MacBook Pro Buying Guide: Should you buy the M2, M3 or M4 version?

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Now that Apple has announced the new M4 MacBook Pro, it adds another dimension to the eternal question; which MacBook Pro should you buy?

Back in October 2023, Apple released the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro for a price that was $100/£100 less than the price of a base model 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro. Now, Apple has once again offered up a laptop with newer specs and superior memory configurations at a very competitive price.

The M4 chip makes the MacBook feel shiny and new, but with every new release comes discounts to older models. So do you really need to splash out on the M4 MacBook Pro, or can you get by with picking up a secondhand 13-inch M3, M2 or even M1 version?

Our guide below will help you decide which laptop to buy for your use case.

M1 vs M2 vs M3 vs M4 chip

All of Apple’s M-series chips come with Pro and Max variations. In this article, we are only covering the standard chip variations found in the base-level MacBook Pros.

I won’t bore you with endless spec numbers, mainly because most of them have little significance for the vast majority of users. The amount of CPU or GPU cores will not affect your ability to write articles, use the internet or stream movies. But they do matter for those who specifically need more power for heavier tasks such as video editing or modelling.

The baseline M1, M2 and M3 MacBook Pros have an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU and 16-core neural engine. The CPU determines how quickly you can load applications and also how well multiple applications can be run at once. More CPU cores means a faster laptop that’s better at multitasking.

The M4 chip inside the new MacBook Pro comes with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU as standard. That means it has two more CPU cores than previous generations, making it more capable of executing heavy workloads and efficient at multitasking.

This chip architecture difference clearly sets the M4 MacBook Pro apart from the M3, M2 and M1. The average user will not notice the impact that those extra CPU cores make, but they are significant in terms of future-proofing your laptop.

More CPU cores will mean your MacBook can deal with growing software demands from things like AI for longer into the future.

This all boils down to these numbers:

• The M3 chip is about 15% faster overall than the M2 chip and 26% faster than the M1.
• The M4 MacBook Pro is about 20% faster than the M3 generation.
• The M4 MacBook Pro is around 45% faster than the M2 and 51% faster than the M1.

The conclusion from all of this is clear. Those extra CPU cores in the M4 chip make a big difference when compared to the M2 and M1 chips. Upgrading from either of these two MacBook Pros will deliver significant improvements in performance.

But! That doesn’t mean the M4 MacBook is the only viable option. 90% of people don’t need the power afforded by the M4 chip. If you’re just word processing and streaming video, then the M2 or M3 will easily serve your needs (and so would the M1 in truth!). Finding a discount on these models is easy through any third-party retailer.

Usually, I’d advise against buying the latest model unless you have the money or really need the power. However, the fact that the M4 MacBook Pro has those extra CPU cores gives it a very compelling case.

Memory and Storage

The amount of memory you need in a MacBook Pro depends on your use case; higher demand of your machine = more unified memory needed. As a general rule, if you can afford to buy more unified memory then it is absolutely worth it.

You’ll be glad to know that there isn’t much to think about here as the M3 MacBook Pro, M2 MacBook Pro and M1 MacBook Pro are all as nearly identical in terms of memory and storage.

The baseline M3 MacBook Pro offers 8GB of unified memory and 512GB of SSD storage, whilst the same M2 and M1 version also gives you 8GB of unified memory but only 256GB of SSD storage.

That isn’t an insignificant difference. More SSD storage means you can have a larger number of files downloaded onto your MacBook. What you need will depend on your usage. If you are using your laptop for word processing and browsing the internet, then you’ll be totally fine with a 256GB SSD. 

Here’s where the M4 MacBook Pro flexes its value-for-money muscles again. For the same price as the M3 MacBook Pro when it was released, you get 16GB unified memory as standard. That means you are getting a more efficient and longer-lasting laptop for the same money.

It is by far the primary reason why I would actually advise buying the M4 MacBook Pro over the other base-level models. That extra unified memory is gold dust.

That being said. I currently work entirely on an M1 MacBook Pro with only 8GB of unified memory and it works just fine. So if you know you won’t need the extra performance, you can safely settle for an older model with 8GB of unified memory (or more…see below!).

Another thing to consider is that the M4 and M3 chips provide a faster memory speed than the M2 and M1. This means that the M3 MacBook Pro can handle more tasks simultaneously, making it ideal for multitasking.

Display

The M3 MacBook Pro introduced a 14-inch display which differentiated it from the M2 and M1 versions which both have 13-inch displays. The base-level M4 MacBook Pro comes with the same 14-inch display as the M3.

Both the M4 and M3 MacBooks benefit from a Liquid Retina XDR display, an improvement from the standard Retina LED-backlit display found on the M1 and M2 versions.

Without getting too technical, this means that the M4 and M3 MacBooks have more pixels per square inch giving better resolution, higher contrast capabilities and the ability to display 1 billion colours. Basically, a more vibrant and clear picture quality.

The higher resolution of these newer MacBooks makes them a better option for graphic designers or anyone who requires a high-quality display. However, the difference in resolution is not significant for most users, and the older Silicon MacBook Pro displays are still excellent.

The one thing that sets the M4 MacBook Pro apart from all previous generations is the option to add nano-texture glass. This is a special type of glass that is more durable and resistant to glare and reflections. As far as updates go, nano-texture glass is firmly on the ‘nice-to-have’ end of the spectrum rather than being essential.

Ports

This one is a quick decision. Do you categorically need a HDMI port? If yes, then you have to choose either the M3 or M4 MacBook Pro because they have one!

In fact, these two MacBook Pro models make the M2 version seem rather frugal with its input/output ports. The base model M2 MacBook Pro only has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports for charging and display output.

The M3 MacBook Pro has the same two Thunderbolt ports, but an additional MagSafe 3 input, SD card slot and a HDMI port. That is a pretty comprehensive set of ports for a base model MacBook.

The M4 MacBook Pro is exactly the same but with one extra Thunderbolt 4 port.

All of this means that the M3 and M4 MacBook Pros offer faster data transfer speeds and the ability to directly connect your laptop to up to two external displays. This is handy and removes the need for annoying adapters.

Both generations have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Colour, size and weight

Cosmetically, all of the MacBooks are virtually the same. The M1, M2 and M3 all come in the same ‘Space Grey’ or ‘Silver’ colours. The M4 MacBook Pro comes in Space Black.

In terms of size and weight, all the laptops are relatively similar. The M3 and M4 MacBook Pros weigh 1.55kg and are 22.12 cm in depth, while the M2 MacBook Pro weighs 1.4kg and is 21.24cm in depth.

The M1 MacBook Pro also weighs 1.4kg and is 21.24cm in depth.

Not much to see here!

Keyboard

When it was released, the big news about the new M3 MacBook Pro was that Apple decided to drop the Touch Bar, a bit of tech they were very proud of when they announced it.

The Touch Bar is a touch-sensitive strip that runs across the top of the keyboards on M2 and M1 MacBooks. You can use it to adjust volume, brightness and access things like emojis or Siri. It was a controversial addition as some users kept accidentally touching it instead of the keyboard.

Turns out Apple didn’t care for it much either so they binned it on both the M3 and M4 MacBook Pros.

Other than that, all four MacBooks feature the same backlit Magic Keyboard (Apple’s standard keyboard configuration).

Price

Here’s where things start to get really interesting.

A new base model 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro costs $1,599/£1,599. That is the same price as the M3 MacBook Pro on release (and actually £100 cheaper in the UK).

For that, you get 16GB unified memory, a 256GB SSD, a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. That is a good deal. If you spend the money now you will not need to upgrade your laptop for many, many years.

But, there are some deals to be had.

Right now, you can pick up a new 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip, 18GB unified memory, 512GB of storage, an 11-core CPU and a 14-core GPU for $1,599. That is an absolute beast of a machine, barely a year old and all for the same price as the base-level M4 MacBook Pro.

Or if you know you don’t need all that power, then you can pick up a base-level M2 MacBook Pro for $749. That is a steal.

If you’re willing to buy refurbished then the prices keep getting lower, especially for M1 MacBooks. Apple’s Certified Refurbished online store sells a limited range so it’s best to go to third-party retailers who have warranties.

Conclusion

Apple has once again priced their new MacBook at exactly the right level. For the same price as last year’s release, you get more cores, more memory and therefore more longevity.

And if you have the money to spare then buying the M4 MacBook Pro makes total sens and it will serve you well.

That being said, there are now some seriously amazing deals floating around for slightly older M-series MacBooks that will meet 99% of people’s performance needs. So if you want to save some money, do not be afraid of buying an M2 or M3 MacBook Pro.

The only one I’d stay away from is the M1 MacBook Pro. It is still fine if you already own one, but it’s old enough now that I wouldn’t buy one as a new device.

Which MacBook do you think is better? Let me know in the comments below!