Apple has just unveiled three new Mac computers, the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros and the 24-inch iMac, all powered by Apple’s latest chip, the M3 processor. And I draw two conclusions from this.
- The M3 chipset is a beast of performance and efficiency.
- There is now a 14-inch MacBook Pro for less than €2,000.
This last point is probably the most interesting. Apple has officially discontinued its 13-inch MacBook Pro model in favor of a new 14-inch MacBook Pro configuration, which is relatively affordable, with only 8 GB of RAM, an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. There are also only two USB-C Thunderbolt ports compared to three on the M3 Pro and M3 Max variants.
Do you see the sleight of hand?
For “Pro” users who spend hours a day doing graphic design, game development, video editing, or managing AI/ML workflows, the base model of the new MacBook Pro M3 14 inches – no matter how good its price – clearly won’t do the job.
The M3 Pro and M3 Max configurations are those used in Apple use cases
Instead, look to the M3 Pro and M3 Max configurations, which are not only better able to handle the use cases Apple spent the majority of its 30-minute presentation demonstrating, but are also available in the new Space Black color.
Apple
So, why should a professional choose the cheapest MacBook Pro M3, even if its processor is not lightning-fast (compared to its little comrades, of course)? Well, because there is an exception when companies buy computers to deploy them en masse and manage large-scale systems. In this context, the price saving is verified. But in other cases, you will have to look elsewhere.
Furthermore, more generally, Apple indicates that the base MacBook Pro M3 has a battery life of 22 hours, compared to 19 hours for the M3 Pro and M3 Max models. For users who travel often and value battery life performance, this should be the main appeal (aside from price) of the M3 MacBook Pro.
Users who wanted to buy the 13-inch MacBook Pro will find what they are looking for in the latest MacBook M3
That said, the base model MacBook Pro is not a bargain computer. Because the basic hardware of its more expensive variants is also present on this model, including the wonderfully color-accurate Retina XDR display with ProMotion, the integrated HDMI port and SDXC card slot, as well as the powerful speakers.
Users who previously considered purchasing the now discontinued 13-inch MacBook Pro will find what they’re looking for in the latest MacBook M3. As for professionals looking for more power, it’s certainly worth putting system needs and future-proofing ahead of everything else, including price.
Source: “ZDNet.com”