thought : Apple ’s scarey firm event hascome and gone , and it mostly play out as expected – with the M3 family launching across its Pro laptops . However , the M3 being add to theMacBook Prorange was n’t as wide predicted . But , it does n’t look like a great deal .
Last workweek , I pen about how Apple needed to settle what it was survive to do with the awkward 13 - inch MacBook Pro , which it has sustain around from the Intel days through M1 and M2 update . At the October 30th event , Apple obliged . Apple now offers a 14 - column inch MacBook Pro with anM3chip , rather than just being limited to the more powerfulM3 ProandM3 Maxoptions . It ’s a neat resolution that ca-ca a lot of sense – until you cut into into the spec sheet .
The main issue here is the amount of unified memory . The mean model of this fresh 14 - inch MacBook Pro with M3 start at £ 1,699/$1,599 yet only extend up 8 GB ofunified memory . Admittedly , Apple does manage to make its incorporate memory go further , with the welfare of its tightly integrated ironware and software ecosystem , when compared to RAM on Windows twist . But , 8 GB just is n’t suitable for “ Pro ” study . MacBook Pro theoretical account are doubtless aimed at creatives and that amount just is n’t going to tolerate for serious editing , modelling and design work to get done .
But , why not just update it , right , if it ’s not enough ? It ’s an selection but there are two reasons it does n’t feel like good value . First off , if you take one of our top picks for a MacBook choice as an example , theAsus Zenbook 15 OLED , that equipment has 16GBRAMand 512GBSSDwith a 2.8 K OLED showing for just under £ 1100 . illusion the new 14 - in M3 MacBook Pro with that amount of retentivity and storage ? Then , you ’ll be forking out £ 1899/$1799 .
Then , get ’s await inside the Apple category , if you ’re already spending close to two K on a laptop because you need to get professional work done then it get little mother wit for you not to stump up the extra £ 200/$200 for the M3 Pro adaptation .
This role model will get you a more powerful microchip , threeThunderbolt 4ports instead of just two Thunderbolt 3 ports as well as – the most significant divisor here – 18 GB unified memory . That higher retentivity will let for much greater headroom when it come to complex and demanding workload , which is exactly what users expect from the MacBook Pro chain .
Now , this is n’t that out of descent with Apple ’s upselling strategy that always tempts you to move up to the next price wall bracket . You ’re already spend a lot of money so what ’s a shade more , good ? But , the initial offer has to make sensation for some users or why does it exist at all ? If you ’re considering the unexampled M3 MacBook Pro with only 8 GB incorporated computer memory then you should really be looking at theMacBook Airto serve your needs , or expect for the M3 chip to land on those devices . Yes , the new Pro model gets you a better display and a wider range of port but the supererogatory several hundred pound does n’t quite finger deserving that rise .
Apple finally ditched the awkward 13 - inch MacBook Pro with its grownup bezel and touch bar but it ’s replaced it with a whole raw conundrum . 8 GB of unified retentiveness does not a “ Pro ” laptop computer make .
