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MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 Pro (2024) – Review of Reviews

MacBook Pro 14 inch M3 Pro (2024) - Review: Close-up of the laptop's keyboard and trackpad, showcasing its sleek design.

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with the M3 Pro processor is a powerful laptop designed for professionals and creative professionals who demand high performance and portability.

With a stunning display, impressive battery life and robust processing power, it stands out in the competitive world of premium laptops.

By combing through a variety of trusted reviews and feedback, including our own experience with this machine, we’ve put together this ‘meta-review’ – a review of the reviews.

Why a meta-review?

A meta-review brings together opinions and feedback from multiple trusted sources. By analyzing and synthesizing these reviews, we get a better picture of a product’s strengths and weaknesses.

We hope this meta-review will help you make a better purchasing decision.

Product Spec

We focus specifically on the M3 Pro processor. Apple also offers other processor configurations.

Technical details

  • Processor: Apple M3 Pro chip with 11-core CPU, 14-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine.
  • Memory: 18GB of RAM.
  • Storage: 512GB SSD (Apple offers multiple storage options up to 8TB).
  • Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (3024 x 1964 resolution). True Tone technology automatically adjusts the brightness and warmth of the display for comfortable reading. Also supports ProMotion with a refresh rate up to 120Hz refresh rate.
  • Webcam: 1080p webcam with crisp images and improved low-light performance.
  • Charging: MagSafe 3 charger.
  • Microphones: Studio-quality three-mic array.
  • Speakers: Six-speaker sound system with Dolby Audio support.
  • Touch ID: Unlock with your fingerprint.
  • Battery life: Up to 18 hours, depending on usage.
  • Weight: Approximately 1.6kg (3.5 pounds).
  • Ports: 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1, SDXC card slot, MagSafe charging, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

What makes it special?

The 14-inch MacBook Pro is powered by the M3 Pro chipset, which delivers exceptional performance for resource-intensive applications such as video editing, software development and gaming.

Its Liquid Retina XDR display delivers vibrant colours and sharp detail, making it ideal for creative professionals.

Design and Build

  • Look and Feel: The MacBook Pro has a sleek design and finish that exudes professionalism. The larger display is framed by thin bezels for a more immersive experience.
  • Durability: Made from premium materials, the MacBook Pro is durable yet lightweight, making it easy to transport without sacrificing durability.
  • Ease of Use: The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience. The trackpad is responsive, precise and user-friendly.

Performance

  • Benchmark Tests: Benchmark tests show the M3 Pro’s impressive performance, with high Geekbench 6 scores. Compared to the M2 Pro model, it shows only minor gains in multicore performance but excels in graphic-intensive tasks thanks to its enhanced GPU capabilities.
  • Real-World Use: Reviewers highlight the laptop’s ability to run multiple applications without lag.
  • Comparison with Competitors: Compared to premium laptops such as the Dell Precision 5470 or Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme, the M3 Pro chip-based MacBook Pro offers superior processing efficiency, battery life and display quality, but lacks the port variety and customisation of its competitors.

Features and Functionality

Main features

  • Liquid Retina XDR Display: Delivers stunning visuals with high brightness levels.
  • M3 Pro Chip: Delivers powerful performance for intensive tasks.
  • Long Battery Life: Up to 18 hours depending on usage.
  • MacOS Integration: Seamless compatibility with other Apple devices increases productivity with features such as AirDrop and Universal Control.

Software and updates

The MacOS interface is intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate. Regular updates keep the system secure and efficient.

User Experience

  • Setting It Up: Initial setup is straightforward, guided by an easy-to-follow process that gets users up and running quickly.
  • Ease of Use: The intuitive interface, combined with responsive hardware, provides a good user experience across a range of tasks.
  • Customer Service: Apple’s customer support is widely regarded as excellent, providing resources to help users effectively.

Pros and Cons

What’s great?

  • Exceptional performance with M3 Pro chip.
  • Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display.
  • Long battery life.
  • High build quality and aesthetic design.
  • The keyboard is comfortable and responsive.
  • The large trackpad is precise and easy to use.

What could be better?

  • A limited choice of ports means adapters may be required. Although the ports supplied really are state of the art (e.g. Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1).
  • Higher price point compared to some alternatives.
  • Weight might be slightly heavier for users use to ultra-portable laptops.
  • Some cases of thermal throttling have been reported with the 14-inch model under extremely heavy and prolonged workloads.

Expert Reviews

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro has received largely positive reviews from expert sources:

  • Tom’s Guide praised its impressive performance, brighter display, and excellent battery life, but noted its high price and questioned its target audience.
  • PCMag highlighted its exceptional processing power, outperforming many competitors in tasks such as video transcoding and rendering.
  • TechRadar commended its display, camera, and audio performance, declaring it the best laptop for media consumption.

Comparison with M4 Macbook Pro

While the newer M4 MacBook Pro offers some performance gains, particularly in graphics, the M3 Pro is still a highly capable choice for the majority of professional users.

For those whose work doesn’t rely heavily on cutting-edge graphics, the M3 Pro may offer a better balance of performance and price.

Is It Worth It?

The 14-inch MacBook Pro offers great value for money for users who demand high performance.

It may be more expensive than some of its competitors, but its capabilities justify the investment for users who need reliability and efficiency in their work.

Budget Alternative

For a budget-friendly alternative, the latest MacBook Air offers solid performance at a lower price, with excellent battery life.

Final Thoughts

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with the M3 Pro processor is a great choice for creatives, developers, or other professionals requiring top-tier performance in a portable format.

Its strengths in processing power, display quality, and battery life make it a worthwhile investment, despite some minor drawbacks in terms of connectivity.

It offers excellent value for money for users who need powerful performance without necessarily paying a premium for the latest generation of Apple silicon.

We hope you found this review useful.

PRIMARY SOURCES
  • Tom’s Guide (2023). M3 Pro MacBook Pro Review. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/m3-pro-macbook-pro-14-inch
  • PCMag (2023). Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023) Review. https://uk.pcmag.com/apple-serie/149501/apple-macbook-pro-14-inch-2023-m3-pro
  • Macworld (2023). Review of the M3 Pro MacBook Pro. https://www.macworld.com/article/2211441/14-inch-m3-pro-macbook-pro-review.html
NOTE

While we try to keep our meta-reviews impartial, some sources may have relationships with manufacturers that could influence their opinions. And although we try to use the most up-to-date information, some reviews may be dated. We encourage you to check several sources before deciding, to ensure you’re getting a balanced view.