The Apple M3 is a system on a chip (SoC) from Apple for notebooks that was introduced in late 2023. It integrates a new 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores with up to 4.06 GHz and 4 efficiency cores running at up to 2.75 GHz. Apple claims that the CPU is up to 20% faster than in the old Apple M2 (3.5 GHz).
Due to the higher clock speeds and architecture improvements, the processor performance is also significantly better than the M2 in benchmarks (see e.g. Geekbench below) and can keep up with the fastest CPUs in short single-core tests (like the Raptor Lake i9-13950HX).
The M3 also integrates a new graphics adapter with dynamic caching, mesh shading and ray tracing acceleration called Apple M3 10-Core GPU. According to Apple, it is 20% faster than the GPU in the M2. The chip integrates again 10 GPU cores, but the cheaper variant only offers 8 cores (e.g. in the entry iMac). Later in early 2025 Apple also introduced a 9-core variant in the new iPad Air models. Furthermore, the GPU only supports 2 displays (an additional 6K60 display to the internal one).
Both GPU and CPU can access the unified memory on the package together. It is still available in 8, 16 and 24 GB variants and offers the same 100 GB/s maximum bandwidth (unlike the Pro models that feature a reduced memory bandwidth).
The integrated 16-core Neural Engine has also been revised and now offers 18 TOPS peak performance (versus 15.8 TOPS in the M2 but 35 TOPS in the new A17 Pro). The video engine now supports AV1 decoding in hardware. H.264, HEVC and ProRes (RAW) can still be decoded and encoded.
Unfortunately, the integrated wireless network module only supports Wi-Fi 6E (no Wi-Fi 7) and due to the support of only a single external monitor, the chip also has to make do with no Thunderbolt 4 (Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 support only for up to 40 Gbit/s).
The chip is manufactured on the current 3nm TSMC process (N3B most likely) and contains 25 billion transistors (+25% vs. Apple M2). The 3nm process should also contribute to the excellent efficiency of the chip. Under load, the M3 CPU consumes approximately 20 Watt.
| Series | Apple M3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Series: M3
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| Clock Rate | 2748 - 4056 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 2 Cache | 4 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 4 x 4.1 GHz Apple M3 P-Core 4 x 2.7 GHz Apple M3 E-Core | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Transistor Count | 25000 Million | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing Technology | 3 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Features | ARMv8 Instruction Set | ||||||||||||||||||||
| GPU | Apple M3 10-Core GPU | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 64 Bit | 64 Bit support | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | ARM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcement Date | 10/30/2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Product Link (external) | www.apple.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Average benchmark values
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 14.20", 1.5 kg
Review » Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3 Review - The base model now comes without a Pro SoC
Apple iPad Air 13 2025: Apple M3 9-Core GPU, 12.90", 0.6 kg
External Review » Apple iPad Air 13 2025
Apple iPad Air 11 2025: Apple M3 9-Core GPU, 10.86", 0.5 kg
External Review » Apple iPad Air 11 2025
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 10C GPU: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 13.60", 1.2 kg
External Review » Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 10C GPU
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 15.60", 1.5 kg
External Review » Apple MacBook Air 15 M3
Apple iMac 2023 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 23.50", 4.5 kg
External Review » Apple iMac 2023 M3
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 14.20", 1.5 kg
External Review » Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3
Apple iPad Air 11 2025: Apple M3 9-Core GPU, 10.86", 0.5 kg
» Instagram iPad app leaks as head honcho promises fix for abysmal searchability
Apple iPad Air 13 2025: Apple M3 9-Core GPU, 12.90", 0.6 kg
» Verdict on the Apple iPad Air 13 (2025): A powerful tablet for almost all kinds of use
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU: Apple M3 8-Core GPU
» Outstanding Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 follows bigger brother to reach record-low price
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 15.60", 1.5 kg
» Outstanding Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 follows bigger brother to reach record-low price
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU: Apple M3 8-Core GPU
» Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 with 16 GB RAM has again reached lowest price ever after 25% discount on list price
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 10C GPU: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 13.60", 1.2 kg
» Apple Macbook Air M3 13-inch and 15-inch versions hit new lowest price with up to $300 off on Amazon
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 15.60", 1.5 kg
» Apple Macbook Air M3 13-inch and 15-inch versions hit new lowest price with up to $300 off on Amazon
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 10C GPU: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 13.60", 1.2 kg
» Apple MacBook Air M3 15-inch with 16 GB of RAM is now on sale at record low price
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 8C GPU: Apple M3 8-Core GPU
» Apple MacBook Air M3 15-inch with 16 GB of RAM is now on sale at record low price
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 14.20", 1.5 kg
» MacBook Pro 14 with lightning-fast Apple M3 Max processor gets biggest price cut ever on Amazon
Apple MacBook Air 13 M3 10C GPU: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 13.60", 1.2 kg
» External heatsink helps MacBook Air with Apple M3 achieve significantly better performance
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 15.60", 1.5 kg
» External heatsink helps MacBook Air with Apple M3 achieve significantly better performance
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 14.20", 1.5 kg
» Apple-Analyst: MacBook Pro with Apple M4 chip is currently in development
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 15.60", 1.5 kg
» MacBook Air with Apple M3: Base model gets major SSD upgrade, but remains slower than the competition
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3: Apple M3 10-Core GPU, 14.20", 1.5 kg
» MacBook Pro M3 cops massive criticism in iFixit teardown for repair and maintenance limitations, despite modular design
» Don't buy the new MacBook Pro 14 M3 as long as the old MBP 14 M2 Pro is still on sale
» Mobile CPU Comparison
Comparison of all mobile CPU series
» Mobile Processors - Benchmarklist
Benchmarklist of all known CPUs that are used in laptops (desktop and laptop CPUs)
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