MacBook Pro M3 Pro After 3 Months: Why It's Not What You Expected

Summary

In this detailed review of the M3 Pro MacBook Pro, Kyle Erikson shares his insights after three months of daily use. He highlights the machine's performance, improved battery life, and practical design, particularly favoring the 14-inch model for its portability. While acknowledging some confusion around its specs compared to previous models, he emphasizes that real-world usage shows it meets most needs effectively. Kyle discusses RAM considerations, external storage solutions, and minor Bluetooth connectivity issues. Overall, he expresses satisfaction with the M3 Pro, deeming it a powerful and reliable device for creative workflows and everyday tasks.

Takeaways

• 😀 The M3 Pro MacBook Pro is often misunderstood due to a mix of upgrades and downgrades compared to previous models.
• 💻 Real-world performance is more important than specifications, leading to varied user experiences.
• 📏 The reviewer prefers the 14-inch model for its portability over the larger 16-inch model.
• ✨ The new space black finish is more resistant to fingerprints, although it shows dust more easily.
• 🔋 Battery life has improved significantly, offering nearly 16 hours on light tasks and around 10 hours under heavy usage.
• ⚙️ The M3 Pro features an 11-core CPU and a 14-core GPU built on a new 3nm process, enhancing efficiency.
• 📦 Users are advised to utilize external SSDs to manage storage effectively, as the internal drive offers speed improvements but may not be noticeable in regular use.
• 🔌 Issues with external drives unmounting during sleep can be fixed using powered hubs.
• 🎵 Speaker quality is excellent, but Bluetooth connectivity may have range limitations.
• 👍 Overall, the M3 Pro MacBook Pro is a powerful and versatile machine, though users with demanding workloads may benefit from higher RAM options.

Q & A

What are the main differences between the M3 Pro MacBook Pro and the previous generation?

The M3 Pro features a 3nm chip process, which offers improved efficiency and battery life, and has a brighter display. However, there are also some downgrades, such as a decrease in memory bandwidth and GPU cores.

How has the battery life of the M3 Pro changed compared to the M2 Pro?

The M3 Pro offers a 20-30% increase in battery life, providing nearly 16 hours of light web browsing and about 10 hours with more intensive tasks like video editing.

Is it harmful to keep the M3 Pro plugged in for extended periods?

No, Apple has optimized battery management to prevent degradation when the MacBook is constantly connected to power.

What issue do users face with external storage when the MacBook goes to sleep?

External drives may disconnect when the MacBook sleeps due to reduced power output from the USB ports. Using a powered hub can help maintain connection.

How does the RAM of the M3 Pro affect performance during demanding tasks?

The M3 Pro's 18GB RAM is generally sufficient for most users, but those engaged in heavy video editing or 3D work may benefit from additional RAM.

What are the improvements in GPU performance with the M3 Pro?

The M3 Pro features a 14-core GPU that supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, resulting in significant performance gains, especially in optimized applications.

How does the speaker quality of the M3 Pro compare to its predecessor?

The M3 Pro's speakers are slightly less loud than the M2 Pro's, but overall sound quality remains excellent, making it one of the best in laptops.

What challenges does the M3 Pro present for users working with audio software?

Some audio software may not utilize the efficiency cores effectively, which could lead to reduced performance for those who work primarily in audio production.

How does the performance of the M3 Pro hold up against the M2 Max?

While the M3 Pro performs well for most tasks, it can be slower in rendering videos compared to the M2 Max due to its single encoding engine.

What overall impression does Kyle Erikson have of the M3 Pro MacBook Pro?

Erikson is satisfied with the M3 Pro, finding it powerful, efficient, and well-suited for his needs, without regret for switching from the Mac Studio.