Here are the Reasons I Regret Buying the MacBook M3 Pro.

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the author's experience and perspective on the new MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro processor, highlighting both the pros and cons of the latest Apple laptop.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The New Features

1. What are the key new features of the MacBook Pro with M3 Pro processor?

• New M3 chips with 3-nanometer process, promising increased performance and efficiency
• More powerful GPU with support for ray tracing
• 20% increase in screen brightness to 600 nits
• Support for Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E
• Faster SSD compared to M2 Pro generation
• New matte black color option

[02] The Issues

1. What are the main issues the author has with the new M3 MacBook Pro?

• Disappearance of the 13-inch MacBook Pro in favor of a lighter 14-inch model with non-Pro M3 processor
• Timing of the release, as the M2 Pro/Max models were released less than a year ago
• The M3 range is based on a "moderately finished" 3-nanometer process, with a more advanced architecture (M4) coming soon
• Performance improvement of M3 Pro over M2 Pro is modest, around 0-20%
• Ray tracing support is still in its early stages on Mac

2. What concerns does the author have about the base M3 MacBook Pro model?

• Starts with only 8GB of RAM, which is insufficient for most uses in 2023/2024
• Cheaper chassis with fewer ports and features compared to higher-end models
• Overall, the base M3 model is not a good value proposition compared to a MacBook Air

3. What issues does the author have with the higher-end 14-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro?

• The new "space black" color is disappointing, as it's more of a dark gray and the raw metal shows through when scratched
• The screen, while 120Hz mini-LED, has high latency that makes it unsuitable for fast-paced gaming

[03] Games and Gaming

1. What are the author's thoughts on the M3 MacBook Pro's gaming capabilities?

• Before positioning the Mac as a gaming platform, Apple needs to have a stronger game catalog available
• Current game support on macOS is limited, with only a few big titles released in recent years
• The screen latency issues also make the M3 MacBook Pro unsuitable for serious gaming without an external display

[04] Final Thoughts

1. What is the author's overall recommendation for the M3 MacBook Pro?

• For users who don't have budget constraints and need great battery life, the M3 Pro and M3 Max models can be worth it
• The base M3 model is not recommended, as it's better to get a MacBook Air instead
• Older models like the M1 Pro/Max and M2 Pro/Max are still excellent options that can be found for less, either as end-of-stock, refurbished, or Apple refurbished

2. What is the author's final decision regarding the M3 MacBook Pro they acquired?

• The author will be returning the M3 Pro MacBook Pro they acquired, as they don't see a need for it and prefer to stick with their existing M1 Pro MacBook Pro.