Space Black M3 Max MacBook Pro Review: We Can Game Now?!

Summary

The video script reviews Apple's new laptop, highlighting the introduction of a darker 'Space Black' color and the M3 chip, which offers improved performance over its predecessor. While the laptop retains its high-quality build and features, the new color isn't as striking as expected, and the performance boost, though significant, doesn't significantly impact the reviewer's workflow, leading to a canceled order. The script also discusses the laptop's gaming potential and the current state of gaming on Macs.

Takeaways

• 💻 Apple has released a new laptop with two main new features: a new color option and a new chip.
• 🎨 The new laptop comes in a darker shade called Space Black, which is achieved through a new anodization process on the aluminum, making it more fingerprint resistant.
• 🔍 Despite the name, the Space Black is described as a darker gray rather than a true black, and it still shows some fingerprints, though less than other black laptops.
• 🔌 The laptop retains its high-quality build with features like full-size HDMI, MagSafe, and a bright display, but also keeps the awkward design elements like the large notch for the webcam without face unlock.
• 🖥️ The new M3 chip family offers performance improvements over the M2, with the M3 Max featuring a 40-core GPU and up to 128GB of shared memory.
• 📈 CPU performance improvements are in the range of 20-30% over the previous generation, with significant gains in single-core performance.
• 🎮 While the new GPU performance is impressive, the laptop's gaming potential is limited due to the lack of availability of popular games on Mac.
• 🛠️ The laptop is well-suited for professional applications that can utilize the GPU power, such as 3D rendering and video editing, with support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading.
• 🕹️ The reviewer played 'Lies of P', a game that showcases the new GPU capabilities, and found the gaming experience to be impressive, despite not being invested in the game itself.
• 💡 The reviewer ultimately decided not to upgrade from their current M1 Max MacBook Pro, as the new features did not significantly impact their workflow.
• 🔄 For users with older MacBooks or those not on the Pro tier, the M3 chip could offer meaningful improvements and unlock new capabilities in their workflow.

Q & A

What are the two new features of the Apple laptop mentioned in the script?

The two new features are a new color, referred to as Space Black, and a new chip, the M3 family of chips.

What is the difference between the Space Black color and the previous Space Gray color on Apple laptops?

The Space Black color is a bit darker than the previous Space Gray, but it's not completely black and still shows some fingerprints, though less than other black laptops.

What is the new process used for the aluminum of the Space Black laptop?

A new anodization process is used for the aluminum, which is not just a coating but a new chemistry process that is part of the anodization itself, making it extra fingerprint resistant.

What is the improvement in the CPU performance of the M3 chip over the M2 chip?

The CPU performance of the M3 chip shows an improvement in the range of 20 to 30% over the M2 chip, with a more significant jump in single-core performance.

How does the GPU performance of the M3 Max compare to the M2 Max?

The M3 Max has a 40-core GPU and up to 128 GB of shared memory, compared to the M2 Max's 38-core GPU and 96 GB of shared memory.

What is the gaming experience like on the new MacBook Pro with the M3 Max chip?

The gaming experience is impressive with high frame rates and visual depth at 4K resolution, supported by macOS Sonoma's gaming mode and Bluetooth controller with lower latency.

Why might the script's author not be interested in upgrading to the new MacBook Pro despite its powerful GPU?

The author may not be interested in upgrading because the new color and chip do not make a meaningful difference to their workflow, and they are already satisfied with their M1 Max MacBook Pro.

What are some of the high-powered applications that can take advantage of the new GPU power in the MacBook Pro?

Applications like Cinema 4D can benefit from the new GPU power, as well as other apps that utilize hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading.

What is the author's opinion on the gaming potential of the new MacBook Pro?

The author believes that while the MacBook Pro is powerful enough for gaming, the lack of availability of popular games on Mac makes it less appealing as a gaming platform.

Why did the author cancel their order for the new MacBook Pro?

The author canceled their order because the new color and chip improvements did not significantly enhance their current workflow and user experience with the M1 Max MacBook Pro.

What does the author suggest for people considering an upgrade to the new MacBook Pro?

The author suggests that people with older machines or those not in the Pro tier might benefit more from the upgrade, as the improvements are more significant for them.