Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3 Pro review - Improved runtimes and better performance

The small MacBook Pro 14 can, of course, also be had with the full version of the M3 Pro (6 performance cores instead of 5, 18 GPU cores instead of 14) and we already had a chance to test this chip inside the bigger MacBook Pro 16. As our test device's case, connectivity and input devices aren't any different to those on the MBP 14 with the M3 Max, we have predominantly focussed on the laptop's performance, emissions and runtimes in this review. For further information on these topics, you can read our detailed review of the MBP 14 M3 Max: 

• Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Max

The MacBook Pro 14 with the M3 Pro features the same connections and cooling unit as the configuration with the M3 Max which we already tested thoroughly. This means it has two fans and three USB-C 4.0 ports including Thunderbolt 4, while the new base model of the MacBook Pro 14 with the M3 SoC only has one fan and two USB-C 4.0 ports which are limited to Thunderbolt 3.

The case can be had in either silver or the new Space Black — although the latter is more a very dark gray and still contrasts quite a lot with the black keyboard. Its surface isn't quite as bad a fingerprint magnet as the current MacBook Air M2 in the dark blue "Midnight" colorway but even so, you will have to wipe it down regularly. The MBP 14 with the M3 Pro can power two external displays at once, which is an advantage over the base model with the regular M3 SoC.

Compared to Intel and AMD, you will have to select chips from the 45-watt range to achieve better multi-core performance. The Core i7-13700H in the Schenker Vision 14 with a comparatively low consumption of 45/40 watts is still slower. AMD's Ryzen 7 7840S in the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 14 (52/42 watts) is faster, however, the U and P models from AMD and Intel lost out.

During the single-core tests, the situation became even clearer, as Apple triumphed with its new P cores (+20 % compared to M2 generation) and left its AMD and Intel competitors in the dust. Here, you will currently need Core-i9 CPUs with extreme single-core turbo clock rates to achieve even better single-core performance rates.

As usual, its CPU performance remains totally constant when you aren't plugged into the mains. We ran our usual Cinebench R15 multi loop but you have to keep in mind that its performance is a little reduced due to it being emulated. Still, we noted a slight advantage compared to the old M2 Pro — the loop showed us very clearly that its CPU performance remains stable under permanent load. Further CPU benchmarks can be found here.

The smaller M3 Pro SoC also comes delivered with a weaker graphics card installed — instead of 18 GPU cores, this variant is limited to 14 GPU cores. We can't read its clock rate, however, we can assume an increase over the old M2 Pro, as its performance was better than the 16-core GPU of the old M2 Pro in most of the tests. As we already determined when looking at its multi-core CPU performance, the new M3 Pro GPU again came pretty much right in between the two versions of the M2 Pro during 3DMark WildLife Extreme Unlimited. The only exception proved to be during the GFX Bench tests, where both GPUs did practically the same. Compared to the MBP 14 with the normal M3, however, its advantage is considerable and depending on the benchmark, we noted a 40-50 % improvement. The same as on the processor, the GPU's maximum consumption is around 24 watts, so less than on the M2 Pro (~26-27 watts).

Compared to the iGPUs from AMD and Intel, the new M3 Pro GPU quite clearly came out on top and during the WildLife test, the GPU came between the GeForce RTX 3050 Ti in the Schenker Vision 14 and the RTX 4050 Laptop in the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 14.

As is typical for Apple, its performance remains totally stable when you rely on the battery and even under continuous load, we noted no performance loss. Further GPU benchmarks can be found here.

In our other reviews, we already mentioned that there are a few different ways you can play games on the MacBook. Aside from emulated games or additional software such as CrossOver, you can manage to run quite a lot these days (for example, GTA V or The Witcher 3). However, the hardware can't always make use of its full potential and of course, it is missing a few optimizations.

As expected, native games run the best — nowadays, this includes a lot of AAA games such as Baldur's Gate 3 or No Man's Sky. They run very well on the MacBook Pro and usually, you can even use the highest settings. Unfortunately, when compared to Windows devices, its gaming performance is already well below a GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop and the older GeForce RTX 3050 Ti. If you are looking to play some games on the MacBook every now and again, then you will get along just fine with its somewhat limited selection and you definitely won't be disappointed. Nevertheless, you just have to be aware of the fact that this isn't a gaming laptop.