Apple made waves in the tech industry with the“Scary Fast” event on October 30. The spotlight was on their premium MacBook Pro lineup, which now houses the latest M3 chips, a surprise given that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chipsets were introduced just earlier in the same year.
In-Depth Specification Comparison: M2 vs M3 MacBook Pro
M2 Chipset Deep Dive
M2 Pro:
- CPU Options: Two distinct variants are offered. One features a 10-core CPU (6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), while the other is a 12-core variant with 8 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores.
- GPU Variants: It starts with a 16-core GPU, with an advanced 19-core variant also available.
- Memory: The M2 Pro can handle up to 200GB/s of memory bandwidth.
- Advanced Features: A 16-core Neural Engine supports machine learning tasks, and the Media Engine is optimized for video encoding and decoding. One video decode and encode engine is present, along with ProRes encode and decode engines.
M2 Max:
- CPU Layout: Emulating a 12-core layout similar to its M2 Pro counterpart.
- GPU: The GPU offering starts at 30 cores with a 38-core variant.
- Memory: A whopping 400GB/s of memory bandwidth is available.
- Additional Tech: It features a similar 16-core Neural Engine. However, the M2 Max doubles the video encode engines and ProRes versions.
M3 Chipset Breakdown
Basic M3:
- CPU: Features an 8-core CPU with an even split between performance and efficiency cores.
- GPU: Comes with a 10-core GPU.
- Advanced Features: Like its predecessors, it also houses a 16-core Neural Engine and a Media Engine.
M3 Pro:
- CPU: Two versions are available. One with an 11-core CPU and 14-core GPU, and another 12-core CPU (split evenly between performance and efficiency cores) coupled with an 18-core GPU.
- Advanced Features: Both these variants also house the Neural Engine and Media Engine.
M3 Max:
CPU: Two variants – one with a 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU, and a high-end one featuring a 16-core CPU (12 performance and 4 efficiency cores) with a 40-core GPU.
Memory: Consistent with its M2 counterpart, the M3 Max offers 400GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Cutting-Edge Tech: What sets the M3 chips apart are their new features. GPU dynamic caching, mesh shading support, and ray tracing promise a 30% boost in graphics performance over their predecessor, the M1.
Performance claims will be more concrete post-official benchmarks.
Purchasing Options and Availability
The M2 Pro and M2 Max versions of MacBook Pros are up for grabs now, with exclusive deals featured in the Mac Price Guide. As for the newly announced M3 Pro and M3 Max versions, they’re currently open for preorders, particularly at B&H Photo. Potential buyers should stay updated for Black Friday deals, which are just around the corner.
