Enhancements include M3 chips, increased power, extended battery life, brighter display, reduced cost, and a darker hue for the laptop
Apple’s recently upgraded MacBook Pro introduces a broader selection of chip options, a more affordable price, and a new black color variant, accompanied by enhanced performance and extended battery life.
The beloved laptop now commences at £1,699 (€1,999/$1,599/A$2,699), marking a noteworthy £450 reduction compared to its forerunner, making it more accessible.
Externally, the device maintains the appealing blend of retro and modern design found in its predecessor, crafted with precision from aluminum that justifies its cost. The port array remains unchanged, featuring the welcomed HDMI port and a full-size SD card slot.
The display remains among the finest for laptops—crisp, seamless, and exceptionally bright, especially when engaged with HDR content. It now boasts a 20% increase in brightness for general use compared to its predecessor, a distinction evident while working on documents in bright winter sunlight.
In 2023, a fresh addition is the space black color choice, leaning towards a very dark grey but achieving the deepest black possible for anodized aluminum. It offers an appealing appearance and exhibits improved resistance to fingerprints. This new color variant is exclusive to the mid- and high-end configurations, beginning at £2,099 (€2,499/$1,999/A$3,499).
Specifications
Display: 14.2-inch mini LED (3024×1964; 254 ppi) ProMotion (120Hz)
Processor: Apple M3, Pro, or Max
RAM: 8, 18, or 32, with an option for up to 128GB
Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB SSD
Operating System: macOS 14.1 Sonoma
Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD camera
Connectivity: Wifi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2/3x USB/Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.1, SD card slot, headphones
Dimensions: 221.2 x 312.6 x 15.5mm
Weight: 1.55 to 1.62kg
M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max chip choice
A significant addition is the integration of Apple’s latest M3 chip family, produced on an advanced scale currently exclusive to Apple. This enhances performance while simultaneously reducing power consumption and heat.
The initial model of the 14-inch MacBook Pro introduces the M3 chip, with options to upgrade to the M3 Pro and M3 Max for those with higher performance requirements.
The M3 chip boasts approximately a 20% speed improvement over the M2 chip utilized in the MacBook Air and other devices, and it’s approximately 40% faster than the original M1 chips from 2020. The base model supports a single external monitor and comes with 8GB of memory, likely sufficient for current needs but potentially limiting in the future. Increasing the memory to 16GB incurs a £200 cost and cannot be retroactively upgraded.
For users seeking more power, additional ports, and the capability to connect multiple external monitors, the M3 Pro chip is an option. It adeptly handles demanding tasks and is likely the most suitable choice for those utilizing the MacBook Pro for professional work. At the peak, the M3 Max chip offers exceptional performance, potentially exceeding the requirements of most users. However, it becomes an ideal choice for those seeking workstation-level power and are willing to make a significant investment.
Apple’s M3 chips match or surpass the power of their Intel counterparts in PCs, providing substantial performance boosts compared to Macs from three to five years ago. However, Apple’s significant edge lies in power efficiency, enabling double or more the battery life compared to competitors and the capability to maintain peak performance when operating unplugged, a feature not shared by rivals.
Even the most robust model equipped with the M3 Max, as assessed, is capable of approximately 16 hours of productive office tasks, including word processing, browsing, note-taking, and spreadsheet work. This surpasses last year’s model by over an hour and is roughly twice as long as most competitors. M3 models are anticipated to endure around 20 hours of similar work, with the M3 Pro models falling somewhere in between.
Battery life does diminish under more demanding tasks, but you can still expect about 12 hours of photo editing or similar activities on a single charge. Charging the battery to full capacity with the provided 96W adapter takes approximately 90 minutes, reaching 50% in about 30 minutes.
Sustainability
Comprising 32% recycled materials, including aluminum, rare earth elements, tin, gold, and plastic, the MacBook Pro’s environmental impact is detailed in Apple’s report.
It is generally repairable, accompanied by available repair manuals, and Apple offers a battery replacement service priced at £245. The modular design was praised by repair specialists iFixit, but criticism was directed at Apple’s use of software locks on replacement parts, artificially restricting third-party repair choices. As a result, the repairability score stood at four out of 10. Apple provides trade-in and free recycling programs, extending to non-Apple products.
Price
The 14-inch MacBook Pro is priced starting at £1,699 (€1,999/$1,599/A$2,699) for the M3 chip configuration with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The M3 Pro models are available from £2,099, while the M3 Max models have a starting price of £3,299.
For context, the MacBook Air M2 begins at £1,149. Windows laptops with comparable specifications, such as the Dell XPS 15, typically cost around £2,000. Other options like the Razer Blade 14 are priced at £2,499, and Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio 2 starts at £2,069.
Verdict
This year, Apple’s longstanding Pro laptop offers more options than ever. While the lower starting price of £1,699 is a welcome change, it is still considered relatively expensive, and the included chip, while exceptionally fast, might not provide sufficient power for professional tasks, coupled with only 8GB of memory.
As a result, recommending the base model over the excellent MacBook Air for Apple users is challenging. However, the M3 Pro and Max models stand out as an impressive blend of power and efficiency, a combination unmatched by other manufacturers. In this regard, Apple continues to strengthen its position.
With a 14-inch size that remains a sweet spot in the laptop market, the device benefits from a stunning screen, a best-in-class trackpad and keyboard, and a well-rounded selection of ports. While it comes at a premium, if Windows 11 is not a specific requirement, it stands out as one of the finest working laptops available, especially in the stylish black color option.
