M4 vs M3 pro MacBook Pro

[JSENNY25]

Not having to wait around for it is definitely worth something. Congrats on the new machine!

Thanks!
Can’t wait to check emails and doom scroll 😝

 

[throAU]

The screen is improved on the M4, and the ports are the same as the M3. What are you using your computer for? I doubt the M3 Pro will give you much power you need vs. the M4 on the new model, unless you are hammering it daily.

If I were you, I would return the M3 pro and get the M4 for $1479.

While the screen is improved, I can tell you now that unless someone tells you about it, you wouldn't notice in typical use.

I've had M1 Pro and M4 Max screens side by side and the difference isn't something you will notice.

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

Threads like these are interesting to revisit after a few months of new hardware getting shaken out ...

I hope @JSENNY25 is happy with the M4 purchase and isn't using an external 5K2K Ultrawide monitor ...

 

[headshok2002]

Found this thread as I was down the rabbit hole myself.
Using m3 pro mbp for main driver but it's overkill; I replaced an m2 Mini and thought I'd sell my m1 air which I use, on occasion, for mobile work. Both my machines were getting bogged down by 8gb of ram, and I got a good deal on the m3 pro mbp several months before m4 released so hopped on it. But I've had it out of clamshell twice. I learned that Apple kind of sucks at monitor management and unplugging it from USB-C hub while in clamshell was a disaster. Had to hard reset it. Even opening it, then unplugging, it was a bit annoying to get things sorted. So the idea of one machine to rule them all went out the window and I kept the M1 Air.

Today I bought an M4 Mini 24gb 512gb and was about to buy a used M3 Air 16gb 256gb until I found the refurb'd Mini with more ram and storage for about 100 less than the m3 air, slightly used. Canadian Pesos.

Now faced with: Sell mbp m3 pro and buy an m3 air and pocket some cash? Added cash of selling M1 is a given here. Or, wait for an m4 air price drop or refurb deal? I do think I'll end up with an air as, again, ram is mostly what I need as my work is browser based and I just have a million tabs open and use a chromium (Arc) browser. It's hungry. I can do with 16gb though when mobile, and a bigger 15.3" screen with lower weight = a win, I think.

Anyhow, this thread was helpful to stumble across. Hope @JSENNY25 is happy with purchase also.

 

[throAU]

The m4 air already dropped price on release from apple. I wouldn’t bank on that dropping any time soon especially with the tariff climate.

 

[rwh63]

I would save $220. Why spend more if you don't need it? The space black looks nice, but I always liked the silver of the MacBook Pros because of the black keyboard bed. The black background of the keyboard makes the silver look so nice.

i don't like the full black keyboard look. i have a 2011, and the black keys are set into silver framed background. that very nicely makes each key stand out.

 

[Ishimura]

Talking about the M3 Macbook Pro, can any of the Mac experts here help me working out if this is a good deal? Would it be wise buying this now, if you can't stretch your budget to the M4 Pro equivalent (but with say 24gb ram instead)?

M3 Macbook Pro (brand new)
16 inch
M3 Pro chip - 12 core CPU + 18 core GPU
32gb RAM
512 SSD

£1800

Any help appreciated.

 

[maflynn]

Talking about the M3 Macbook Pro, can any of the Mac experts here help me working out if this is a good deal?

if you look at apple's refurb page, you see there's M3s for sale for £2039. those M3s have 16GB of ram.

I can't say for sure on whether its a good deal but if it were me, and the pice of a refurb's difference is only 200, I'd probably buy the refurb - its a safer bet.

If you still want to pursue it, see if its "gently used, i.e., get the battery status (coconut battery will report it), check the health of the SSD. Make sure they're the original owner with proof of purchase. Make sure you turn the computer on and examine to make sure everything works. Ask about any existing warranties. I'm not from the UK, so I'm not familiar with the consumr laws.

 

[Ishimura]

if you look at apple's refurb page, you see there's M3s for sale for £2039. those M3s have 16GB of ram.

I can't say for sure on whether its a good deal but if it were me, and the pice of a refurb's difference is only 200, I'd probably buy the refurb - its a safer bet.

If you still want to pursue it, see if its "gently used, i.e., get the battery status (coconut battery will report it), check the health of the SSD. Make sure they're the original owner with proof of purchase. Make sure you turn the computer on and examine to make sure everything works. Ask about any existing warranties. I'm not from the UK, so I'm not familiar with the consumr laws.

It was listed as new. I should have bought it lol. Thanks anyway.

 

[maflynn]

It was listed as new. I should have bought it lol. Thanks anyway.

Yep, been there done that, lol. Sorry for your loss.