The MacBook Pro M3 series is Apple‘s mightiest MacBook range yet, and the best prices available on these next-gen laptops are still pretty close to retail, given that they were only released recently and are still less than a year old at the time of writing. We have been seeing some small discounts during seasonal sales however, with the highest being $300 off the M3 Pro models in December.
The MacBook Pro M3 models offer a choice between a 14-inch display or a 16-inch display, with the option to choose between the M3 (14-inch only), M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips. Prices for the entry-level 14-inch M3 model with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage start at $1,599 / £1,699 – whereas the 16-inch model with the M3 Pro chip starts at $2,499 / £2,599 with 18GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
We’ve found that the standard M3 chip is plenty of power for most people, although it might be wise to upgrade your chipset if you rely on extensive and demanding software day-to-day. You should also consider investing in one of the best monitors for MacBook Pro to pair with the best Mac for video editing and creative work.
The best MacBook Pro M3 prices
MacBook Pro M3 14-inch prices
MacBook Pro M3 (14-inch)
A mighty MacBook with a gorgeous display
Display: 14.2-inch mini-LED backlit Liquid Retina XDR (3024×1964) | CPU: M3 (8-core) M3 Pro (11/12-core) M3 Max (14-core) | Graphics: M3 (10-core) / M3 Pro (14/18 core) / M3 Max (30 core) | RAM: 8GB / 16GB / 18GB / 36GB | Storage: 512GB or 1TB | Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD webcam | Battery life: Up to 22hrs (M3) up to 18hrs (M3 Pro/Max) | Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), HDMI, SDXC card, headphone jack, MagSafe 3 charging port. | Weight: 1.55 kg /1.61 kg (M3 Pro) 1.62 kg (M3 Max)
The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M3, 2023) model is an excellent choice for creatives with extensive workloads, although if you don’t see yourself needing this much power then we recommend opting for the latest MacBook Air M3 models instead (which start at $1,099 / £1,099) to save yourself from overspending where it’s not necessary.
In terms of prices, we’ve already mentioned that the MacBook Pro M3 14-inch models start at $1,599 / £1,699 for the lowest configurations, which will increase as you upgrade the CPU, GPU, or unified memory and storage size options.
We found that the latest MacBook Pro models share a lot of similarities with the previous MacBook Pro M2 models, including an identical display, however what sets this model apart from a design perspective is that it has forgone the Touch Bar. The Liquid Retina XDR panels maintain the same peak brightness of 1600 nits, although the M3 Pro model has a more efficient CPU with an updated GPU that supports ray tracing, although you only get two Thunderbolt 4 ports,
If you opt for the standard M3 chip, you should expect your MacBook to last 22 hours on a single charge, although this model backs a smaller battery than the 16-inch model, so you might notice a more significant power drain if you have either the M3 Pro or M3 Max chip equipped, and therefore need to charge them more often. We think the base M3 version is the laptop to go for if you don’t tend to carry out much graphically demanding work.
MacBook Pro M3 16-inch prices
MacBook Pro M3 (16-inch)
A superior MacBook with a large display size
Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED backlit (3456×2234) | CPU: M3 Pro (12-core) M3 Max (14/16-core) | Graphics: M3 Pro (18-core) / M3 Max (30/40-core) | RAM: 18GB / 36GB / 48GB | Storage: 512GB or 1TB | Battery life: Up to 22hrs | Weight: 2.14 kg / 2.16 kg (M3 Pro)
The 16-inch version of the MacBook Pro M3 series shares exactly the same display qualities as the 14-inch model above, but on a bigger surface area. In fact, it shares almost all of the same specifications and design features as its little brother, although with the 16-inch model, you get three Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) ports, as opposed to only two with the 14-inch model.
As for price, the 16-inch MacBook Pro (with the M3 Pro chip) is more expensive than the 4-inch model, obviously, starting at $2,499 / £2,599 with 18GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. With this model, it’s not only a display upgrade that you’re paying for but a power boost too.
FAQs
What’s a good price for the MacBook Pro M3?
As with most Apple MacBooks, different configurations can seriously affect the price. Below, we’ll list the retail prices for these latest MacBook models and configurations for you to use as a guide, so any deals you can find for less than these prices we would advise you to take, since deals on the M3 MacBook Pro series are pretty rare outside of seasonal sales periods.
• The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/£1,699 for the minimum amount of RAM and storage (and that’s before we come to the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips). The 14-inch model with an M3 Pro chip starts at $1,999 / £2,099 with 18GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. But the top-tier MacBook Pro 14-inch configuration with the M3 Max chip, 36GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD storage will set you back $3,199 / £3,299 for ultimate power.
• As for the 16-inch MacBook Pro M3, this laptop starts at $2,499 / £2,599 for the M3 Pro chip, 18GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. If you desire the M3 Max chip, then expect to pay $3,499 / £3,599 for the 36GB RAM variant with 1TB of storage, or $3,999 / £4,099 if you want 48GB of RAM instead.
Should I choose the MacBook Pro 14-inch or 16-inch?
The two 2023 M3 MacBook Pros – Apple’s 14-inch and 16-inch laptops – offer largely the same specs, and both can be configured with either the M3 Pro or M3 Max chips depending on your levels of workload.
With this in mind, we think that your decision should only factor in three points; display, power, and ports. Some will find a larger display size more comfortable to work on, but the MacBook Pro 14-inch has the logical advantage of being slightly lighter and more compact, and therefore more convenient to carry around.
As you can tell from the configurations above, the 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 model has the potential to pack more power (should you need it) so weigh up how much processing and graphically intensive power you think you’ll require to complete your tasks (including playing the latest games) and use this to guide your decision. If you’re a gamer and content creator, we advise going for the M3 Pro or Max option.
Lastly, think about ports. The 14-inch model has only two Thunderbolt 4 (USB‑C) ports, whereas the 16-inch model has three. Is this a dealbreaker for you? Then you know which one to pick.