8.5
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
Like
Excellent screen
Good size and reasonable weight for everyday use
Don’t like
Screen notch
Entry model is overpriced for what it offers
Limitations on the number of ports and screens in the M3 model
The new, lower-price, entry-level model of the MacBook Pro 14 baffles me. I get that $1,999 — the price of the configuration we tested — is kind of high, but now it just seems like a heavier MacBook Air 13 with an HDR screen. I like the MacBook Pro 14, but you’re probably better off paying less and getting an Air or stepping up to $1,999 for a model with the M3 Pro and at least 18GB RAM.
As configured, the MacBook Pro 14 isn’t powerful enough do anything really but play back HDR content. In other words, there’s really no “pro” in the cheapest model, any more than the M3 iMac is for pros. It’s a price-performance configuration, and one that only an enterprise buyer who doesn’t have to use it could love.Â
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, late 2023)
Price as reviewed | $1,999, £2,099, AU$3,299 |
---|---|
Display | 14.2-inch 3,024×1,964 254ppi 14:9/16:10 aspect ratio; 500 nits SDR, 1,600 nits HDR; 120Hz |
CPU | 3.2GHz Apple M3 8 cores (4P/4E) |
Memory | 16GB LPDDR5 |
Graphics | Apple M3 integrated 10 cores |
Storage | 1TB Apple SSD AP1024Z, SD card slot |
Ports | 2 x USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio |
Networking | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3 |
Operating system | MacOS Sonoma 14.1 |
Weight | 3.4 lbs/1.6kg |
The design is more or less unchanged since the 2021 model; the difference is mainly in the port selection, which is determined by the base level of the chip. An M3 processor means only two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports and only one high-res external monitor in addition to the built-in screen.
Watch this: Apple MacBook Pro 16- and 14-Inch, M3 Series Review
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