So the standard M3 chip on the Pro supports 1 external display. You need to get the Pro chip if you want more than 1.
Whereas on the Air, the M3 supports 1 external display with the lid open, 2 if closed
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M3 MacBook Air Supports More External Displays Than M3 MacBook Pro
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Whereas on the Air, the M3 supports 1 external display with the lid open, 2 if closed
I can see it now...."At Apple, we believe in making things right. As such, we will be releasing a driver software update for the MacBook Pro on 4/1/24 for only $29.99"
I dearly hope I’m correctly picking up the sarcasm or I’m about to unload the fact that the ancient Intel machines could handle more external displays than the supposed-state-of-the-art SoC.
You mention this based on what exactly, have you analyzed the machines internally already to tell they’re exactly the same configuration? How do you know this is not coming with a macOS update to the MBP (perhaps the one the new Airs will ship with) as different external support depending on wether the lid is open or closed is a new thing in macOS?
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I’m a software guy, so I don’ t know hardware that well, but it’s possible there’s a hardware shunt that allows the M3 to control a different monitor, sort of like one of those KVM switches internally. If it’s hardware based, they won’t be able to bring it to the M3 MBP.
As far as we know there hasn’t been a hardware change to the SoC.
I guess MBP owners will have to console themselves with a far superior internal screen.
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I think if you delete the M3 MBP, the notebook line is in a fantastic place right now. I’d say the Mac line overall is quite well segmented into consumer/pro actually. It’s the iPad line that really feels like a mess. Hopefully that gets sorted this week to some extent
Yeah, I really think they should have called the M3 MBP MacBook. That way they would have the MBA, MB, and MBP.
I opted to just upgrade my monitor to a single ultra-wide. Not everybody's cup of tea for sure, but with my iPad Pro as an extended display, and my MBA display open, I have plenty of space. Now that I'm used to using my MBA display as well as my external monitor, I'm not sure that going back to a closed-lid setup would be quite the solution I am looking for. That limitation is preventing me from springing for the upgrade to the M3 for the additional feature.
You guys are missing something important.
I don't think Apple is purposely crippling the MBP M3 14.
The built in HDMI port that's likely hardwired to the SOC and taking up one of the display ports at all times on the MBP. That's missing on the MBA models, hence more display support on MBA.
I don't think Apple is purposely crippling the MBP M3 14.
The built in HDMI port that's likely hardwired to the SOC and taking up one of the display ports at all times on the MBP. That's missing on the MBA models, hence more display support on MBA.
Again with this nonsense of comparing the M3 to the M1 when the previous model is an M2. Why not just compare it to the Motorola 68000 Apple?
Sometimes Apple does stuff like this and gauges the level of outrage/news it gets. It’s basically a free social experiment, see if the market will accept the arbitrary limitation they have imposed that supports their ability to upsell. They have the software unlock ready to go for M3 MBP if and when users complain enough.
That said, I would speculate anyone buying the base MBP is not a heavy or picky user. We’ll make noise on the forums, but most of us don’t own that machine.
That said, I would speculate anyone buying the base MBP is not a heavy or picky user. We’ll make noise on the forums, but most of us don’t own that machine.
I think renaming it would just add confusion. The Mac line suffered in the mid/late 2010s from making too many compromised products, rather than letting the consumer products be consumer and the pro products be pro. I think where we’ve ended up with the MBAs and MBPs has fixed that, but Apple seems to think that they need a MacBook Pro for less than $1,999. This is primarily for people who see the word “Pro” and think “better”, which the old 13 inch M1 MBP used to serve.
There’s a lot of overlap between the MBAs and the M3 MBP which just makes it messy imo. I can’t see this changing anytime soon and admittedly I think the M3 MBP is a better solution than the previous 13 inch MBP - but it still kinda sucks.
They are comparing the 15" M3 MBA with the 14" M3 MBP. (With the base M3 chip...not the Pro or Max chips.)
The new MBAs supports one 6K monitor (not two), which is also the same for the base 14" MBP.
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If that's the case, why can't one use the HDMI port and one of the thunderbolt ports on the MBP M3 and get 2 displays with the lid closed?
I disagree. People seem to forget there are more pros who would be more comfortable with an M3 MBP than with an M3 Pro or Max version. Not every pro works in Final Cut Pro and Blender or processes thousands of photos simultaneously in Photoshop. Most pros are people like secretaries, program/product managers, marketing/sales, corporate executives, none of them needing the power of an M3 Pro. They would love to have the additional ports, such as HDMI, the ever-preset port required for most PowerPoint/Keynote presentations in conference rooms. Most business executives would be happier with something like an Air if it only had a card reader and HDMI port. For them, the M3 MBP is perfect while an M3 Pro MBP would be overkill. I think tech websites tend to distort the impression of who a pro is when most pros spend their time in email, calendar, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Salesforce, etc, with perhaps a light touch of iMovie or Photoshop Elements.
Good theory, but one can connect up to the max supported displays using only the Thunderbolt ports; which means one of the display buffers on the SOC isn't hardwired or reserved for the HDMI port.
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I'm with you. It's Apple disabling features of lower priced Macs to push people to buy the more expensive product.
I've always thought the 1 external monitor was an artificial limitation and now I know it's true. One has to wonder about the M1 and M2...can they actually handle 2 external monitors but are artificially knee-capped to allow only 1?