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As we head into 2025, you might be considering buying an M3 MacBook Pro. I bought one last year – a specced-up 14-inch version to replace my 16-inch M1 Max edition.
As lovely as this generation of MacBook Pros is, and as tempting as it might be to buy one – there’s no escaping the fact that these are incredibly expensive laptops.
And then there’s the new M4 MacBook Pro to consider. Do the new MacBooks make buying an M3 model pointless?
There are some buying challenges, too. There’s a base model version of the M3 MacBook Pro with just 8GB of unified memory. That caused quite a stink when it was released; I’ve seen numerous comments left against my M3 YouTube videos that suggest Apple is doing its customers a disservice by daring to offer such a configuration.
I don’t agree. And, now that the dust has settled, I think the buying process for an M3 MacBook Pro is actually far simpler than some of you might think.
The case for the 8GB M3 MacBook Pro
Hear me out.
Apple sent me a base model M3 MacBook Pro to try out, and it is a superb laptop. It’s cheaper than the base model it replaces from the M2 generation and comes complete with that lovely new retro-chunky design.
It’s even got an SD card slot.
More info on the 8GB or 16GB MacBook Pro debate
Sure, you miss out on one Thunderbolt port (you get an additional one if you step up to the M3 Pro or Max), but you still get the same gorgeous ProMotion-equipped Liquid Retina XDR display that you get on the more expensive models.
The sticking point for most people appears to be the unified memory; the base model M3 MacBook Pro comes with just 8GB, and that does indeed feel like a small number in 2024.
I’ve written and said so much about the unified memory debate in this era of Apple silicon. I still run most of my business on an 8GB Mac – in my case, the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air. No, I don’t edit videos on it (it’s not built for that), but I do undertake pretty much everything else this business needs on that machine, from writing to admin, and everything in between.
There are two reasons Apple offers 8GB Macs. The first is that, of course, they want you to spend as much money as possible. They don’t want you to go for that base model; they want you to think that 8GB isn’t enough and to instead opt for the 16GB version. Although, they don’t want you to stop there.
They want you to then look at the 512GB base storage and decide you need more. Then, you spot the M3 Pro chip, which appears to be a sensible step up rather than jumping up again to 24GB of unified memory on the base M2.
So it continues, and you end up spending more. And more. That’s what Tim wants. You would too, if you were running Apple.
Secondly, Apple knows that there’s a market for 8GB base model Macs. A big one, I’d wager. Although they’ll never break down the sales figures to that level, I’d put money on the fact that the base model MacBook Pro has always been a seriously good seller.
If you’re running a business that needs a boatload of MacBook Pros for a department that doesn’t hang on every single second of production time, it’s a smart move. If you’re a consumer who just wants a MacBook Pro but doesn’t want to spend a fortune, it’s a no-brainer.
To round things off, this is how the base model 8GB M3 MacBook Pro performed in the desperately-needs-patenting-before-someone-steals-the-idea Mark Ellis Reviews Final Cut Pro Benchmark:
- M3 MacBook Pro (8GB)
- Render: 01:39
- Export: 04:57
- TOTAL TIME: 06:36
For context, this is only 02:36 slower than my £4,400 M3 Max MacBook Pro. For most people, that’s a quick trip to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. And £2,700 saved.
When should you spec up to the M3 Pro and M3 Max?
The base model M3 MacBook Pro isn’t for everyone, which is why we have options and why it isn’t worth setting your trousers on fire about that 8GB version.
Move on. Spec the one you need – if 8GB is too silly for you.
More info in our M3 Pro or M3 Max buying guide
I have another theory that the 16GB upgrade – which takes the list price up to £1,899 – is going to be the sweet spot for most people. The base storage of 512GB might need tweaking for some (1TB for an extra £200 feels sensible if you have the budget), but you can easily add external storage via SSDs, as I do.
A 16GB M3 MacBook Pro will offer more longevity than the 8GB version and, possibly, better resale value if that’s something you’re concerned about. However (and I offer this with the huge caveat that I’ve not tested one) I wouldn’t expect massive gains in performance. For instance, I’ve tested the 16GB version of the M3 iMac against its 8GB sibling, and in the same Final Cut Pro test, the latter only lost out by four seconds in the total processing time.
MacBook Pro alternative? Read my Microsoft Surface 7 review
Of course, real-world usage extends far beyond my silly little inaccurate benchmarks, and there’s no doubt that 16GB will just feel right for a lot of people. If that’s the case – go for it, you won’t be disappointed.
When it comes to the M3 Pro and M3 Max, you need only venture into those realms if you know you need to. If you’re using your MacBook Pro for serious production work, development, or calculation-heavy stuff, those chips will deliver, big time. But don’t be swayed by the bright lights of the Pro and Max monikers if you’re not convinced you need them – because you almost certainly don’t.
Should you just buy an M4 MacBook Pro?
Whenever a new MacBook Pro generation is released, it suddenly makes the question of which generation to buy more complicated. But I have one simple bit of advice to remember.
Any generation of Apple Silicon MacBook Pro is excellent. The existence of the M4 MacBook Pro doesn’t make the M3 version worse. The M3 MacBook Pro is still brilliant and you will love it.
But.
The entry-level M4 MacBook Pro comes with 16GB unified memory compared to 8GB on the M3. That means, for the same price on release, you get double the unified memory, making the M4 MacBook Pro better value for money.
Considering an iMac instead? Read my M3 iMac buying guide to find the right one for you!
The M4 costs $1,599//£1,599 new from Apple. You can buy the 8GB M3 MacBook Pro on Amazon for $1,399/£1,399. The discounts just aren’t really there yet to make the M3 a bargain.
That being said, if you don’t care about that extra 8GB of memory, then feel confident in buying an M3 MacBook Pro. But, if you have the extra money, I would just buy the 16GB M4 MacBook Pro. You are more future-proofed and receive the latest chip, all for only $200-ish more.
Finally: M3 Macs missing in action
2024 has been a big year for Apple. They’ve refreshed all of their devices apart from the MacBook Air and Mac Pro (if that still exists…) with the new M4 chip which is supposedly optimised for Apple Intelligence.
And yet, it has been simultaneously quite underwhelming. Apple Intelligence will be available on all Silicon MacBooks. That’s good news for the M3 MacBook Pro. If you own one already, no worries, and if you want to buy one for a good deal, then it means you aren’t missing out.
What remains after the fallout has settled though is to say that the M3 MacBook Pro is a great laptop. I’d just advise buying as much unified memory as possible. I hope I’ve managed to steer you in the right direction!
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1 Comment
What are your thoughts on Apple leaving the consumer product processors a year behind like they do on the iPhone? The iPhone Pro is now on the latest processor while the regular iPhone is a year behind. They have done this with iPads in the past, and I think may do so with the iPad Air and MacBook Air going forward to further differentiate the Pro models and push people toward those higher tiers. I am surprised that I don’t hear anyone else suggesting this path.