M3 MacBook Pro or M3 MacBook Air: Which Is Best For You?

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If you’re in the market for a new MacBook, you may be wondering if the MacBook Pro or MacBook Air is more appropriate for you. To add to that, Apple has recently refreshed its lineup, offering new M3 versions of both the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

So how do you decide which one is right for you? In this article, we’ll compare the M3 MacBook Pro and the M3 MacBook Air, highlighting the key differences to help you make an informed decision.

Chipset: M3 Power

Both the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air are equipped with Apple’s M3 chip. This powerful chipset is one of the most sophisticated processing units ever made because it makes use of 3nm technology.

As such, the M3 chip offers exceptionally smooth performance and efficiency across a range of task intensities. This is true even for the base-level M3 chip, which Apple says is at least 50% faster than the M1 chip.

However, there are chip variations within the MacBook lineup to suit the needs of people with more demanding requirements.

The M3 MacBook Air can only be bought with the base-level M3 chip. With the M3 MacBook Pro, however, you can choose between the base M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max chip.

Whilst you’ll be fine using the standard M3 chip for things like light video editing, photo manipulation and word processing, if you are a so-called ‘power user’, choosing the M3 Pro or M3 Max may be worthwhile.

But it requires some careful thought. A MacBook Pro with a base-level M3 chip is still very powerful. It is not like using an Intel MacBook. The majority of people will be completely fine using a standard M3 MacBook Pro. That same chip is inside the M3 MacBook Air.

And what does that mean?

That the majority of people will have their needs covered by a MacBook Air. Yes, there are some differences in terms of graphics core numbers that might affect tasks like video editing. But as proof, my partner recently bought a refurbished base-level M2 MacBook Air. She uses Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro on it and has zero issues.

The conclusion with the chips is, therefore, that, unless you have a very high-intensity use case, the M3 MacBook Air will likely suit you fine. And if you want the reassurance of soem extra cores, then you could buy a MacBook Pro. But there is little sense in opting for an M3 Pro or M3 Max version.

That being said, if you need that power, then you know you need it. If that’s you, a specced-up M3 Pro or M3 Max MacBook Pro is best.

Winner: M3 MacBook Air

Unified Memory and SSD

Unified memory determines how competently your MacBook can multitask and how efficient it is in general.

The M3 MacBook Pro models feature more unified memory options than the M3 MacBook Air. The most memory you can buy on an M3 MacBook Air is 24GB, and to get this, you must buy a 15-inch version. On a base-level M3 MacBook Pro, you can only upgrade to 16GB, but when you go up to the M3 Max, you can opt for a maximum of 128GB unified memory.

We’ll get into the exact pricing implications of that below, but every increase in unified memory costs an extra $200/£200 on the MacBook Air. For the MacBook Pro, each increase up to 64GB costs an extra $200/£200, but its an extra $400/£400 for 96GB and a further $400/£400 for 128GB.

In short, if you need extra unified memory for heavy multitasking, then the MacBook Pro gives you those options. But it ain’t cheap!

SSD is is more simple and determines how much room there is for stuff on your laptop. If you work with lots of large audio or video files, then you’ll want more SSD space.

The M3 MacBook Air starts at a 256GB SSD, topping out at 2TB. Each increment raises the price by $200/£200, unless you choose 2TB which is an extra $400/£400.

The MacBook Pro starts at 512GB and goes all the way up to 8TB. That’ll cost you an extra $2,200 though. 

In reality, most of us don’t need any more than 512GB, but it’s nice that the MacBook Air allows a 2TB maximum. If you need more than that, the M3 MacBook Pro will have to be your option.

Or, you can be sensible and just buy an external hard drive, like the easystore one here, and avoid making an unnecessary donation to the Tim Cook pension fund.

Winner: M3 MacBook Pro (just get an external hard drive though)

CPU and GPU

Much like the unified memory situation above, the MacBook Air leaves you with a more limited set of options for cores. And this time, it is more restrictive.

The base-level M3 MacBook Air starts at 8 CPU cores and 8 GPU cores. You can’t opt for more than an 8-core CPU, and the GPU only extends to a maximum of 10 cores for an extra $200/£200.

Whilst this isn’t a problem for most people, it is for those who need more graphical power to deal with excessive video editing and image rendering. For those tasks, you want more GPU cores.

Thankfully, the M3 MacBook Pro has some stupendous options in that territory. The base model still starts at 8 CPU cores but comes with 10 GPU cores. If you begin to move up into M3 Pro territory though, you can reach a 12-core CPU and an 18-core GPU. If you go up further to an M3 Max, then you have the option to buy a 16-core CPU and a mega 40-core GPU.

And it must be said; the graphical processing is noticeably better on MacBook Pro models with more GPU cores. It’s what you’d expect but still impressive. So, if you do have some concerns that you’ll need some oomph to plough through editing tasks, being able to go beyond 10 GPU cores is nice.

In this sense, the M3 MacBook Air is slightly hampered. But Apple insists that it is still more than capable at many things like video editing and even gaming as Mark saw on his visit to Battersea.

Remember though, if you need a laptop for light video editing and word processing, then 8 or 10 GPU cores are perfectly suitable. And the M3 MacBook Air can certainly handle it. As could the M1 and M2 MacBook Air now you mention it!

Winner: M3 MacBook Pro

Display and Ports

Thanks to the new M3 refresh for the MacBook Air, there isn’t much difference in the display technologies. The MacBook Airs all have Liquid Retina Pro Motion displays. The only difference with the M3 MacBook Pro is that it has XDR, standing for ‘Extreme Dynamic Range’.

It’s a minor difference that only the keenest colourist could ever notice. There are more significant differences in terms of ports though.

Both have MagSafe 3 and two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, but that’s where the similarities end. The base-level M3 MacBook Pro has a HDMI port and an SDXC card slot. The 16-inch versions also have an extra Thunderbolt port.

Both the M3 Air and Pro can support two external displays, but the Air has to have its lid closed in order to do so.

Overall then, there is a specific argument to be made for the M3 MacBook Pro. If you need that HDMI port for whatever reason, or often use SD cards, then the MacBook Pro is the sensible option. You can buy HDMI cable converters and SD card adapters but it makes your laptop more annoying to transport.

In this instance, it is very clear who the MacBook Air is aimed at; those of us who mainly do things like word process, make spreadsheets or use the internet. 

I will say one thing though, never underestimate the convenience of a HDMI port!

Winner: M3 MacBook Pro

Price

Now the big one, the reason most of you are reading this article and why you would choose a MacBook Air; to save money. 

The base-level 13-inch M3 MacBook Air costs $1,099/£1,099 and the 15-inch version $1,299/£1,299. The base-level M3 MacBook Pro costs $1,599/£1,699. 

When you look at it like that, it feels pretty clear-cut. For $599 less, you get similar memory levels, CPU/GPU cores and the same M3 chip. You get fewer port options, less SSD storage, an inch smaller screen and two fewer GPU cores, but the performance gain is genuinely negligible if you aren’t a power user.

Therefore, if your workload mainly consists of word processing and using the internet, there is absolutely no need to spend more on a MacBook Pro. Just buy a MacBook Air. The M3 chip makes it stupidly powerful for what it is.

But, and there is a but, if you find yourself speccing up the M3 MacBook Air on the Apple Store to the point that it nears the $1,599/£1,699 of the MacBook Pro, then it would be worth taking a moment to think. 

Are you paying more for advanced specs because you really need them? If so, then your use case likely means that you need more power and therefore a MacBook Pro might make more sense. But even then, adding memory and cores soon pushes the price of an M3 MacBook Pro over $2000.

It’s a careful balancing act that only you know the exact details of. We always say, if you need extra power, then you already know that you need the extra power.

Overall, there is little argument against the conclusion that the M3 MacBook Air is the best value for money.

Winner: M3 MacBook Air

What about the M1 or M2 MacBook Air?

I’m going to throw a spanner in the works here. You could buy a refurbished, or even new, M2 MacBook Air instead of an M3.

If you won’t be squeezing every last drop of performance out of your MacBook, then you don’t realistically need an M3 chip. In all honesty, you will be serviced well by an M2 MacBook Air, or even an M1. That’s how good Apple Silicon is.

And you can find some huge savings. Apple themselves is still selling new M2 MacBook Airs for as little as $999/£999. Or you can pick one up here for $899 at BestBuy. Even better, go for a refurbished M1 MacBook Air for $699! I mean, that is an excellent deal.

The same can be said if you want a MacBook Pro. Apple no longer sells M2 MacBook Pros, but you can pick them up for $999 here, or a refurbished M1 MacBook Pro for $779.

It’s for you to decide depending on your budget, but there is no shame in buying a refurbished MacBook.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right MacBook for You

In the end, the choice between the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air depends on your individual needs and priorities. You should be able to work out fairly easily which MacBook is right for you.

If you aren’t a high-intensity user, that is, you don’t edit lots of video or work with complex graphics, then you should buy an M3 MacBook Air. Or, if you really want to save cash, you’ll also be served well by an M1 or M2 MacBook Air.

However, if you do need extra power, especially graphical power, then there is no better choice than an M3 MacBook Pro. Depending on just how demanding a user you are, then you may want to go for an M3 Pro or M3 Max chip. But, as above, you will be served just as well by an M2 Max or M2 Pro if you want to save some money.

What MacBook would you buy? Let me know below!

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