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M3 was never a consideration for me due to price and the 8GB ram base, however after the event the ~$1,400 14" M1 refurb Pros went out of stock ASAP. I have a $1,599 14" M2 Pro base model on the way because I didn't want to wait for M1 Pro stock
 
We already can look at the GB6 Clang sub-test which shows tiny to non-existent improvements depending on which m2 pro you compare with.
GB6 Clang 3350 vs 3750 is a big increase for M3Pro. Max is 3350 -> 3950.
 
14% and 6% are decent improvements. Why would you expect more for an annual upgrade? We don't need a revolution every year...just incremental improvements.

Lmao that’s what people said about intel and the whole point of Apple making their own processors is to have better improvements.
 
The reason why we defend 8/256 as the default is because Apple would increase the base price if they startet to include 16/512 as the base.
This is called price gouging and it is cancer that eats through the AAPL product line. Instead of providing consumers with the best experience possible, AAPL will wring every dollar from those that don't want 2010s style configs.
 
14% and 6% are decent improvements. Why would you expect more for an annual upgrade? We don't need a revolution every year...just incremental improvements.
I guess with this argument you could also question whether a yearly refresh is really necessary or required (other than it being a total money grab by Apple) …..and perhaps a refresh every other year with significant improvements make more sense.

This would mean more R&D time which may lead to better and more thought through innovative ideas.
 
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Can anyone think of any reasons to justify picking up an M3 Pro Macbook Pro vs a M2 Pro Macbook Pro? Especially with discounts on M2 Pro models?

Future form factors aren't available yet...

I would be fine with a discounted M2 Pro 16”, but I need to order a customized keyboard (most of my writing is in Spanish) so I’m going with a M3 Pro 16” 18gb/1tb which is more than enough power for my needs, and if it’s more efficient than M2Pro then all the better. I’d be fine with a base M3 chip, but I want the big XDR display and the awesome speakers so… no regrets on my order. But yes, if I didn’t need a customized keyboard, I’d probably go with a discounted M2 Pro.
 
As long as the someone is question isn't an idiot, they'll admit Macs are expensive 😂
Reminds me of a Mark Twain quote:
IMG_6469.jpeg
 
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I think the performance of the M3 max chip will also spell doom for the M3 Ultra in the Mac Studio.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they keep the M3 Ultra chip for the Mac Pro tower so they can squeeze even more $ out of their customers.

Well I’m glad they are focusing more on the high end than the Pro SoC. As someone that has both M1 and M2 Ultras, Apple needs to improve their top of the line chips. If M3 Max is the same as an M2 Ultra, that would mean the M3 Ultra would be equivalent to two M2 Ultras. I’m looking forward to it. And it will be nice in the Mac Pro as now the Mac Pro is useless.
 
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But the only thing anyone talks about is how fast the M3 Max is, as if that increase in performance was somehow relevant to anything "M3". It's so silly that all YouTubers focus on are the top end models which 99% of users don't need. "Woah Apple's M3 KILLS the M2!", but only if you got the M3 Max, otherwise calm the hell down.
Because Apple’s top of the line is a complete joke. They made the Mac Pro ridiculous. And this is someone with M1 and M2 Ultras. They need something more at the high end.
 
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Edit: Didn't quote the right post. Meant to quote the longevity and how most won’t upgrade frequently post.

Completely. I’m gonna give my 7.5 year old MBP to my kid and I expect it to be used for the next 3 odd years. I’m extremely careful with my stuff and my 2015 looks like it just left the store (not exaggerating, can provide photos) thanks to the laptop being in a stand or on my lap or in a sleeve. My kid is more careful than I am. The longevity and the hassle free experience, anecdotal as it is, had me ordering a Max and moving the entire family to the Apple ecosystem. And I’m a Linux/Windows dev/gamer.
 
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Can anyone think of any reasons to justify picking up an M3 Pro Macbook Pro vs a M2 Pro Macbook Pro? Especially with discounts on M2 Pro models?

Future form factors aren't available yet...
Hardware raytracing and mesh shading. That's the big differentiator.

If you think you'd need those (Most likely because you're a 3D artist) then these features will probably be a must-buy once the software supports them, which should be fairly quick if Apple is providing sufficient developer support.

If you don't think you'll need those features then there's not really much reason to upgrade from previous Apple Silicon machines (though the Intel machines are definitely looking very long in the tooth at this point)
 
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M2 pros seem like they were meant to release last fall but were delayed to earlier this year

Apple is just getting back to their annual release cycle

I don’t know why this comparison matters given most people interested in M3 series should not be coming from M2

Hopefully battery life is somewhat better but doesn’t seem to be. Looks like the efficiency cores are really where the improvements came from

It’s decent from M1 and very much improved from intel chips from a few years ago

Base M3 and M3 Max are decent upgrades from the M2 counterparts, it’s the M3 Pro which is flat
 
So when somebody is complaining how unpractical dongles are you suggest starting to carry a cable that is many meters long?
Forgetting dongles doesn't make them unpractical. Wire is bigger, seems easier to NOT forget.
 
That’s not exactly my point though. My point is the perception of their changes isn’t helping them, whether they matter or not.
Fair enough; although I think most buyers just see “f aster, longer battery life” and don’t care about the details of teh specifications or how Apple gopt there.
 
That’s single core, except for very small projects that doesn’t matter.
Still matters in Illustrator. That app is still single core, partly because bezier transformations can't be spread out across multiple cores, or so I recall. it's just one math problem or something... can't break it up. Hence why even now, it's far from impossible to make that program stall out. A lot of designers are in Illustrator 90% of their day, so this metric really does matter to them.
 
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