M3 MacBook Pro vs M2 MacBook Pro

The nearest MacBook Pro computers powered by the M3, the new M3 Pro, and the M3 Max Apple Silicon. In addition to more powerful and efficient CPUs and GPUs, these MacBook Pro devices support up to 128GB of memory, brighter screens, improved battery life, and a new Space Black finish. Follow along for an in-depth look at what’s different and new in the M3 MacBook Pro vs M2 MacBook Pro lineup along with buying advice.

M3 MacBook Pro vs M2 MacBook Pro laptop

CPU, GPU, memory, neural engine

The new M3 Apple Silicon family shows options ranging from 8 to 16-core CPUs, 10 to 40-core GPUs, and 8 to 128GB of memory.

Here’s a breakdown of Apple’s new Silicon and M2 Pro/Max specs:

	M3 MacBook Pro	M2 MacBook Pro
Processor	M3, M3 Pro, or M3 Max – up to 16-core	M2 Pro or M2 Max – up to 12-core
Storage	Up to 8TB	Up to 8TB
Think together	Up to 128GB	Up to 96GB
Fixed bandwidth	Up to 400GB/s memory bandwidth	400GB/s memory bandwidth
Figure drawing	Up to 40-core with hardware acceleration tests	Up to 38-core
media fire	H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW compression, Video conversion engine, 2x video encoding engine, 2x ProRes encoding and decoding engine, AV1 decode	H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW compression, Video conversion engine, 2x video compression engine, 2x ProRes encoding and decoding engine.
neural motor	16-topic	16-topic

Apple says that the M3 chip efficiency cores are up to 30% better than the M2 family, and up to 50% better than the M1 family.

For performance, the M3 family is 15 and 30% faster than the M2 and M1, respectively.

And Apple claims that rendering on the M3 is up to 1.8x faster than the M2 and up to 2.5x faster than the M1.

Apple also says that the M3 chips represent a “huge advance in graphics design” with Dynamic caching, fast scanning, and fast shading tools.

Notice

The M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pro computer showed the same display as the 2021 M1 Pro/Max model with Liquid Retina XDR Display, ProMotion up to 120Hz refresh rates, increased resolution/pixel per inch weight , and skin diseases.

So the M3 MacBook Pro model shows only one improvement – a 20% screen brightness that displays SDR content up to 600 nits. Apple logo meets Display Studio for consistent brightness.

	14″ M3 MacBook Pro	14″ M2 MacBook Pro	16″ M3 MacBook Pro	16″ M2 MacBook Pro
You really have a lot of eyes	14.2″	14.2″	16.2″	16.2″
Resolution	3024 x 1964	3024 x 1964	3456 x 2234	3456 x 2234
Target Type	16:10 + notch	16:10 + notch	16:10 + notch	16:10 + notch
PPI	254	254	254	254
Nits (light)	1000 supports, up to 1600 maximum HDR; SDR 600	1000 supports, up to 1600 maximum HDR; SDR 500	1000 supports, up to 1600 maximum HDR; SDR 600	1000 supports, up to 1600 maximum HDR; SDR 500
Liquid Retina XDR display	✅	✅	✅	✅
ProMotion (up to 120Hz)	✅	✅	✅	✅
mini-LED backlit	✅	✅	✅	✅
True Voice	✅	✅	✅	✅
P3 wide color	✅	✅	✅	✅

Of the Latest MacBook Pros comes with a notch in the upper center of the display for the 1080p FaceTime camera like the 2021 model.

Unfortunately, Face ID did not come with the M3 MacBook Pro laptops.

MacBook Pro I/O

Of the M3 Pro and Max MacBook Pro The laptop features the same ports and layout as the M2 Pro and Max MacBook Pro.

It includes an HDMI port, SDXC card reader, and MagSafe. It also has 3 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C 4 ports.

However, the M3 MacBook Pro comes with one less Thunderbolt 4 port – the one on the right side has been removed.

	14″ M3 MacBook Pro	14″ M2 MacBook	16″ M3 MacBook Pro	16″ M2 MacBook Pro
Magic Table	✅	✅	✅	✅
Touch ID	✅	✅	✅	✅
FaceTime camera	1080p	1080p	1080p	1080p
USB-C/Thunderbolt port	3 (2 for M3 model)	3	3	3
HDMI	✅ 2.1	✅ 2.1	✅ 2.1	✅ 2.1
SDXC card reader	✅	✅	✅	✅
Charge MagSafe	✅	✅	✅	✅
Bluetooth	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
External display support	M3: One external display up to 6K/60Hz M3 Pro: Up to 2 external displays at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt, or 1 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI, or 1 at 8K / 60Hz or 1 to 4K / 240Hz over HDMI M3 Max: Up to 4 external displays: 3 at 6K / 60Hz on Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K / 144Hz on HDMI, or up to 3 displays: 2 at 6K/60Hz on Thunderbolt and 1 at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/240Hz on HDMI	M2 Pro: Up to 2 external displays at 6K/60Hz, 1 external display at 8K/60Hz, or 1 display at 4K/240Hz via HDMI M2 Max: Up to 4 external displays, 3 at 6K/60Hz and 1 at 4K/60Hz or 3 total with 2 at 6K/60Hz and 1 external display at 8K/60Hz or 1 display at the 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI	M3 Pro: Up to 2 external displays at 6K/60Hz on Thunderbolt, or 1 at 6K/60Hz on Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz on HDMI, or 1 at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/ 240Hz on HDMI M3 Max: Up to 4 external displays: 3 at 6K / 60Hz on Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K / 144Hz on HDMI, or up to 3 displays: 2 at 6K/60Hz on Thunderbolt and 1 at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/240Hz on HDMI	M2 Pro: Up to 2 external displays at 6K/60Hz, 1 external display at 8K/60Hz, or 1 display at 4K/240Hz via HDMI M2 Max: Up to 4 external displays, 3 at 6K/60Hz and 1 at 4K/60Hz or 3 total with 2 at 6K/60Hz and 1 external display at 8K/60Hz or 1 display at the 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI

Like their predecessors, the M3 Pro and Max support HDMI 2.1 with 8K output at 60Hz. It also allows for multiple audio channels.

Color, size, and weight

The physical dimensions are the same between the M3 and M2 MacBook Pro computers. New now for the M3 Pro and Max models is a new Space Black color available with Silver.

Leaving aside the new color for the top end, the M3 MacBook Pro is only available in Space Gray and Silver.

Here’s the full breakdown of colors, sizes, and weights:

	14″ M3 MacBook Pro	14″ M2 MacBook Pro	16″ M3 MacBook Pro	16″ M2 MacBook Pro
heavy	M3: 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg) M3 Pro: 3.5 pounds (1.61 kg) M3 Max: 3.6 pounds (1.62 kg)	3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)	M3 Pro: 4.7 pounds (2.14 kg) M3 Max: 4.8 pounds (2.16 kg)	4.7 pounds (2.1 kg)
thickness	0.61 inches (1.55 cm)	0.61 inches (1.55 cm)	0.66 inches (1.68 cm)	0.66 inches (1.68 cm)
General	12.31 inches (31.26 cm)	12.31 inches (31.26 cm)	14.01 inches (35.57 cm)	14.01 inches (35.57 cm)
deep	8.71 inches (22.12 cm)	8.71 inches (22.12 cm)	9.77 inches (24.81 cm)	9.77 inches (24.81 cm)
Lots of shows	14.2 inches	14.2 inches	16.2 inches	16.2 inches
Complete	Silver or space gray for M3, Space Black or Silver for M3 Pro and M3 Max	Silver or space gray	Silver or space gray for M3, Space Black or Silver for M3 Pro and M3 Max	Silver or space gray

Kingdom of stone

• The new 16-inch M3 Pro and Max MacBook Pro desktop computers offer 22 hours video playback on a single charge (from 21 hours with M2 Pro/Max)
• The new 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro offers 22 hours video playback on a single charge (from 17 hours with M2 Pro or Max MacBook Pro)
• The new 14-inch M3 Pro and Max MacBook Pro offer 18 hours video playback on a single charge (from 17 hours with M2 Pro or Max MacBook Pro)
• The new MacBook Pro models continue to feature fast charging – up to 50% charge in 30 minutes (with 96 W batteries for the 14-inch and 140W for the 16-inch)

Here are some details on the battery life of the M3 MacBook Pro vs M2 MacBook Pro computers:

;	14″ M3 MacBook Pro	14″ M3 Pro or Max MacBook Pro	14″ M2 Pro or Max MacBook Pro	16″ M3 Pro or Max MacBook Pro	16″ M2 Pro or Max MacBook Pro
wireless internet battery	15 hours	12 hours	11 hours	15 hours	14 hours
Play video again	22 hours	18 hours	17 hours	22 hours	21 hours
This includes electricity	70W or 96W	70W or 96W	67W or 96W	140W	140W
Battery power	70Wh	70Wh	70Wh	100Wh	100Wh
Fast payment	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅

Price

The base specs are cheaper with the M3 option now and almost the same for the M3 Pro/Max vs M2 Pro Max build.

But the standard build is more expensive with up to 128GB memory and upgraded chips which means the M3 MacBook Pro devices can increase up to $7,199 – $700 more than the top M2 MacBook Pro .

Model/price	14″ M3 MacBook Pro	14″ M2 MacBook Pro	16″ M3 MacBook Pro	16″ M2 MacBook Pro
Foundation	From $1,599	From $1,999	From $2,499	From $2,499
Human structure	Up to $6,899	Up to $6,299	$7,199	Up to $6,499

M3 MacBook Pro vs M2: Buying guide

Reasons to buy

If you’re a professional (or aspiring pro) who needs the latest and greatest from Apple, the upgrade might be worth it. And the M3 MacBook Pro laptop computer it will be most interesting for those who come from Intel MacBook.

Reasons to pass

But for those who already have an M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pro and/or don’t have jobs that require the best performance, it seems best to keep what you have or opt for a MacBook Air.

Choice of information

For those not sure where M3 MacBook Pro details to choose, you can find the same 11, 12, 14, or 16-core processor with the M3 Pro and M3 Max in the 14 and 16-inch models. The main difference in the price of the GPU power upgrade includes a more powerful graphics engine and increased external display support with the M3 Max chip.

When it comes to memory storage, if you have a heavy workload and/or plan to keep your new MacBook Pro for a few years (or more), going with 36GB or more might be worth the upgrade.

You can get the new MacBook Pro at Apple, Amazon, Abt Electronicsand other things.

Thanks for reading our M3 MacBook Pro vs M2 MacBook Pro comparison!