16" M1 Pro vs 14" M3 Pro MacBook Pro - My Experience!

Summary

In this video, John compares the M1 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro and the M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro based on six months of usage. He highlights minor CPU improvements in the M3 Pro, while noting similar GPU performance. The M1 Pro outperformed the M3 in specific tasks like DaVinci Resolve exports. John emphasizes the importance of RAM, recommending at least 32GB for video editing. While the M3 Pro offers longer battery life, he favors the larger screen of the M1 Pro for editing. Ultimately, he suggests that the M1 Pro represents better value for those on a budget.

Takeaways

• 😀 John has been using the M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro for 6 months, while the M1 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro has been in use for over a year.
• 💻 The 16-inch MacBook Pro is preferred for its larger screen, making it a powerful workhorse for video editing and productivity.
• ⚙️ Performance tests show only slight improvements in CPU power with the M3 Pro, attributed to its 3nm architecture.
• 📊 GPU performance remains largely similar between the M1 Pro and M3 Pro models.
• 🕒 Video rendering in DaVinci Resolve was faster on the M1 Pro, indicating it may outperform the M3 Pro in certain tasks.
• 🔄 Final Cut Pro offers better optimization and user experience compared to DaVinci Resolve on these Macs.
• 💾 The M1 Pro struggles with heavy RAM usage, highlighting the need for at least 32GB of RAM for serious video editing.
• 🔌 Battery life on the M3 Pro remains strong, lasting up to 60% at the end of an 8-hour workday with moderate use.
• 💰 Pricing considerations: the M1 Pro offers great value at around $1350 refurbished, while the M3 Pro is significantly more expensive.
• 🎨 The new color options of the M3 Pro, including space black, are visually appealing but do not significantly impact performance.

Q & A

What are the two MacBook models compared in the video?

The video compares the M1 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro and the M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro.

How long has the speaker been using the M3 Pro MacBook?

The speaker has been using the M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro for the last 6 months.

What is the main performance difference noted between the M1 Pro and M3 Pro?

The M3 Pro has a slight performance improvement due to its 3-nanometer architecture, but GPU performance is essentially the same between the two.

What software did the speaker use for performance testing?

The speaker used Geekbench for CPU tests and DaVinci Resolve for export tests.

What issue did the speaker encounter when editing video on the M1 Pro?

The M1 Pro struggled with handling a large raw image catalog, requiring the speaker to move it to a virtual machine or another PC.

What was the difference in rendering speed observed between the M1 Pro and M3 Pro?

The M1 Pro finished rendering about 35 seconds faster than the M3 Pro in DaVinci Resolve.

What RAM capacity does the speaker recommend for these MacBooks?

The speaker recommends at least 32 GB of RAM for optimal performance, especially when editing video.

How does battery life compare between the two MacBooks during productivity tasks?

The M3 Pro has excellent battery life, lasting until about 60% at the end of a workday, while the M1 Pro drains much faster under heavy use.

What additional features does the speaker mention in relation to the M3 Pro?

The M3 Pro includes a new HDMI port and Wi-Fi standard, but the speaker does not utilize these features.

What conclusion does the speaker reach about purchasing either MacBook?

The speaker suggests considering the M1 Pro for a lower price or looking for an M1 Max with more RAM for better performance, but indicates a preference for the M1 Max overall.