Have a 13-Inch MacBook Pro? Here's Why You Should Upgrade to the New M3 14-Inch Model

[MacRumors]

Apple this week discontinued the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, replacing it with a 14-inch model that's equipped with a next-generation M3 chip. The 14-inch model is more expensive, but it comes with a number of benefits that make it worth the upgrade for anyone with a 13-inch machine.

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The 14-inch MacBook Pro has a larger display than the 13-inch model for more screen real estate, and it features much more modern-looking thin bezels. There's also a notch that houses the front-facing camera, a necessity for those slimmed down bezels. It is a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display, which is an upgrade over the LCD of the prior-generation 13-inch model.

Along with support for 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, the 14-inch MacBook Pro's display is brighter and has better color and HDR support. SDR brightness is 600 nits, while XDR brightness is 1000 nits sustained and 1600 nits peak.

In terms of performance, you're going to see a boost in CPU and GPU speeds, but it will be most noticeable if you're coming from an Apple M1 chip or an even earlier Intel chip. The M3 has an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU much like the M2, but the GPU supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing so gameplay will be improved.

Battery life has seen a boost, so the 14-inch MacBook Pro now lasts for up to 22 hours, up two hours from the 20 hour battery life of the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro. If you were a fan of the Touch Bar, be warned that the 14-inch MacBook Pro does not have one. With the discontinuation of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple has officially nixed the Touch Bar.

In terms of size, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is a little wider, a little longer, and just a bit heavier than the 13-inch model. It weighs 3.4 pounds while the 13-inch model weighed 3 pounds. There are more ports with the M3 MacBook Pro, so in addition to two Thunderbolt ports, you'll also get an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and a MagSafe charging port.

Other improvements include a better 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a six-speaker sound system, Wi-Fi 6E support, and Bluetooth 5.3.

The only real downside with the 14-inch MacBook Pro is the price. It starts at $1,599, making it $300 more expensive than the $1,299 starting price of the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro. If you can afford it, what you get for the extra $300 is worth it, but if that makes it too pricey, you'll need to look at the lower-cost MacBook Air.

For those with an M2 13-inch MacBook Pro, it's probably not worth upgrading to the 14-inch model right now despite the benefits, but if you're coming from an M1 13-inch MacBook Pro or an Intel machine, it's going to be a much more notable upgrade that will feel closer to night and day.

Are you upgrading to the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro? Let us know why or why not in the comments below.

Article Link: Have a 13-Inch MacBook Pro? Here's Why You Should Upgrade to the New M3 14-Inch Model

 

[Jhonjhon236]

Are you upgrading to the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro? Let us know why or why not in the comments below.

No. I have no money. And even if I did, only 1 external monitor is not enough for me.

 

[DHagan4755]

There's been some frustration over the entry model having only 8GB of RAM. It should come standard with 16GB of RAM. That said the $200 upgrade to 16GB on this model is worth it you value battery life over raw performance: the entry model gets 4 additional hours vs. the M3 Pro model. Based on benchmarks posted earlier this entry level M3 model is probably going to score faster than the entry level 14" M1 Pro model that was introduced in 2021 (2 years ago) for $2,000. Food for thought.

 

[kol77]

Listed HDMI port twice... I know, pick a nit....

 

[Conjurer]

But the notch though. The notch alone is a deal breaker for me.
Sorry. I will not buy anything with a notch, I want the full screen without anything ruining it.

 

[Windoes]

No, not upgrading to this gen. Can consider M3 Pro, but probably wait for next gen M4 that might do the trick?

 

[TravelBuddha]

Most important thing: no more butterfly keyboard

 

[Tuck_]

Im weighing my options. I was excited about the M3 Pro until I saw the 8GB of RAM. Given its already quite a bit more expensive (+$400) than the 13" model its replacing, an extra 250$ on top of that for the RAM is unreasonable. Feels like the value for money isnt there. I could do it, but I'd feel ripped off.

Other option is an Air as the value for money seems better. Dont really "need" a pro except for light photo editting, though the screen, extra ports and improved speakers of the Pro are all tempting.

Other option is waiting. My 2014 13" Pro is dated but its only really a problem with lightroom. But the speakers are broken and the space is all filled up, so while I could last another year, and probably should since the computer is mostly still okay, I dont really want to.

Decisions decisions.

EDIT: Also yeah the notch is a turnoff, but realistically cant wait ~3 years for another redesign. Plus that might end up having OLED which I actively dont want.

 

[jz0309]

but if you're coming from an M1 13-inch MacBook Pro or an Intel machine, it's going to be a much more notable upgrade that will feel closer to night and day.

My M1 MBA 16GB runs just fine and should last a few more years ...

 

[error]

I want to upgrade to a M3 MacBook Air… so I have to wait.

 

[kildraik]

I have a late 2020 13” M1. Trade in is still a solid $650. I’ve been thinking of the 12-core 14” MBP in Black with 36GB RAM. It is tempting, as my 8-core M1 with 16GB has become moderately sluggish, but still a trooper.

The biggest benefit outside of processing power would be the additional I/O and larger display without the bulk of the larger model. I’m mostly hooked up to a ProArt display, but often find myself working on the couch. So the increase would be welcome.

I’m not concerned with any FOMO on any future, possible or rumoured specs (OLED, for example).

Time will tell!

 

[Born Again]

Macrumors not everyone has this kind of disposable income.

Dump a 1 year old notebook? Is that really a recommendation?

 

[Mike Boreham]

Most important thing: no more butterfly keyboard

That is not new in the 14” M3 MBP. Neither the M1 13” MBP nor the 13” M2 MBP had butterfly keyboards. You have go back to pre silicon to find butterflies.

 

[thecades]

I don't want a 14. I want a 13 with the touch bar.

 

[joecomo]

upgrading from a 16inch MBookPro M1Max, 64 GB, 4TB

 

[chongsen]

13 inch M2 with 16gb is half the price of M3 14inch in second hand market.

16GB M2 is way more capable than a 8GB M3.

 

[Coreymac84]

But the notch though. The notch alone is a deal breaker for me.
Sorry. I will not buy anything with a notch, I want the full screen without anything ruining it.

some of you still dont understand that the notch is ABOVE the screen space you had on a notchless MacBook......you are not getting less space. The notch is inside the old models bezel.....and the task bar is now where the bezel used to be as opposed to in your original screen space.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

Most important thing: no more butterfly keyboard

My early (or mid?) 2020 Intel MBP doesn’t have that, either, though. It’s not all that new a development.

Although I will agree that it’s a good thing.

 

[tom_uk]

That is not new in the 14” M3 MBP. Neither the M1 13” MBP nor the 13” M2 MBP had butterfly keyboards. You have go back to pre silicon to find butterflies.

And even the last Intel 13” MacBook Pro (May 2020) had the Magic Keyboard.

 

[Conjurer]

some of you still dont understand that the notch is ABOVE the screen space you had on a notchless MacBook......you are not getting less space. The notch is inside the old models bezel.....and the task bar is now where the bezel used to be as opposed to in your original screen space.

1. A 9000 inch screen with notch.
2. A 14 inch screen without notch.

I would choose number 2. every time, because there is nothing ruining the screen.
It's like a car with a black spot on the front window: Useless and painful to look at.

 

[brilliantthings]

I think this article misunderstands the average 13" MBP customer. How about 'why the average 13" MBP owner should wait a few years before buying a MacBook Air.'

 

[trusso]

Meanwhile, me: "Here's why you should stay with your M1 MacBook Air..."

Thanks, MacRumors, for helping Apple contribute to the overconsumption treadmill we're all trying to get off.

 

[klasma]

The 14-inch MacBook Pro has a larger display than the 13-inch

Who’d have thought! Never knew the inches refer to the display.

 

[mdnz]

This article was brought to you by the AAPL gang.

 

[elemenohme]

What’s the pixel resolution of the 14” and 16” displays? I haven’t been able to find a spec anywhere.