13-inch MacBook Professional M2 vs 14-inch MacBook Professional M3: What’s totally different?

In October 2023 Apple up to date the entire of its MacBook Professional lineup, introducing new fashions powered by the M3, M3 Professional and M3 Max chips. The most important distinction by far is on the backside of the line-up the place the corporate has retired the 13-inch MacBook Professional with M2 in favor of a 14-inch MacBook Professional with M3. Not solely does the brand new MacBook Professional have a brand new, sooner chip, it additionally advantages from the 14-inch design with its superior display and different enhancements. We check out how the brand new 14-inch MacBook Professional M3 compares to the 13-inch MacBook Professional it replaces.

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Specs in contrast

Earlier than we delve into extra element concerning the variations between the 2 Execs, right here’s a breakdown of their technical specs:

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Worth

With the introduction of the brand new 14-inch MacBook Professional with M3 Apple has discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Professional M2. The unhealthy information is that which means that value of the most affordable MacBook Professional is now quite a bit increased. The 13-inch MacBook Professional began at $1,299/£1,299 whereas the brand new 14-inch equal begins at $1,599/£1,699, which is sort of a value hike.

You would avoid wasting cash whereas the older mannequin remains to be out there from retailers who’re promoting off their previous inventory, or maybe you should buy a refurbished mannequin.

You might also see a very good deal on the brand new M3 MacBook Professional, we regularly see resellers scale back costs. Take a look at our Finest MacBook Professional offers round-up. You’ll additionally see one of the best costs proper now for each fashions.

14-inch MacBook Professional, M3, from $1,599/£1,699

The 14-inch MacBook Professional M3 is accessible from Apple and different suppliers, with the next variants:

• 8GB/512GB – $1,599/£1,699
• 8GB/1TB – $1,799/£1,899

You too can add extra RAM and storage, with each topping out at 24GB and 2TB.

$1449

$1,449.00

$1509

$1599

$1599

13-inch MacBook Professional, M2, was from $1,299/£1,299

At launch the 13-inch mannequin began at $1,299/£1,299 for the 8GB/256GB configuration, transferring as much as $1,499/£1,499 for 512GB and $1,899/£1,899 for those who wished 1TB of storage and to double the RAM to 16GB. Whereas resellers filter extra inventory you might even see some good offers.

New
Refurbished

$1099

$1239

$1,254.93

$1299

MacBook Professional (2022) 13.3-inch – Apple M2 8-core and 10-core GPU – 8GB RAM – SSD 256GB

$974.00

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Efficiency

When Apple final up to date the 13-inch MacBook Professional in June 2022 it was solely out there with the M2 chip. Beforehand the 14-inch MacBook Professional may solely be configured with the M2 Professional or M2 Max chip, however now it may be configured with the M3, M3 Professional or M3 Max.

The brand new M3 sequence of chips are the primary to be constructed on a brand new 3-nanometer course of. This could lead to efficiency positive aspects past the same old generational bump as a result of it permits the engineers to pack the transistors in tighter, closing the gap that information has to journey and likewise aiding power effectivity.

Apple claims that the M3 chip has a CPU that’s 20% sooner than that of the M2, plus it has fairly a bonus over the M1 chips that powered the sooner MacBook Execs too. Rendering speeds are as much as 2.5x sooner within the M3, whereas the CPU cores can work at as much as 50% the speed of the unique M-series processors. So, for those who’re considering of transferring up from an M1-powered system or the even older Intel machines, then the M3 will really feel lightning quick compared. The M2s aren’t any slouch although and any improve will ship faster all-round efficiency, however the M3s are the quickest.

Thomas Armbrüster

As you’ll be able to see from our benchmarks beneath, the M3 truly outperforms the 8-core M1 Professional. Clearly, in order for you the quickest choice the M3 isn’t it, however it’s a lot sooner than the M2 and M1, each of which sped forward of the Intel choices that used to energy the Mac.

Mac processor benchmarks

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Show and display measurement

Because the identify suggests, the brand new 14-inch MacBook Professional M3 has grown a bit of. For a few years, the 13.3-inch Retina show has been a fixture of the MacBook Professional line-up, however Apple has lastly put these dimensions to mattress with its newest replace. It was time to take action: even the 13.6-inch display on the MacBook Air was greater and higher, which means that the 13.3-inch display on the MacBook Professional regarded dated by comparability.

The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR show within the MacBook Professional isn’t simply bigger than its 13.3-inch predecessor, it’s additionally brighter (as much as 1,600 nits in comparison with 500 nits) and provides double the refresh price of the older model due to its 120Hz ProMotion expertise (a characteristic that the MacBook Air lacks).

That is all offered by the brand new mini-LED panel, which might attain brightness ranges over 3 times increased than that of the 13-inch mannequin. In the event you’ve ever tried engaged on a doc or enhancing a video in vibrant environment, you’ll know the way vital this enchancment may very well be to your poor eyes.

Foundry

The bezels on the 13-inch MacBook Professional weren’t precisely enormous, however they’ve been made thinner on the brand new mannequin, with one exception. Alongside the highest, you’ll see that the notch has come to the MacBook Professional. Right here the notch homes nothing however the FaceTime digital camera, there’s no Face ID on any Macs, but), this solely cuts into the menu bar on the prime of the display so it shouldn’t detract an excessive amount of from the display house out there. If the presence of the notch bothers you then the older mannequin is the one MacBook to not have a notch as a characteristic so that you may need to spend money on one whereas they’re nonetheless out there.

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Audio

Audio has additionally been upgraded with the brand new 14-inch MacBook Professional, as Apple strikes from the stereo audio system within the 13-inch mannequin to a brand new six-speaker high-fidelity system with force-canceling woofers. Each machines assist Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, however this can sound higher on the 14-inch MacBook Professional due to these specialised audio system.

There’s the identical triple mic array on each units, so that you’ll sound good on convention calls, and do you have to desire a little bit of privateness you’ll be able to plug some headphones into the three.5mm on both system. One extra choice on the 14-inch MacBook Professional is that its HDMI port helps audio output.

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Webcam

One of many greatest disadvantages of the previous 13-inch MacBook Professional was its decrepit 720p FaceTime digital camera. Fortunately the 14-inch MacBook Professional incorporates a a lot better 1080p digital camera for these FaceTime, Zoom and Groups calls. Macs nonetheless lack Apple’s Centre Stage characteristic out there on iPads that retains you within the body for those who transfer about.

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Connectivity

The choice of ports on the 13-inch MacBook Professional was considerably minimalist. All you bought was two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. These may very well be expanded through a USB-C hub at an additional expense.

The 14-inch MacBook Professional with M3 boasts two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, plus an SXDC card slot, HDMI port and three.5mm headphone jack. If you would like extra USB ports the M3 Professional verison consists of three. There’s additionally a separate MagSafe charging port so that you don’t have to surrender charging so as to plug in one thing else.

Foundry

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: The top of the Contact Bar

The notch might have arrived with the 14-inch MacBook Professional, however one notable absence is that of the Contact Bar. Adore it or loath it, this interactive strip, that adjustments relying on the app you’re utilizing, isn’t any extra.

In the event you just like the Contact Bar the 13-inch MacBook Professional is the final probability you’ll have to make use of it.

Apple

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Battery Life

With the M3 silicon, there are some important battery life enhancements on the 14-inch MacBook Professional, however not in all instances. Apple says that you simply’ll get a most of twenty-two hours of video playback with the brand new machine, two greater than its predecessor. However, relating to utilizing the web, the M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Professional retains a shocking lead as it may possibly final for as much as 17 hours, which is 2 greater than the newer mannequin.

One small benefit the 14-inch MacBook Professional M3 provides is that it helps quick charging, though you’ll want to purchase a 97W charger to entry the faster recharge speeds.

MacBook Professional 13-inch M2 vs MacBook Professional 14-inch M3: Verdict

Apple has put some severe work into upgrading the MacBook Professional this time round. Whereas the 13-inch MacBook Professional M2 stays a superb system, it won’t be straightforward to search out now that Apple has discontinued it. To be trustworthy although, the bigger, brighter show, additional ports, sooner processor, improved webcam and prolonged battery life (in some conditions) makes the 14-inch MacBook Professional a extra rounded machine for the calls for of recent customers. We simply want Apple hadn’t hiked the worth up fairly a lot.