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.