Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Features

Should you buy the M2 MacBook Pro or wait for the M3?

Luke Larsen
By
The MacBook Pro on a wooden table.

It’s been over a year since the M2 was announced, with the chip first appearing in the 13-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Air. With the M3 chip on the horizon, you might wondering if you’re better off waiting or just buying one of the current MacBook Pros?

While nothing about the M3 MacBook Pro is official yet, there’s been a lot of reporting about what we can expect from these next-gen laptops.

Recommended Videos

The M2 MacBook Pro of today

The keyboard and trackpad of the MacBook Pro 14-inch.

The M2 MacBook Pro is currently available in three sizes: 13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch. Of course, you’d be wrong in thinking the difference between these are just screen sizes. The 13-inch MacBook Pro, in particular, doesn’t have the same options for the M2 Pro and M2 Max that the larger laptops have. It also uses an old-school design, doesn’t have the mini-LED screen, has a lower-resolution webcam, and sports significantly less ports. For the most part, it’s a laptop that no one should buy — so we’ll set that one aside and pretend like it doesn’t exist.

Related

The current 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, however, are fantastic. Their performance is excellent, especially considering how quiet the systems are and how long the battery life lasts. They use some of the best displays on the market too.

But remember: the M2 MacBook Pros are almost identical to the M1 models. The redesigned chassis came in that first-generation that launched in 2021, and the biggest benefits are all present in those laptops. Even the performance difference between the M1 and M2 isn’t as significant as you might think. In other words, they’re still a terrific buy today, especially if you can find one on sale.

If you’re work doesn’t demand the absolute highest performance, I’d actually recommend sticking with used or refurbished M1 MacBook Pro, either with the M1 Pro or M1 Max. It’s a better deal for the money.

If you are, though, hoping for a significant jump in performance, the M3 might just be worth the wait.

Why the M3 could be a big deal

Apple MacBook Pro seen from the side.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

As mentioned above, the M2 wasn’t as big of a jump in performance over the M1 as some of us had hoped. The reason is because it’s built on the same TSMC 5nm node as the M1. The core configuration is different, yes, and the clock speeds are higher. So, while performance was better, it also resulted in a hotter system.

The M3, on the other hand, is looking like it will be a true next step for Apple Silicon. It’s reported to be moving to the TSMC 3nm process (also known as N3E), which means an actual bump in transistor count and efficiency. We don’t know much more than that, but you can expect a more meaningful increase in performance. We’ll have to wait and see if Apple has more tricks up its sleeve for these MacBook Pros, but you can at least take that extra performance to the bank.

The M3 MacBook Pros (14-inch and 16-inch) will likely not launch until at least spring 2024, though, and it could be even later than that. So, while I think these MacBook Pros will be worth the wait, it might be longer than you’re able to delay your purchase.

If you’re upgrading from an old Intel-based MacBook, or some older PC in general, you’ll be blown away by how fast and efficient even the M1 MacBook Pros are. So, unless you’re comfortable waiting six months or up to a full year, I’d recommend picking one up sooner rather than later.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Luke Larsen
Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Senior editor of computing, managing all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, Macs, and more.
Major leak reveals every secret Mac Apple is working on
Apple's John Ternus stands next to an image of the 15-inch MacBook Air at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023.

At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in early June, the focus was almost entirely on the company’s Vision Pro headset. But Apple has plenty more up its sleeve, according to a new report, which has spilled the beans on every single Mac we can expect to see in the coming months.

The report comes from journalist Mark Gurman, who accurately predicted a plethora of details about the Vision Pro before it was announced. Now, he says Apple has a few surprise Mac announcements in store for late 2023 or early 2024.

Read more
There’s a MacBook that Apple has no right to continue selling
A stack of MacBooks is pictured from the top down.

With the launch of the new 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple has solidified its most fleshed-out Mac lineup in recent memory. There's a MacBook for almost every conceivable budget and use case, ranging from the $999 M1 MacBook Air up to the upper echelons of the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Considering how well the 15-inch MacBook Air has been received in early reviews, there doesn't appear to be a bad choice in the mix. That is, until you stumble upon the MacBook hidden in the lineup that Apple has continued to sell for absolutely no reason. I'm referring to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, of course.

Read more
There’s great news if you want to buy Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air
Apple's John Ternus stands next to an image of the 15-inch MacBook Air at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023.

When Apple launched the 15-inch MacBook Air at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), it seemed like there wasn’t too much separating it from its 13-inch sibling. Yet a new set of tests has shown that the larger model pulls ahead in some key ways, making it a much more attractive purchase if you want maximum performance in a slimline laptop.

The testing was conducted by YouTuber Max Tech, who pitted the 15-inch MacBook Air against Apple’s smaller 13-inch version. Both laptops had the M2 chip and 256GB of storage, so you might think the only difference would be found in the size of the displays. Yet that’s not how the testing played out at all.

Read more