intelligence tasks, is also included, now designed as a 16-core processor.