M3 vs M3 Pro: The Ultimate MacBook Showdown
Dive into the M3 vs M3 Pro comparison to find your perfect laptop.
For the past four months, I’ve been testing and comparing the entire M3 lineup. During this time, I’ve discovered many insights, and now I’m ready to share my verdict. Is the $2000 M3 Pro MacBook Pro worth the cost? I’ll compare it in detail with the $1600 M3 MacBook Pro and explore the differences. Let’s dive into the M3 vs M3 Pro comparison!
COMPARISON OVERVIEW
#1: At Glance
#2: Design Differences
#3: Battery Life
#4: SSD Speed Test
#5: Chips Comparison
#6: CPU
#7: Geekbench 6 CPU
#8: Cinebench 2024 CPU
#9: GPU
#10: Geekbench 6 Metal
#11: Cinebench 2024 GPU
#12: Gaming
#13: Xcode
#14: Logic Pro
#15: Web Browsing
#16: Blender 3D Rendering
#17: Lightroom Classic Photo Editing
#18: HandBrake
#19: Video Editing
#20: Price
#21: Which One Should You Buy?M3 vs M3 Pro
At first, I thought the M3 MacBook Pro was a killer deal. But now, after running some tests that I’ll talk about, my opinion has completely shifted. There are some important differences between the M3 and the M3 Pro.
The M3 MacBook Pro is cheaper and has a lot of goodies: a full set of function keys, an HDMI output, and an SDXC card reader.
The M3 Pro costs only $400 more. What sets it apart from the regular M3 version? Is it only the chip inside?
For an extra $400, the M3 Pro offers additional features. It includes an extra Thunderbolt 4 port and can connect to more than one external display.
The M3 Pro comes with 10 more gigabytes of memory, increasing from 8 to 18 GB. Also, you get 3 more CPU cores and 4 more GPU cores. The GPU goes from having 10 cores to having 14, and the CPU goes from having 8 to having 11 cores.
To me, that sounds like a steal for $400. You get an extra port, more CPU and GPU cores, and over double the memory. In addition, you can connect to multiple external displays. Now, which one should you pick: the M3 or the M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro?
Design Differences
I’ll start with the basics. The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro shares many hardware features with the M3 Pro model. With the pricier M3 Pro model, there is the option to choose the space black color, which I personally prefer. Otherwise, the designs look nearly identical from the outside.
They both come with a fantastic 14-inch screen! The display is super smooth (120 Hz ProMotion) and bright (600 nits normally, up to 1600 nits for HDR content). Additionally, they both have impressive speakers, a camera, and a microphone. Even the more affordable option packs a punch with all these features!
There are some key differences, though. The M3 MacBook Pro is missing one Thunderbolt port compared to the M3 Pro. Also, the M3 Pro has a better cooling system with two fans inside, while the M3 has just one.
Battery Life
Apple’s silicon MacBooks are known for their long battery life, so it’s not surprising. The new MacBook Pros I’ve tested have the longest battery life compared to older MacBooks.
While the M3 has an integrated 70-watt-hour battery, it delivers up to 22 hours of Apple TV app movie playback. It can last for 15 hours of wireless web browsing.
In contrast, the M3 Pro has a built-in 72.4Wh battery and up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback. It provides a solid 12 hours of wireless web browsing.
During the battery life test of both MacBook Pros, I found that the M3 lasts five minutes longer than the M3 Pro. Clearly, the M3 has the longest battery life in the M3 lineup, with 17 hours and 20 minutes.
SSD Speed Test
My first question was about storage speed. How fast are the SSD speeds on the M3 compared to the M3 Pro, since both have 512GB?
I’ll start my tests by running Blackmagic Disk Speed on both MacBooks. The M3 achieved read speed scores of around 2902 MB/s and write speed scores of around 2766 MB/s. Compared to the M3 Pro, it has 5066 MB/s of read speed and 4209 MB/s of write speed.
While the M3 Pro has a faster SSD, the M3 is still quite speedy, and most users won’t notice a difference in everyday tasks.
Chips Comparison
The M3 has 25 billion transistors; that’s 5 billion more than the M2. It also has a GPU with 10 cores (Apple claims it’s 65% faster than the M1). The M3 also has an 8-core CPU, which is 35 percent faster than the M1. It does support up to 24GB of RAM.
On the other hand, the M3 Pro has 37 billion transistors. The higher-end model has an 18-core GPU, which is 40% faster than the M1 Pro. The starting configuration of the M3 Pro has a CPU with 11 cores and can have up to 36GB of unified memory.
The M3 has 50% less bandwidth than the M3 Pro. This means there’s a significant performance gap, especially noticeable during heavy use.
The M3 base model comes with 8 GB of memory, while the M3 Pro models have 18 GB. Having only 8GB of memory isn’t really enough, especially for a Pro machine.
Even if you’re trying to save money, consider upgrading the memory; it’s worth it. You can upgrade to 16GB for $200 more. This will greatly increase the laptop’s performance and longevity.
M3 vs M3 Pro: CPU
The base M3 features 8 CPU cores, divided into 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores. In contrast, the M3 Pro contains 11 CPU cores (5 cores for performance and 6 cores for efficiency).
The M3 and M3 Pro CPUs feature architecturally improved performance and efficiency cores. Their performance cores are up to 30% faster than those in the M1 family. Their efficiency cores are also up to 50% faster than those in M1.
These cores together create a CPU that matches the M1’s multithreaded performance. They use half the power and deliver up to 35% more performance at peak power.
Geekbench 6 CPU
The M3 chip is not as powerful as the M3 Pro, but how much weaker is it? Let’s look at CPU performance using Geekbench 6. In the single-core test, both the M3 and M3 Pro performed equally, as expected.
However, in the multi-core test, the M3 Pro was 19% better than the M3. These results might be disappointing, considering the M3 Pro costs $400 more.
Cinebench 2024 CPU
Next, I’ll run the Cinebench 2024 CPU test that uses the Redshift rendering engine. The test lasts for 10 minutes to see if the processor gets too hot and slows down.
The M3 and M3 Pro perform similarly in single-core tests, with 3136 and 3152, respectively. However, in multi-core tests, the M3 Pro is 19% faster, scoring 14,355 compared to the M3’s 12,016.
This happened because the M3 slowed down with just one fan and couldn’t maintain its performance. This shows that the M3 Pro is much better at handling demanding tasks like rendering.
M3 vs M3 Pro: GPU
The M3 in my test has a 10-core GPU, while the M3 Pro has a 14-core GPU. Apple’s M3 boasts a next-generation GPU, the biggest leap yet for their silicon. It introduces dynamic caching, a hardware-based feature that allocates local memory in real-time. It ensures only the necessary memory is used for each task.
The M3 family of chips brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing to Mac for the first time. Ray tracing simulates how light behaves in a scene. This enables apps to create highly realistic and accurate images.
The M3 GPU also brings hardware-accelerated mesh shaders to Macs. This boosts efficiency in processing geometry. It allows for more visually complex scenes in games and graphics-heavy apps.
Geekbench 6 Metal
Using Geekbench 6 to compare GPUs, the M3 Pro scored 68,275, making it 44% faster than the M3, which scored 47,418. The M3 Pro features a 14-core GPU, putting it in a better position for graphics-intensive tasks.
Cinebench 2024 GPU
The M3 Pro blows away the M3 in Cinebench 2024 GPU performance. With a score of 5528 compared to the M3’s 3340, the M3 Pro delivers a solid 66% boost. There are big performance enhancements when you upgrade to the M3 Pro model.
M3 vs M3 Pro: Gaming
When it comes to gaming performance, the M3 Pro outshines the M3 in benchmarks. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1920 x 1200 resolution, the M3 Pro achieves 48 fps, a 45% gain over the M3’s 33 fps.
Similarly, in Borderlands 3, the M3 Pro hits 28 fps compared to the M3’s 19 fps, showing a 47% increase in performance.
In Sid Meier’s Civilization VI at the same resolution, both models perform closely. The M3 Pro is slightly edging ahead with 53 fps compared to 50 fps on the M3.
The M3 Pro has a more powerful 14-core GPU compared to the M3’s 10-core GPU. It is better suited for gaming at higher settings and resolutions.
Apple’s new M3 chips and the release of more games are turning Macs into better gaming machines. But there aren’t enough games to compete with traditional gaming laptops. Meanwhile, graphics performance is impressive, and the game library is growing. For now, Macs aren’t quite there yet for serious gamers.
Xcode
Next, I’ll start testing real-world tasks like web browsing, Logic Pro, and Xcode. This is a common activity for MacBook Pro users. My first task is compiling the Xcode application. The XcodeBenchmark measures how long it takes to compile a large codebase.
For developers using Xcode 15, the M3 Pro saves 32 seconds. Compiling the same code takes 108 seconds on the M3 Pro, compared to 140 seconds on the M3. This translates to a roughly 23% speed bump. The M3 Pro’s extra CPU cores make it better for handling demanding Xcode tasks.
Logic Pro
For music producers using Logic Pro, the M3 Pro offers a 13% increase in handling complex projects. The M3 Pro can play back 140 audio tracks simultaneously, compared to the M3’s limit of 124 tracks.
The M3 MacBook Pro has the lowest number of played tracks due to fewer performance cores. If you work with many tracks for music projects, the M3 Pro excels at handling complex audio tasks.
Web Browsing
In Speedometer 3.0 on Chrome, the M3 Pro completes 37 runs per minute, while the M3 manages 30 runs per minute. This shows a 23% jump in performance with the M3 Pro. This results in smoother web browsing and faster load times for complex websites.
M3 vs M3 Pro: Blender 3D Rendering
The M3 and M3 Pro GPUs include hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which Blender supports. The M3 GPU can match the M1’s performance using nearly half the power. It delivers up to 65% more performance at its peak.
When rendering the classroom scene, the M3 Pro took 1 minute and 44 seconds. It is 43 seconds faster than the M3, which took 2 minutes and 27 seconds. The M3 Pro handles demanding 3D rendering tasks with ease.
M3 vs M3 Pro: Photo Editing
Next, I’ll export 100 raw images (45 MP) using Lightroom Classic for the photo editing task. It’s a CPU and GPU based task.
Photographers will appreciate the M3 Pro’s speed boost in Lightroom Classic. Exporting 100 (45 megapixel) raw images takes just 1 minute and 2 seconds on the M3 Pro. That’s 38 seconds faster than 1 minute and 40 seconds on the M3.
The M3 Pro is the winner in photo editing, with 38% time savings. I think 8GB of RAM on the M3 is not enough to handle high-performance tasks.
HandBrake
When converting a 6.5 GB 4K video to 1080p using HandBrake, the M3 Pro saves a minute compared to the M3. It completes the task in 4 minutes and 36 seconds, while the M3 takes 5 minutes and 39 seconds. But you have to ask yourself: Is a minute of time savings worth $400 more?
M3 vs M3 Pro: Video Editing
For the video editing task, I’ll export a 10-minute 4K video in Final Cut Pro. The M3 Pro finished exporting in 5 minutes and 54 seconds, a minute faster than the M3.
The M3 Pro shows only a 14% gain, although it has the same media engine as the M3. However, it handles editing 4K video much faster than the M3.
M3 vs M3 Pro: Price
The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro base model costs $1599. It includes an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, 8GB of unified memory, and 512GB of SSD storage.
On the M3 MacBook Pro, you can upgrade to 16GB of memory for $200 or opt for the newly available 24GB tier for $400.
Storage upgrades cost $200 to increase to 1 TB or $600 to upgrade to 2 TB. Also, if you want the fast charging power adapter, it costs an extra $20 and increases the power from 70W to 90W.
You want to bump it up a few levels? You can get an upgraded M3 Pro for $1999. For $400 more, you’ll get 11 CPU cores and 14 GPU cores, 18GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD. If you want more power, you can upgrade to a 12-core CPU and an 18-core GPU on the M3 Pro for $200.
The M3 Pro supports a maximum of 36GB of memory and has a maximum SSD capacity of 4TB.
Who is the M3 MacBook Pro for?
The M3 MacBook Pro is the perfect laptop for users pursuing their passions. It’s for students, business owners, musicians, and video editors. It’s up to 60% faster than the 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro.
The M3 MacBook Pro renders up to 60% faster than the M1 in Final Cut Pro. It also compiles code up to 40% faster than the M1 in Xcode.
Who is the M3 Pro for?
The M3 Pro is ideal for users with demanding tasks, such as coders, creatives, and researchers. It supports more memory and is up to 40% faster than the 16-inch M1 Pro model.
The M3 Pro MacBook Pro is up to 40% faster than the M1 Pro in Adobe Photoshop. It’s up to 36% faster than M1 Pro in DNA sequencing with Oxford Nanopore MinKNOW. In text editing, Adobe Premiere Pro is also 30% faster than M1 Pro.
Is the Apple M3 Pro Worth It?
The M3 Pro MacBook Pro is a great laptop for daily tasks. It’s much faster than the M3 MacBook Pro, making the extra cost worth it. While the M3 MacBook Pro is still a good laptop, Apple’s pricing makes the M3 Pro a better deal.
Best Deals Today!
M3 MacBook Pro ➡ (19% Off)
Apple M3 Pro ➡ (15% Off)
Apple M3 Max ➡ (20% Off)
13-inch M3 MacBook Air ➡ (23% Off)
15-inch M3 MacBook Air ➡ (19% Off)
13-inch M2 MacBook Air ➡ (20% Off)
15-inch M2 MacBook Air ➡ (15% Off)
11-inch M2 iPad Air ➡ (7% Off)
Apple Magic Mouse ➡ (14% Off)
M3 vs M3 Pro: Which One Should You Buy?
The M3 MacBook Pro is a solid middle option between the MacBook Air and the more powerful MacBook Pros. It combines the affordability of the MacBook Air with some extra power.
The M3 Pro MacBook Pro is a perfect laptop for daily tasks. It’s much faster than the M3 MacBook Pro, making the extra cost worth it. While the M3 MacBook Pro is still a decent laptop, Apple’s pricing makes the M3 Pro a better deal.
For an extra $400, you get the M3 Pro chip. It includes three additional CPU cores, four more GPU cores, 10GB more memory, and extra ports. Upgrading to the M3 Pro model offers better value. This is why I recommend it as the best choice for users seeking a balance of power, portability, and price.
