Is Apple’s Midrange ‘Pro’ M3 Chip Worth the Upgrade? Exploring its Performance

Apple’s latest M3 Pro chip is a bit of an oddity in the otherwise solidly improved MacBook Pro laptop lineup. While it’s great for those needing a bit more power for work tasks and multiple external monitors, individuals who’ve recently upgraded their Macs with an M1 or M2 Pro chip might not see significant performance improvements without investing in the M3 Max.

In a head-to-head comparison, the 12-core M2 Pro and the M3 Pro perform similarly, despite expectations of the latter outperforming the former due to its six performance and six efficiency cores. This unexpected design decision differs from the eight performance and four efficiency cores split found in the M2 Pro. Additionally, the 10-core M2 Pro has a six-performance and four-efficiency core split, while the M3 Pro has 11 cores with a five-performance and six-efficiency core split.

Despite this, the M3 Pro performs slightly better than the M2 Pro in most benchmarks. This is mainly due to a new three-nanometer die process, similar to what Apple implemented in the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip. While performance differences are minimal, Ars Technica’s tests show about a 15% increase in single-core performance compared to the M2 Pro, although other scores indicate similar performance levels between the two models.

In a new benchmarking video, YouTuber Luke Miani notes that the M3 Pro seems intentionally limited in its performance and GPU cores compared to the previous generation. His testing confirms findings from other sources, indicating comparable performance levels between the M3 Pro and M2 Pro. However, the M3 Pro stands out in terms of battery life, making the efficiency-focused nature of the silicon more understandable.

These observations suggest a shift in Apple’s chip strategy. The M3 Pro, while an improvement over the standard M3, falls behind the M3 Max when compared to their respective predecessors. This new lineup creates a larger gap between the “mid” (M3 Pro) and high-end models, tempting buyers to consider the $2,999+ purchase of the M3 Max, even if not entirely necessary.

The M3 Pro represents an overall advancement in design. Yet, for those expecting substantial year-over-year performance gains, it may be worth waiting for the next generation. On the other hand, individuals with Intel Macs should consider an upgrade soon. While the M3 Pro may not offer significant improvements for most users, there are still notable performance gains and the ability to connect two external monitors instead of one.