Apple MacBook M3 Pro – Long Term Review: It’s Aging SO Well!

Summary

In this long-term review, Andrew shares his experience with the 14-inch MacBook Pro featuring the M3 Pro chip after 250 days of use. He discusses the laptop's strong battery life, exceptional display, and impressive performance in daily tasks, including video editing. However, he also notes some thermal throttling during heavy workloads. The review highlights the laptop's durability, future-proofing with upcoming macOS updates, and overall value, making it a great option for professionals seeking a reliable and powerful device.

Takeaways

• 💻 The 14" MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip has been used as a primary laptop for 250 days, handling tasks from video editing to docked setups.
• 🔋 Battery life is a standout feature, often approaching the claimed 30 hours, though it drains faster during specific tasks like playing music or rendering large video files.
• 🎨 The display remains sharp and bright, but there's a small decrease in color gamut coverage compared to previous models, which may affect professionals in photography or color grading.
• 🔥 The laptop experiences thermal throttling during sustained heavy loads, especially in tasks like editing large 4K video files, which may affect performance.
• 🎹 The keyboard continues to provide a satisfying typing experience, with good key depth and actuation, and the touch ID remains convenient.
• 🎨 The space black color is durable and resists fingerprints, becoming a favorite color option after extensive use.
• 📈 Software updates from developers like Adobe and Blackmagic Design have improved performance and efficiency, making the M3 Pro chip even more powerful over time.
• 🌡️ The M3 Pro chip's 3nm architecture contributes to longer battery life and cooler operation, though users pushing the laptop to its limits might consider the 16" model for better heat management.
• 💡 The upcoming macOS Sequoia and Apple Intelligence updates are expected to optimize power management, improve graphics performance, and future-proof the M3 Pro chip.
• 💼 The M3 Pro is recommended for professionals using demanding creative applications and is expected to offer 5-10 years of solid use, especially for those upgrading from Intel-based Macs or older Windows laptops.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the review in the script?

The review aims to provide a long-term evaluation of the 14" MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip after 250 days of use, focusing on aspects like battery life, thermal performance, and overall value.

How does the reviewer describe the keyboard of the MacBook Pro?

The reviewer describes the keyboard as still enjoyable to type on, with fantastic key depth, satisfying actuation, and well-sized keys that contribute to typing accuracy. Touch ID remains convenient.

What are the reviewer's observations on the display quality of the MacBook Pro?

The reviewer notes that the 14-inch display remains sharp, powerful for creative use, and bright at 600 nits, peaking at 1,600 nits for HDR content. However, there is a small decrease in color gamut coverage compared to previous models, which might affect professionals in fields like photography or color grading.

What does the reviewer mention about the battery life of the MacBook Pro?

The reviewer highlights that the battery life has been a strong point, with Apple claiming 30 hours on a single charge. Although the reviewer doesn't always hit that range, the laptop still lasts nearly all day under various workloads.

What thermal issues has the reviewer encountered with the MacBook Pro?

The reviewer has encountered thermal throttling when editing large 4K video files, which causes the chip to downclock its speed to avoid overheating. This results in throttled performance and a slower experience during video editing.

Why does the reviewer recommend the 16-inch model over the 14-inch in certain cases?

The reviewer suggests considering the 16-inch model if you frequently push the laptop to its limits, as its larger size helps manage increased temperatures under heavy load, reducing the likelihood of thermal throttling.

How has the performance of the MacBook Pro improved over time?

The reviewer notes that performance and efficiency have improved due to software updates from developers like Adobe and Blackmagic Design, which have optimized their software for the M3 chipset.

What advice does the reviewer give regarding the M3 Max chip?

The reviewer mentions that while the M3 Max chip offers more cores and better performance, the M3 Pro is sufficient for most users, especially those involved in video editing and 3D animation, making it a more cost-effective choice.

What future updates does the reviewer anticipate for the MacBook Pro?

The reviewer anticipates that the upcoming Mac OS Sequoia and Apple Intelligence updates will further optimize power management, improve graphics processing, and enhance overall performance, making the M3 Pro a future-proof investment.

Who does the reviewer believe would benefit most from the MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip?

The reviewer believes that the MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip is ideal for users who are upgrading from Intel-based Macs or older Windows laptops, especially those involved in demanding creative applications and looking for a future-proof laptop.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Long-Term Review of the MacBook Pro M3 Pro

After 250 days of use, the reviewer provides an in-depth assessment of the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip. They discuss the laptop's strong performance in various tasks like video editing, its durable design, excellent keyboard, and bright display. However, they note minor issues such as thermal throttling under heavy loads and slightly reduced color accuracy compared to previous models. Despite these issues, the reviewer praises the laptop's battery life, build quality, and overall value, making it a solid choice for professionals.

05:03

🖥️ Optimized Desktop Setup with Logitech Accessories

The reviewer highlights their desktop setup using the MacBook Pro M3 Pro in clamshell mode, paired with Logitech accessories. They recommend the Logitech MX Keys S keyboard and MX Master 3S mouse for their compatibility, ergonomic design, and high performance. The reviewer also notes the improved software optimization for the M3 chip, which enhances the overall experience with better performance and efficiency. They conclude that this setup provides a powerful and productive environment, ideal for intensive workflows.

10:07

🔋 Future-Proofing and Long-Term Benefits of the MacBook M3 Pro

The final paragraph focuses on the future potential of the MacBook Pro M3 Pro, especially with upcoming MacOS Sequoia and Apple Intelligence updates. These updates are expected to optimize power management, extend battery life, and improve graphics performance. The reviewer considers the M3 Pro a great investment for those upgrading from older Intel Macs or Windows laptops, highlighting its balance of power, efficiency, and longevity. They recommend the M3 Pro as a safe buy for most professionals and emphasize its long-term value.

Keywords

💡M3 Pro chip

The M3 Pro chip is a powerful processor developed by Apple, featured in the 14-inch MacBook Pro discussed in the video. It includes a 12-core CPU and an 18-core GPU, making it suitable for demanding tasks like video editing and professional creative work. The video highlights the chip's efficiency, especially in terms of battery life and performance, and its ability to handle complex workflows despite occasional thermal throttling.

💡Thermal throttling

Thermal throttling is the process by which a computer's processor reduces its speed to prevent overheating under heavy loads. In the video, the presenter mentions encountering thermal throttling issues when working on large 4K video files, leading to reduced performance. This concept is critical to understanding the limitations of the M3 Pro chip when subjected to intense, sustained workloads.

💡Battery life

Battery life refers to the duration a laptop can run on a single charge. The video discusses the MacBook Pro's impressive battery life, with Apple claiming up to 30 hours on a single charge. While the presenter acknowledges that the laptop often comes close to this figure, they note that certain activities, like playing music or rendering large video files, can drain the battery more quickly.

💡Clamshell mode

Clamshell mode refers to using a MacBook with the lid closed while connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. In the video, the presenter praises the M3 Pro's ability to power an external display efficiently in clamshell mode, making it a viable alternative to a desktop setup. This mode enhances the laptop's versatility, particularly for professionals who prefer a more ergonomic workspace.

💡Color gamut coverage

Color gamut coverage is the range of colors a display can produce. The video notes a slight decrease in color gamut coverage in the M3 Pro compared to previous MacBook models. While this reduction is minor and unlikely to affect most users, it may be noticeable to professionals in fields like photography or color grading, where color accuracy is critical.

💡3-nanometer process

The 3-nanometer process refers to the advanced manufacturing technology used to create the M3 Pro chip. This process allows for smaller, more efficient transistors, resulting in improved power efficiency and performance. In the video, the presenter attributes the MacBook's extended battery life and cooler operation under heavy load to this technological advancement.

💡External storage

External storage refers to devices like hard drives or cloud services used to store files outside the laptop's internal storage. The presenter mentions that while the MacBook Pro's 1TB SSD has been sufficient for daily use, larger files are stored on external devices. This concept underscores the importance of external storage solutions for users with extensive data management needs.

💡macOS Sequoia

macOS Sequoia is the upcoming operating system mentioned in the video, expected to bring significant improvements to the MacBook's performance and efficiency. The presenter anticipates that this OS will optimize power management, enhance graphics processing, and introduce new features that could further extend the M3 Pro's battery life and overall functionality.

💡Logitech MX Keys S and MX Master 3S

The Logitech MX Keys S and MX Master 3S are high-quality keyboard and mouse accessories recommended in the video for use with the MacBook Pro. The presenter highlights their compatibility with macOS, ergonomic design, and advanced features like backlit keys and precise tracking, making them ideal for professional workflows. These accessories enhance the laptop's functionality in a docked setup.

💡Future-proofing

Future-proofing refers to the ability of a device to remain functional and relevant for several years despite advancements in technology. The video discusses how the M3 Pro, with its powerful chip and potential for ongoing software optimizations, is a future-proof investment for professionals. The presenter believes that the MacBook Pro will continue to perform well and receive software updates for years to come, ensuring its long-term value.

Highlights

Andrew provides a 250-day review of the 14" MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip, discussing its long-term performance and durability.

The MacBook's keyboard remains enjoyable to type on with satisfying key actuation and Touch ID continues to be very convenient.

The 14-inch display is sharp and powerful, though there is a slight decrease in color gamut coverage compared to the M1 and M2 models.

The space black color of the MacBook has held up well over time, resisting fingerprints and scratches despite frequent use.

Battery life is a strong feature of the M3 Pro, often lasting close to Apple's claim of 30 hours on a single charge, though certain activities like playing music and rendering large video files drain the battery faster.

The new 3nm chip process in the M3 Pro improves power utilization, contributing to longer battery life and cooler operation under heavy load.

Thermal throttling issues have been observed when editing large 4K video timelines, causing the chip to downclock and slow performance.

For those pushing the laptop to its limits, the 16-inch model may be a better option to avoid thermal throttling due to its larger size.

Using an app like Alente to cap the charge at 80% can help preserve battery life and extend the charging cycles of the MacBook.

The M3 Pro performs well in clamshell mode, providing a powerful and ergonomic setup when connected to an external display.

The Logitech MX Keys S and MX Master 3S are highlighted as high-quality accessories that pair well with the MacBook for a productive desktop setup.

Software updates from developers like Adobe and Blackmagic Design have improved performance and efficiency on the M3 Pro over time.

Mac OS Sequoia is expected to further optimize power management, graphics processing, and video editing performance on the M3 Pro.

The M3 Pro is seen as a future-proof investment, especially for users upgrading from Intel-based Macs or older Windows laptops.

For most professionals, the M3 Pro offers a blend of power, efficiency, and design that makes it a safe and strong contender in the laptop market.

Transcripts

This is the 14" MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip  I've had this laptop for almost 250 days now and  

I've been using it as the main laptop for most of  my work from video editing while on the road to  

using it in a docked setup at home hey friends  Andrew here hope you're well so now 250 Days  

Later here is my long-term review of the MacBook  M3 Pro going over how its battery life has been  

holding up some unfortunate thermal isues some  software updates and why overall I think that  

this is actually a laptop that's aging really  well and is still a great buy okay so firstly  

this is the configuration that I've been working  with this has the M3 Pro chip with 12 core CPU  

18 core GPU 18 GB memory and 1 TB SSD and  everything is holding up really nicely with  

daily use the keyboard on the MacBook Pro is still  enjoyable to type on the key depth is fantastic  

the actuation is satisfying the keys are the  perfect size for typing accuracy and touch ID  

is still very convenient the 14-in display  remains sharp powerful for Creative use and  

plenty bright at 600 nits and Peaks at 1,600  nits for HDL content but I believe something  

that I've noticed is there's a very small  decrease in color gamut coverage compared  

to the M1 and M2 MacBook Pros which means  it's not as color accurate but don't worry  

it's not that noticeable dayto day for most users  it won't even matter but if you're a photographer  

or a professional color grader it is something  to keep in mind as for the storage 1 tbte has  

been plenty I don't really store large files  uh locally I mainly just store stuff like PDFs  

Excel docs and larger files are in the cloud or  on the nas so 1 terabyte locally has been plenty  

you can always buy an external hard drive or cloud  storage the space black color here is also holding  

up really well despite me not babying it at all  I've come to actually like the color more and  

more to the point that it has probably become my  favorite MacBook color uh full stop I complained  

about the color in my initial review and I said  that I would have liked to see it darker but  

after daily use I actually appreciate that it  isn't Pitch Black it's this beautiful dark gray  

with tints of black under certain lights it also  resists fingerprints pretty well and there's zero  

scratches so far and like I said I haven't been  babying this laptop I've been taking out and about  

basically everywhere and yeah it's been holding up  really well then there is the battery life which  

has been a highlight feature of the M3 Pro so far  Apple claimed 30 hours on a single charge during  

the launch of this laptop and you know what even  though I'm not always hitting that range it does  

come quite close day to-day so this has been a  reliable laptop when I'm video editing on the  

go and need a full day use without a charger it's  a huge perk for professionals on the go one thing  

that I have noticed is the BR real life drains  faster than average when I'm playing music through  

the speakers and also rendering multiple large  video files outside of those two things though  

it'll last the entire day no problem running all  sorts of applications and watching YouTube videos  

a big part of the very lengthy battery life is  that new 3 nanom chip size and long story short  

that 3 nanom process has design improvements that  optimize how the chip utilizes power so that all  

means longer battery life and a cooler operation  under heavy load I have unfortunately run into  

of course the thermal throttling issues on this  14in MacBook M3 Pro so when I edit 4K mxf format  

for example of my Sony fx6 on a very large video  timeline let's say 20 minute timeline it starts  

to overheat over that sustained heavy load so what  happens then the chip then down clocks its speed  

to avoid overheating and then this means throttle  performance and a slower experience video editing  

I think for like 99% of people this isn't going  to be a problem but it is a consideration if you  

constantly push this laptop to its limits and if  that is you or you think that might be you you  

might want to consider the 16in model because  its larger size will help handle the increased  

temperature under load and avoid being throttled  also Pro tip use an app called alente which will  

cap the charge at 80% to help preserve the battery  and get you more charging Cycles out of your new  

Macbook still one of my favorite ways to use this  laptop is in its clamshell mode because it uses  

the GPU to power the external display and creates  just a more ergonomic work setup so throwing it  

into clamshell mode in a stand and plugging it  into a thunderbolt monitor like the studio display  

here the M3 Pro chip is plenty powerful to fill an  intense workflow and with a dedicated keyboard and  

mouse it works as well as an iMac or Mac Mini I've  partnered with Logitech on this segment to show  

you some of my favorite Logitech accessories that  go perfectly with a Macbook in this doc setup so  

my go-to keyboard and mouse combo is still the  Logitech MX Keys s with the MX Master 3s these  

are both one of the best keyboard and mouse  combos available and in the new Logitech MX  

Keys s combo for Mac set it comes bundled with a  pretty comfortable wrist rest so aesthetically the  

set is designed for Max with its Mac key layout  smart backlit keys that illuminate when I'm about  

type and the space gray finish pairs up  perfectly with the MacBook M3 Pro that I  

have but more importantly they're just really high  quality accessories if you've used the MX Master  

3s you'll know that this is one of the best mice  on the market with its precise pixel tracking up  

to 8,000 DPI and comfortable design with plenty  of shortcut buttons for efficiency the keyboard  

has never studded and the low profile switches are  just as pleasant to use as the macbook's keyboard  

itself plus I'm able to connect them to Three  Apple devices at once for fast switching when  

I'm working at my desk the new MX Brio webcam also  Graces the Apple Pro XR display since it doesn't  

have an inbuilt webcam and the webcam comes in  clutch for professionall looking 4K video meetings  

so altogether it's an aesthetic Match Made for  Mac productivity if you'd like to grab the MX  

Keys s combo set for your own Mac setup check  out the link and discounts in the description  

box below so so over the last 6 or so months now  I've noticed improved performance and efficiency  

with the M3 Pro and this is because developers  have fine-tuned software to unlock more out of  

the M3 chipset for example Adobe black magic  design and finart pro have all released updates  

optimizing performance for the new chipset for  faster rendering times smoother workflows and also  

improved efficiency too it's the same thing we've  seen during the change from Intel processors to  

Apple silicon as more developers updated software  and apps for the M1 chip we saw bigger and bigger  

performance bombs so it's great to see that the  M3 Pro gets even better with time and even if  

you choose to buy an M3 Pro later down the track  when for example you know the M4 or maybe even M5  

are out you'll still likely benefit from ongoing  software optimization for an even bigger range of  

apps so there's definitely like an element of  future prooved to purchase here I did think to  

myself though do I regret not buying the M3 Max  because you may remember in my initial review I  

said that Apple seems to be pushing users towards  the M3 Max chip this year it comes with more cores  

a wider memory bus and is obviously aimed at  Professionals in video editing 3D animation or  

coding but as someone who uses figma blender and  edits 4K files the M3 pro has been enough in my  

experience and at a more manageable price point  too to me it's like the goldilock Zone the M3  

Max is super expensive and the return on those  dollars just sorts of tapers off but the base  

M3 doesn't have enough long-term juice and don't  get me started on the minimum base 8 GB of RAM in  

2024 yeah it's it it shouldn't be the case but the  M3 Pro sits right in the middle of those offerings  

and will suit most people's needs let's not forget  the elephant in the room though the upcoming Mac  

OS sequia and apple intelligence updates they're  going to be a big part of maximizing the M3 chip  

performance and future proofing it too I think  there's a few ways the new Mac OS will improve  

the MacBook M3 Pro so firstly Mac OS sequia  is likely going to optimize power management  

which could mean an even longer battery life on  the already great M3 Pro developers also have  

the opportunity to optimize their software even  further on the M3 Pro architecture there's also  

an improved metal framework which is Apple's  Graphics framework that could help juice more  

Graphics processing power from the M3 Pro for  gamers and creatives plus there's even rumored  

improved prores acceleration which means even  faster encoding and decoding times for video  

editors so that's a lot of new upcoming benefits  that will improve the MacBook M3 Pro over time and  

that's not even including all the upcoming Apple  intelligence stuff that could speed up workflows  

by automating tasks obviously this is not unique  to the M3 Pro but the M3 Pro is positioned to take  

the most capability out of the new OS the MacBook  M3 Pro is also of course still a premium device  

with a price tag that doesn't suit casual users  but it's a decent investment I think knowing that  

the the M3 chipset is positioned to benefit from  the new OS for some time to come okay so after 250  

days of using this laptop I think that the person  that's going to benefit most from the MacBook M3  

Pro is someone that's still either using an Intel  based Mac or an older Windows laptop and you're  

invested into demanding creative applications  and you're looking to invest in a futureproof  

laptop I think the M3 Pro is a great bet it's a  laptop that's actually sort of hard to fault and  

unless you're going to be working on the most  intense workflows like large 3D renders the M3  

Pro will probably get the job done it's a laptop  that I think you'd be able to get a Solid 5 to 10  

years of use out of without any issues as long as  Apple keeps to its promise of 6 or so years of OS  

updates but if you have the previous gen M2 Pro  or even the MacBook M2 or M3 air the performance  

gains probably don't justify the upgrade cost My  overall thought here is that the M3 Pro is still  

a really really strong contender in the laptop  market and will be for a while the blend of power  

efficiency design ergonomics and that super long  battery life just makes it a pretty safe buy for  

most professionals who push their laptops and if  you ever find one on sale I'd say go for it it's  

a really safe bet and a great buy so if you  made it to the very end of this video comment  

the code word sequia and I'll give it a like for  watching until the end and if you have the MacBook  

M3 Pro or Max yourself have you been enjoying the  laptop let me know if you do have a Macbook I'll  

drop a video right here to my favorite free  Mac apps you probably haven't heard of so go  

check it out and as always thanks for watching  and I'll see you in the next video oh [Music]