M4 vs M3 pro MacBook Pro

[JSENNY25]

Hi folks!


Full disclosure, I swear I looked, but I'm having a difficult time finding some concrete arguments so I thought I'd ask. I am sure I am likely rehashing multiple threads and other questions but, here goes.…


I purchased a 14 " MacBook Pro M3 Pro 18 Gb, 512, (the base model M3 pro) from Best Buy for 1699 new and am still in the return window.

I really like the device. I do wish the screen was a little bit bigger. Had the 15 inch MacBook Air that unfortunately was using a little bit too much RAM at 8 GB so, I needed to upgrade. Really missing the screen size, but I think that's a conversation for another time…

I'm trying to figure this out from a purely value and bang for buck perspective.

But I'm trying to find out if buying an M4 pro with the basic M4 processor (16GB/521) for $150 off is a better use case for me now that ports are expanded than the current M3 pro with the M3 pro processor. Everything that I've seen is that they are essentially comparable from a processor perspective, but what about the ports/fans/screen quality stuff? It does look like it will drive the additional monitors and has some faster connections.

But, is the M3 pro a "better" computer overall ?

M3 Pro with the M3 PRO processor 18 GB/512 for 1699

vs

M4 pro with M4 processor 16GB/512 for 1479

Are the ports/fans/screen quality stuff now essentially the same ?

What is the threshold on value? if Best Buy drops another $150 off the older M3 models, that would be great for Black Friday, but I am still paying more now for technically older technology.

Or, what if I threw economic caution to the wind and just said M4 pro with the M4 pro processor versus the M3 pro with the M3 pro processor I currently have?

Beyond the processor capacity, are the additional upgrades to the new M4s that make it much more appealing? I know everyone has their own opinions and use case, but I'm really struggling to figure out if I wanna just roll with the device I have, go with the basic M4 or step up to the M4 pro. In a perfect world, there would be a 16 inch with the base M4 processor and that might be my unicorn.

Thanks for the help.

 

[GeneticBloom]

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.

 

[crazy dave]

Hi folks!


Full disclosure, I swear I looked, but I'm having a difficult time finding some concrete arguments so I thought I'd ask. I am sure I am likely rehashing multiple threads and other questions but, here goes.…


I purchased a 14 " MacBook Pro M3 Pro 18 Gb, 512, (the base model M3 pro) from Best Buy for 1699 new and am still in the return window.

I really like the device. I do wish the screen was a little bit bigger. Had the 15 inch MacBook Air that unfortunately was using a little bit too much RAM at 8 GB so, I needed to upgrade. Really missing the screen size, but I think that's a conversation for another time…

I'm trying to figure this out from a purely value and bang for buck perspective.

But I'm trying to find out if buying an M4 pro with the basic M4 processor (16GB/521) for $150 off is a better use case for me now that ports are expanded than the current M3 pro with the M3 pro processor. Everything that I've seen is that they are essentially comparable from a processor perspective, but what about the ports/fans/screen quality stuff? It does look like it will drive the additional monitors and has some faster connections.

But, is the M3 pro a "better" computer overall ?

M3 Pro with the M3 PRO processor 18 GB/512 for 1699

vs

M4 pro with M4 processor 16GB/512 for 1479

Are the ports/fans/screen quality stuff now essentially the same ?

What is the threshold on value? if Best Buy drops another $150 off the older M3 models, that would be great for Black Friday, but I am still paying more now for technically older technology.

Or, what if I threw economic caution to the wind and just said M4 pro with the M4 pro processor versus the M3 pro with the M3 pro processor I currently have?

Beyond the processor capacity, are the additional upgrades to the new M4s that make it much more appealing? I know everyone has their own opinions and use case, but I'm really struggling to figure out if I wanna just roll with the device I have, go with the basic M4 or step up to the M4 pro. In a perfect world, there would be a 16 inch with the base M4 processor and that might be my unicorn.

Thanks for the help.

The binned M3 Pro GPU will be better than the base M4 GPU, so if you like to do any gaming the M3 Pro is better. But for the CPU, the M4 CPU will be better in single threaded tasks and almost as good, if not better, in multithreaded tasks as the M3 Pro and will overall use less power. So depending on what you are using it for the M4 will likely be the better buy ...

 

[JSENNY25]

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.

Thanks for the heads up. I use my computer for keynote presentations that drive a large touch screen, video editing, and some basic photo editing.

The ports are a concern to me because the MacBook Air and older MacBook Pros did not drive my large touch screen well. I believe the issue was the related to the ability to drive multiple screens. The M3 has no issues connecting immediately, but older devices that only connected 2 screens would be an issue. Seems like any Mac that can drive 3 screens will work with no issue.

I am concerned the M4 (base) would have the same issue as the older Macs, but the ability to drive multiple screens and been increased, so my concerns may one for not.

 

[JSENNY25]

The binned M3 Pro GPU will be better than the base M4 GPU, so if you like to do any gaming the M3 Pro is better. But for the CPU, the M4 CPU will be better in single threaded tasks and almost as good, if not better, in multithreaded tasks as the M3 Pro and will overall use less power. So depending on what you are using it for the M4 will likely be the better buy ...

Likely not doing too much gaming ...

 

[crazy dave]

Thanks for the heads up. I use my computer for keynote presentations that drive a large touch screen, video editing, and some basic photo editing.

The ports are a concern to me because the MacBook Air and older MacBook Pros did not drive my large touch screen well. I believe the issue was the related to the ability to drive multiple screens. The M3 has no issues connecting immediately, but older devices that only connected 2 screens would be an issue. Seems like any Mac that can drive 3 screens will work with no issue.

I am concerned the M4 (base) would have the same issue as the older Macs, but the ability to drive multiple screens and been increased, so my concerns may one for not.

Unfortunately that just seems like the sort of thing that you'll probably just have to test it and find out for sure, but it'll probably be fine.

Likely not doing too much gaming ...

Graphics power can help with photo and video editing as well. Having said that, the GPU differential between the binned M3 Pro and base M4 isn't that big - like 15-25% more powerful depending on workload. Now that the base M4 comes with 16GB of RAM standard, that's probably more important. I believe that both the M3 Pro and base M4 have a single media engine though I don't remember if Apple made any upgrades to the media engine in M4.

Bottom line: as long as your external touch screen works, the base M4 is probably the machine you actually want.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I have the M3 Pro chip and was considering the base M4. Went on live chat with Apple last night and they said; "I would like to brief you that the M4 is better than the M3 chip base variant and not the M3 pro chip". I'm sticking with my M3 Pro.

 

[JSENNY25]

I have the M3 Pro chip and was considering the base M4. Went on live chat with Apple last night and they said; "I would like to brief you that the M4 is better than the M3 chip base variant and not the M3 pro chip". I'm sticking with my M3 Pro.

Interesting take...thanks for the heads up

 

[GeneticBloom]

Interesting take...thanks for the heads up

Depends, better in what? Because it isn't better overall. In graphics yes, but that's it.

You're going to get better battery life on the M4 model as well as a better camera, too, compared to the M3 Pro. The screen is going to be brighter also.

 

[JSENNY25]

Depends, better in what? Because it isn't better overall. In graphics yes, but that's it.

You're going to get better battery life on the M4 model as well as a better camera, too, compared to the M3 Pro. The screen is going to be brighter also.

So, is the consensus other than graphics, things are the same, if not better?

My largest concern is there is no degradation in the ability to drive external displays than the M3 Pro.

 

[GMShadow]

If RAM was the issue why not buy a M3 MBA15 again now that 16GB is the base spec?

 

[JSENNY25]

If RAM was the issue why not buy a M3 MBA15 again now that 16GB is the base spec?

At the time of my purchase of an M3 pro, the M3 air was essentially the same price for a similarly spec pro.

You are correct, the M3 air is a pretty decent by now but, the 15 inch M3 air that I had had trouble driving my external display I assume because it was so large and essentially a touch layer screen over top of a traditional screen. At 85 inches I think it did have difficulty driving it properly so I do think the air is not an option moving forward, but, thank you for the reply!

 

[GeneticBloom]

So, is the consensus other than graphics, things are the same, if not better?

My largest concern is there is no degradation in the ability to drive external displays than the M3 Pro.

They are able to drive the same number and quality of external displays:

How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support

The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display.

support.apple.com