The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

Apple MacBook Pro M3 review: Staggeringly fast and future-proof

The latest MacBook Pro features a blazingly fast processor and a gorgeous new space black design

David Phelan
Monday 06 November 2023 14:00 GMT
It’s the upgrade that power users and creatives have been waiting for
It’s the upgrade that power users and creatives have been waiting for (iStock/The Independent)

Apple is about to release a bevy of new Macs, powered by the company’s latest processors. As well as an update to the all-in-one desktop, the iMac, there are two new laptops: the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro, Apple’s most powerful laptops yet.

Once you’ve picked your screen size, you need to decide on which of the three super-fast processors – the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max – you want to power the device. The M3 is only available on the 14in MacBook Pro, while the M3 Pro and M3 Max versions can be selected for the 14in and 16in versions.

You’ll also need to choose your colour: silver (all models); space grey (14in with M3 only) or the spiffy new space black (all 16in laptops and 14in with M3 Pro or M3 Max).

But that’s not all: you can also choose the storage size and how much active memory (RAM) you want. I got my hands on the MacBook Pro M3 Max last week and have been putting it through its paces.

How we tested

An anodisation seal reduces fingerprints – whatever the science, it really works
An anodisation seal reduces fingerprints – whatever the science, it really works (David Phelan/The Independent)

Setting up a new computer should be easy – so, I checked if that was the case with this Mac. I took a view on how well-built and well-designed the MacBook Pro was, and whether the case picked up fingerprints. I studied how comfortable the keyboard and trackpad were to use, how efficient the Touch ID fingerprint sensor was at recognising who was using it and how fast it sprang into action.

Did running power-hungry programs slow it down, or did it ever become tiresome or slow? Did it perform more slowly when not plugged into the mains? And, of course, I checked battery life, to see if I could leave my charger at home for the day without worrying.

The speed difference on the M3 MacBook is staggering, compared with both older M2 MacBooks and Intel ones
The speed difference on the M3 MacBook is staggering, compared with both older M2 MacBooks and Intel ones (David Phelan/The Independent)

Apple MacBook Pro M3

macbook pro m3 2.jpg
  • Processor: M3, M3 Pro or M3 Max
  • Sizes: 14in or 16in
  • 14in display: LED-backlit, 3,024 x 1,964px native resolution, 600 nits brightness, 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness
  • 16in display: LED-backlit, 3,456 x 2,234px native resolution, 600 nits brightness, 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness
  • Weight: 1.6kg (14in), 2.1kg (16in)
  • Storage: 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB
  • Dimensions: 31.26 x 22.12 x 1.55cm (14in), 35.57 x 24.81 x 1.68cm (16in)
  • Battery: Up to 22 hours
  • RAM: 8/18/36GB (14in), 18/36/48GB (16in)
  • Colours: Silver, space grey (M3 only), space black (M3 Pro, M3 Max only)
  • Why we love it
    • Super-fast performance
    • Great battery life
    • Gorgeous new space black finish
  • Take note
    • Not cheap
    • Not everybody needs all this power

Design

The new 14in MacBook Pro looks identical to the previous M2 versions – which were only updated earlier in the year and are already being replaced by the M3 models.

There’s only one new item in the external design list: the new space black colour. As mentioned, this new colour is only available if you choose the Pro or Max chips in your configuration. The 14in MacBook Pro with the entry-level M3 chip comes in silver and space grey.

When Apple announced the new space black version, it made a big deal out of one aspect: although it’s a matte finish, it doesn’t collect fingerprints. Apple says this is down to what it calls “breakthrough chemistry” – there’s an anodisation seal that reduces fingerprint marks. Whatever the science, it really works. Marks may not vanish completely but they are very hard to spot.

Otherwise, you’ll find the same beautiful but efficient design, with a flat lid and cliff-edge sides. The MacBook Pro looks like it means business, from the shiny Apple logo in the centre of the lid to the flat rubberised feet. The lid can be opened with one finger – opening many laptops this way sees the base swing up, but Apple’s laptops are perfectly balanced.

Meanwhile, the keyboard is a dream to type on, with stable centred keys that have plenty of travel. Similarly, the trackpad is large enough to be very useful and is responsive to the lightest touch.

Read more: Best laptops for students

There’s a fingerprint ID sensor in the power button, so the laptop unlocks to your touch – something it does instantly and reliably. This button is also used to authenticate online purchases.

The upward-firing speakers are there to provide strong sound, whether you’re watching a movie or struggling through a video call.

However, all the other changes are internal – coming down to the new chip and advanced wifi and Bluetooth.

Connectivity

For many people, the versions of Bluetooth and wifi included with the previous Mac laptops are very fast indeed. However, the new models are compatible with wifi 6E, so the main benefit for most people will be when they’re in a public place and logging on to a wifi 6E router.

Similarly, the introduction of Bluetooth 5.3 support means there will be better connectivity and greater range. For most people, this improvement is best thought of as future-proofing.

As with earlier MacBook Pros, there’s a useful SD card slot, HDMI connector and two USB-C sockets on the M3 version (there are three on the M3 Pro and M3 Max machines).

Best of all, all models of the MacBook Pro now come with MagSafe – Apple’s handy and safe system that sees the cable connect magnetically, detaching so the laptop doesn’t go flying if somebody trips on it, for instance.

Display

There’s no difference between the current display and the previous MacBook Pro 14in and 16in models, but it’s worth a mention. Apple calls it Liquid Retina XDR. Liquid means it uses an LCD screen; Retina means it’s high-resolution enough to look great, and XDR (extreme dynamic range) means there are thousands of miniLEDs behind the LCD, for sophisticated local dimming, which makes for outstanding contrast.

Read more: Best iPad deals this month

Since Apple has now retired the 13in MacBook Pro, it means all the Pro laptops, 14in and 16in, have this impressive XDR capability.

The display also has dynamic refresh rates, to ensure smooth motion when the content demands it, or to save battery life when you have something that isn’t moving on screen.

Performance

I’ve been testing the M3 Max, the very fastest M3 chip. Remember the word ‘Pro’ in the title? It’s there for a reason. Professionals using especially demanding programs can make the most of them with this exceptional processor – running multiple 4K video streams in an editing package, for instance.

One of the main purposes of all this power is it saves time in the most complex of workflows, something that’s especially important to creatives, who want to be bogged down in tiresome, slow tasks for as little as possible – an aspiration we can all share.

Here’s an example of where it helps. Final Cut Pro is a professional-quality video-editing program that is very powerful. It can do a lot of things. For instance, if you have video that was shot in landscape but you need it in portrait-orientation for TikTok or other platforms, a feature in the program called Smart Conform can intelligently reshape your content, ensuring your subject stays front and centre. This takes ages and is likely to try your patience. The M3 Max makes short work of this process, converting batches of content in no time.

Read more: Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses review

So, how important is this for the rest of us, or should we all be managing with a MacBook Air M2?

First of all, there’s no such thing as a computer that saves too much time, so, even if simpler Macs are fast enough (and they are), this extra speed is still welcome.

Additionally, having a super-fast processor can also add to the durability of the Mac. As programs offer more features, they become more demanding, so this MacBook Pro should stay faster for longer.

Apple claims its Pro models are as powerful whether they’re plugged in to the wall or working from battery power alone. Apple says this is down to having the perfectly chosen components, and silicon that is so efficient it can draw enough power just from the battery – a claim that matches my experience of the MacBook Pro.

These laptops are very fast, compared with the last generation of Apple silicon, but even more so compared with the Intel-processor-packed models that many people are still using.

Battery life

Laptops have big batteries and big demands. Apple’s efficient silicon plays a part here, too, allowing longer battery life – especially compared with the last generation of Mac laptops with Intel rather than Apple chips.

The 14in MacBook Pro with the entry-level M3 chip has, according to Apple, up to 22 hours of video playback, which is the same as the 16in MacBook Pro models. If you choose a 14in MacBook Pro with a faster chip, such as the one with M3 Max that I’ve been testing, the battery life is less, about 18 hours of video playback, Apple says.

In other words, you really don’t need to drag the power brick around, even for a long working day. That’s Apple’s claim and it tallies with my experience.

Note that when you do come to charge the laptop, it’s a pretty fast process. The 14in models come with a 70W charging brick or 96W charger in some cases. The 16in laptops all come with a 140W charger. The fastest chargers can give you 50 per cent battery in around half an hour.

Back to top

The verdict: MacBook Pro M3

The design of the MacBook Pro was already highly attractive and practical, offering a sumptuous keyboard and immersive sound and display. Now, for the M3 Pro and M3 Max editions, there’s the gorgeous new space black colour, which looks fantastic.

The new MacBook Pro 14in and 16in are mighty fast. If you choose a 14in model with the M3 processor, the price has dropped £450, compared with the last entry-level MacBook Pro – though that had more RAM and the M2 Pro chip, so comparisons aren’t quite straightforward. Even so, it’s objectively a very keen price for a MacBook Pro, starting at £1,699. This entry-level machine will be powerful enough for many.

However, if you want the space black finish, remember, you’ll need the M3 Pro or M3 Max versions, which start at £2,099 for the 14in model, and £2,599 for the 16in version. These are high prices but still represent strong value, given the stupendous power of the M3 Pro or M3 Max.

The processing speed and the price are certainly geared to creatives or advanced users, but while not everyone needs this, it’s brilliant to have and offers future-proofing and an exceptional experience for everyone.

For more laptop recommendations, check out our round-up of the best laptops

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
TUI Discount Code
£50 per booking off selected package holidays using your unique TUI voucher code
ASOS Discount Code
ASOS Discount Code
10% off first orders £20+ using this ASOS promo code
Travelodge Discount Code
Travelodge Discount Code
Save 5% on bookings - Travelodge voucher code
The Body Shop Discount Code
The Body Shop Discount Code
Save 20% on orders with The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
Save 15% on everything with birthday orders at The Perfume Shop - Member exclusive
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Get 15% off + Extra 5% on select products with this Cult Beauty voucher code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in