Apple Silicon powers the latest MacBook Pro laptops, including the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. Additionally, these MacBook Pro machines feature more powerful and efficient CPUs and GPUs, brighter screens, improved battery life, and a new Space Black finish. We’ll compare the key differences between the new M3 MacBook Pro and the previous M2 MacBook Pro to help you decide which model is best for you.
What’s Inside?
The M3 chips have more powerful processors with up to 16 cores, compared to 12 cores for the M2. Graphics performance is also better with up to 40 graphics cores and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. You can get up to 128GB of fast unified memory on M3 models.
The Screens
Both have bright Liquid Retina displays, but the M3 screens get an upgrade; they are 20% brighter at up to 600 nits for regular content. This matches the brightness of Apple’s Studio Display.
Ports and Connectivity
The port selection is nearly identical, with HDMI, an SD card slot, and MagSafe charging. The 14″ M3 model loses one Thunderbolt port compared to the M2. Both support fast WiFi 6E and multiple external displays.
Design and Colors
The sizes and weights are the same, but the high-end M3 Pro and Max models now come in a sleek Space Black option in addition to Silver.
Longer Battery Life
Expect battery life gains across the board compared to M2 models—up to 22 hours for video playback on the 14″ and 16″ M3 laptops.
Higher Prices
Base M3 models are cheaper than M2, but maxed-out M3 configurations can cost up to $700 more than equivalent M2 systems due to their powerful specs.
For professionals who need cutting-edge performance, the M3 MacBook Pro offers various upgrades over the M2. But most users will be happy sticking with their current MacBook or choosing a less expensive Air model.
