Technology

Apple's laptop family has undergone significant changes this year, bringing much-needed clarity to its lineup. The highly anticipated 15-inch MacBook Air was released several months ago, followed by two revisions of the MacBook Pro within a short span of 12 months. While the M2 Pro models provided a noticeable improvement in performance, it is the new M3-powered MacBook Pro models in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes that truly showcase Apple's vision for the future. The removal of the long-suffering 13-inch MacBook Pro, burdened with a Touch Bar and an outdated design, demonstrates Apple's commitment to catering specifically to professionals with their Pro machines, while the Air models are designed for the general user base.

In terms of options for professionals, Apple seems to be further segmenting its user base. The more affordable 14-inch MacBook Pro, priced at $1,599, features a standard M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. This addition to the lineup perfectly caters to individuals who desire more power than the MacBook Air without needing to invest in a $2,000 machine. However, it does come with limitations, such as 8GB of RAM and the loss of a USB-C port on the right side, which may become apparent when multiple browser tabs are open.

For multimedia work, users can upgrade to the $1,999 14-inch M3 Pro model, which offers an 11-core CPU and 14-core GPU. To unlock the full power of the M3 Pro chip with a 12-core CPU and 18-core GPU, the price rises to $2,399. The most demanding users can opt for the $3,199 M3 Max model, equipped with a 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU. The pricing remains unchanged for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, starting at $2,499 for the M3 Pro chip. Both systems can be configured with the high-end 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU M3 Max, providing unparalleled performance.

Additionally, both MacBook Pro models are available in a striking "Space Black" color, featuring an anodization process aimed at reducing fingerprints. Unfortunately, this color option is not available for the base M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is a minor drawback. However, in personal testing, the "Space Black" color appeared darker than the previous "Space Gray" MacBook Pros and attracted fewer fingerprint smudges compared to the pure black "Midnight" MacBook Air. It is my hope that Apple will eventually release a "Midnight" variant of the MacBook Pro that offers improved resistance to fingerprints. Of course, the classic silver option is still available for those who prefer a more traditional aesthetic.

Moving beyond aesthetics, the overall design of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros remains largely unchanged since their 2021 refresh. The sleek all-aluminum design represents a significant leap forward from Apple's older unibody cases, which had been in use for nearly a decade. Both models boast stunning Liquid Retina XDR displays in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, featuring HDR, refresh rates of up to 120Hz with ProMotion, and peak HDR brightness of up to 1,600 nits (with a notable upgrade to 600 nits of SDR brightness compared to the previous 500 nits). Despite the ongoing criticism of the notch, it persists in housing a 1080p webcam.

I must admit, the MacBook Pro redesign from two years ago was a substantial improvement and remains visually appealing today. Apple's commitment to this design for an extended period, similar to the old unibody design, would not surprise me. While other PC manufacturers strive to differentiate their products by incorporating flashy features, such as the rear LED lights on ASUS's Zephyrus G14 and m16, there is an understated coolness and confidence about these MacBook Pros that is hard to overlook.

You might be curious why we are reviewing both the 14-inch and 16-inch models together. Simply put, these models are practically identical in terms of functionality, with the primary difference being screen size. Neither one is inherently superior to the other; it ultimately depends on your specific needs. For video editors working on large projects, the larger screen option is preferable, especially with the capability to accommodate the 40-core GPU. On the other hand, if portability is a priority, the smaller 3.5-pound model may be more suitable, whereas the 16-inch model weighs a slightly burdensome 4.7 pounds.

In my testing, I had the opportunity to evaluate the 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip and 16GB of RAM, as well as the 16-inch model equipped with an M3 Max chip and an impressive 128GB of RAM.