On October 30th of this year, Apple held a short event at night for the first time, we heard Tim Cook wish us a Good Evening. Jokes aside, Apple announced their new M3 processor family and they refreshed their MacBook Pro lineup alongside the iMac. Should you update your current laptop or should you hold off? Let's find out.

The M3 is the third generation of Apple's custom-made processors and in this event, they announced three different variants of it. The first version is the normal M3, the next version is the M3 Pro, and the third version is the M3 Max. As you move up between the different processors your power increases and so does the price point. If you want the normal M3 processor it only comes in the new iMac and the base 14-inch MacBook Pro. The base 14-inch MacBook Pro replaces the old touch bar M2 13-inch touch bar and starts at $1599 but comes with some features missing. Instead of three Thunderbolt/USB ports, it only has two it is missing the one on the right side. If you buy the base version you are getting an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The base model starts with 512 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM which is still useable for most people but the problem is that it appears to be using a single dimm of memory. The pro and max variants start with 18 GB and 36 GB respectively which points to them using triple channel memory. Apple's configurator allows you to upgrade from 8 GB to 16 GB and 24 GB which means the base configuration only uses one stick of non-upgradeable ram. For some workloads, performance will be hindered by using one stick of RAM and this is a machine that is marketed to "pro" users. The final problem I have with this entry-level M3 system is that it only supports a maximum of one external display and the HDMI port is not a 2.1 port, which means it does not support 4k at 240hz or 8k resolution at all. If you are someone who uses more than one display or needs HDMI 2.1 this laptop is not for you. If you are a student or someone who needs a bit more power than the MacBook Air then this laptop is perfect for you. But if you are what Apple considers a "pro" then I would recommend skipping this model. With all of that said, the base configuration still comes with the ProMotion display and has up to 22 hours of battery life.

Since we just finished talking about the M3 MacBook Pro, let me give my two cents on the M3 iMac. The base iMac comes with the same 8-core CPU as the laptop but instead of a 10-core GPU, you get an 8-core version. The RAM is 8 GB as well and the base storage is only 256 GB. Before we all start hating on it, let me tell you the price of the base model is $1299. For a family computer, it's not that bad because for that price you are getting a 4.5k display, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a magic mouse, and a magic keyboard. I would spend two hundred more for the second option iMac. You get back the two missing GPU cores but you gain an ethernet port via the power adapter, the magic keyboard now includes Touch ID, and you get two additional USB 3 ports. The only downside I have with the entire iMac lineup is the accessories because they still use lightning to charge and not USB C. As I alluded to earlier, this is a family computer or for a college student who doesn't want a laptop.

Finally, it's time to talk about the M3 Pro laptops, or is it? Since this processor comes in both the 14-inch and 16-inch laptops, you would think they are the same laptop. But nope, the base M3 Pro in the 14-inch comes with an 11-core CPU and 14-core GPU; however, the 16-inch base comes with a 12-core CPU and a 16-core GPU. There is a $500 price difference between the two models but other than a binned processor the base 14-inch comes with a 70W charger instead of the 140W in 16-inch. The 16-inch also has a max battery life similar to the base M3 at 22 hrs but the base 14-inch with M3 pro has a max battery life of 18hrs. Both base versions of the M3 pro come with 18 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. Unlike the regular M3, we can connect up to two additional displays with these laptops. So, who should get these laptops? Anyone because these laptops will tackle almost anything you throw at them and they tick most of the boxes that "pro" users are looking for. Size is subjective and I prefer a larger laptop because of the extra screen real estate, but the 16-inch weighs 1.2lbs more. if you are on the fence on the size visit your nearest Apple Store and play around with them.

The M3 Max is the fastest processor that was announced at this event and as such it is the most expensive. The base 14-inch and 16-inch have the same 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU and the price difference between them is only $300. The starting storage on both sizes is 1 TB and the RAM is the same at 36 GB. The 14-inch now comes with a 96W power adapter but still has 4 hours less battery life than the 16-inch. If I were in the market for a laptop with the M3 Max, I would never consider the 14-inch because of heat. No one has gotten their hands on the laptops yet, but with the last few versions of the Max processors, the 14-inch models experienced thermal throttling. Thermal throttling is when the computer limits performance because of excessive heat and the extra surface area of the 16-inch body allows it to dissipate heat better than the 14-inch. I haven't mentioned this for the other M3 (other than the iMac) variants but you can upgrade all of the models to higher versions with more cores for both CPU and GPU. The reason I haven't mentioned it is that we would be here all night especially if I start talking about the different RAM and storage options. From leaked benchmarks, the M3 Max is faster than the M2 Ultra which is in the Mac Studio and the Pro. If those benchmarks are real then that means you would potentially have Apple's strongest computer in a laptop that weighs less than six pounds. If you are a professional and need the strongest Mac there is then this is the laptop for you. Yes, I did not put pro in quotes because the M3 Max is geared for those who rely on their machines to earn a living such as video production houses and video game developers. Sure, if you are a YouTuber you could save some time rendering a video on the M3 Max but unless you are making decent money doing it, is it worth it? But unless you need this machine or have money to burn, I don't think the M3 Max is a buy.

Now that we've come to the end of this post let me tell you what I would buy if I was looking for a new machine. I would purchase a 16-inch M2 Pro, but I wouldn't buy the M3 series. With the release of the new M3 laptops, the previous M2 models that came out earlier this year are being sold at a discount. I know this because I was able to get a great deal on a 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple Care +. With Black Friday around the corner you will be able to find a new one for a decent price or pick up an Apple refurbish from Apple's online store. The newer models increase the RAM by 2 GB, a slightly brighter display, and some graphic features that I don't need. Hopefully, this post has helped help you choose the computer that is right for you.