Tech / Technology

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is dead with the release of M3 14-inch MacBook Pro

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The launch of the 14-inch MacBook Pro signals the end of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
M2 MacBook Pro 13-inch with grim reaper

As in most horror films, Apple’s October event, named “Scary Fast,” didn’t take long to claim its first victim.

As the new 14-inch MacBook Pro crept into our lives, it slashed the 13-inch MacBook Pro from existence — for good.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro was an option for users who desired ultra-portability and jaw-dropping battery life. Sure the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models also deliver decent battery runtimes, but in my experience as a laptop reviewer, Apple’s claims that the 13-inch MacBook Pro can last 20 hours (compared to the larger models’ 18-hour runtime) was spot on.

14-inch MacBook Pro

14-inch MacBook Pro
Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable

The 13-inch MacBook Pro was also ideal for anyone who loved the controversial Touch Bar. However, many Apple fans aren’t sad to see it go. After all, it replaced physical function keys — as well as the precious Esc button — with an OLED touchscreen, which most found to be irksome.

SEE ALSO:

I spent a month with the 15-inch MacBook Air – it made me ditch Windows for good

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is dead and gone, but many won’t mourn its death.

How the 13-inch MacBook Pro lost its ‘sexy’

The 13-inch MacBook Pro, packed with the M2 chip, attracted users who craved a Pro model, but didn’t have the wherewithal to splurge on the pricier, upper-tier 14-inch and 16-inch variants. But Apple has other laptops with the M2 chip, too, including some Air models, which made the 13-inch MacBook Pro look less seductive.

For example, there’s a 2022 13-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip that is cheaper by about $200 — and it has sharper webcam, a higher-resolution display, a slightly lighter chassis, and it has a MagSafe 3 power port.

13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip

13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip
Credit: Apple

For the uninitiated, MagSafe 3 lets you charge the MacBook Air, allowing you to keep your two USB-C ports free. You can’t do the same on the Pro.

Plus, the Air doesn’t have a Touch Bar, a controversial feature often labeled as a “gimmick” by tech pundits.

However, the 13-inch MacBook Pro, unlike the Air, has fans, so if your workflow consists of resource-intensive tasks (e.g., video editing), the Pro model would be a better choice because it manages thermals better for the uptick in heat generation. Plus, in my experience as a laptop reviewer, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has an incredible runtime — even longer than the Air.

However, the Air still has sufficient battery life to keep consumers happy and has an attractive set of features that likely had consumers flocking to it instead of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

There’s a new ‘entry-level Pro’ in town

It looks like Apple recognized that its base-level Pro was losing its sexy. As such, it decided to kick the 13-inch MacBook Pro to the curb and replace it with the 14-inch MacBook Pro with a new M3 chip.

13-inch MacBook Pro

13-inch MacBook Pro M3
Credit: Apple

That means the Touch Bar is gone, a move that some Mashable tech reporters, including myself, are celebrating.

No, you won’t get the same “oomph” as you’d get from the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with the more robust M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. But you’re still getting a nice performance jump over the M2 chip, which is welcome. It has a starting price of $1,599.

Goodbye 13-inch MacBook Pro. Sayonara Touch Bar. It was nice knowing you.


front-facing 15-inch MacBook Air with m2 chip

Credit: Amazon


Apple 2023 MacBook Air Laptop with M2

$1,049.99

Tech / Technology

Apple just announced the new 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro

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Apple just announced the new M3 14-inch MacBook Pro. Here’s everything we know about the new laptop.
13-inch MacBook Pro

The new 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro is here! It’s replacing the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is known for delivering phenomenal battery life. So we can’t help but wonder: With the launch of the new M3 chip, will the 14-inch MacBook Pro last even longer? We won’t know until we get our hands on one and test it, but the odds are looking good for Apple.

The Cupertino-based tech giant announced a flurry of new features alongside the new 14-inch MacBook Pro. So if you have your sights set on a new Apple laptop, allow me to dive into the new updates you’re getting with this highly anticipated refresh.

3 new features of the M3 14-inch MacBook Pros

Apple’s latest entry-level MacBook Pro is the first of Apple’s computers with its latest silicon chip, the M3. Apple’s chipset is known for its blazing fast speeds and the M3 certainly won’t be any different.

Plus, Apple is ditching the 13-inch screen for its entry-level MacBook Pros, giving users a larger 14-inch screen without needing to shell out extra cash for a more powerful machine. This is the first time Apple has outfitted a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an entry-level silicon chipset.

And, finally, the Touch Bar is dead. Yes, some of Apple’s diehards may miss it, but its clear that Apple viewed it as an outdated feature. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the more au courant specs Apple is packing inside the new 14-inch MacBook Pro:

  1. Apple’s M3 chipset, the fastest entry-level silicon chip yet

  2. 14 inches of display at consumer – not prosumer – pricing

  3. No more outdated touchbar to accidentally hit while typing

Apple M3 MacBooks


Credit: Apple

There’s more!

Besides those three main takeaways, one thing consumers should focus on here is the price. This new entry level MacBook is the most affordable 14-inch MacBook Pro yet at $1599. That said, I will admit that Apple still selling a base model laptop with 8GB RAM in the year 2023 is absurd. So, would-be buyers will likely want to throw down that extra $200 for 16GB RAM at a total of $1799 to future-proof their purchase.

Apple says with that, you’re getting an M3 that has a rendering performance that is up to 1.8x faster than the M2 and up to 2.5x faster than the M1. When it comes to performance cores, the M3 is 15 percent faster than the M3 and 30 percent faster than the M1.

However, it’s clear that these upgrades really aren’t for Apple customers who already own an M1 or M2 Mac computer. It’s for users who have PCs or are still using a years-old Intel Mac. For example, Apple shared that the M3 chip is up to 11x faster than an Intel-based MacBook Pro.

Plus, with some added bonuses like 22 hours of battery life and the previously mentioned updated 14-inch body, this new MacBook Pro finally puts the entry-level MacBook Pro model on the same level as the more expensive M3 Pro and M3 Max versions of Apple’s flagship laptop.

Apple is taking pre-orders right now and the entire line of new M3 MacBook Pros will be available Nov. 7.

Tech / Technology

Apple just announced new M3 14-inch- and 16-inch MacBook Pros

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Apple just announced new M3 14-inch- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. Here’s everything we know about the new laptops.
MacBook Pro in space black

Apple’s “Scary Fast” event delivered on one major expectation.

Yes, that’s right: We got some new MacBooks in the house. In its livestreamed event on Monday, Apple unveiled a pair of new MacBook Pros with the latest and hopefully greatest in chipsets. M3 Pro and M3 Max are here in MacBook form, nestled inside 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops. The M3 Pro model starts at $1,999 and the M3 Max starts at $3,199.

Here’s everything you need to know about them.

3 new features of the M3 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros

There’s plenty to chew on with the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M3 Pro and M3 Max. Of course, performance is better; M3 Pro is up to 40 percent faster than M1 Pro, while M3 Max is up to 2.5x faster than the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max. The new M3 chips support hardware ray tracing, as well.

But here are some other cool features that you might not have expected:

  1. Up to 22 hours of battery life

  2. Fast remote screen sharing with another Mac device

  3. Game Mode, which enhances frame rates while gaming

  4. And a brand new Space Black color

Aside from those tidbits and the usual performance enhancements, though, this wasn’t an especially earth-shattering announcement. Apple’s stream was almost entirely focused on how these new laptops can do things faster than older laptops. They do get 1,600 nits of peak brightness, which should make things look all nice and fancy even in daylight.

Oh, and they come with the new MacOS Sonoma. That adds iPhone-like widgets to the home screen, profiles in Safari, and the aforementioned screen sharing and game mode features.

Maybe this event should’ve just been a press release.

Tech / Technology

Apple event October 2023: Every single MacBook Pro, iMac announced

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Apple refreshed the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and debuted a new iMac.
new M3 MacBook Pro

Trick o’ treat! Apple dropped some new M3s!

The Apple October 2023 event, also known as the “Scary Fast” live stream, dropped four iDevices this spooky season while introducing a new generation of three-nanometer chips: M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max.

The M3 Pro, compared to the other two chips, would be considered a mid-tier processor while the M3 is an entry-level pick and the M3 Max is the best money can buy.

Curious to see which new products these chips will power? Stick around to find out.

1. 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max

Apple introduced two refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and they come in two flavors: M3 Pro and M3 Max. Just like the predecessor, if you want the maximum amount of performance out of your laptop, you can snag the M3 Max 14-inch MacBook Pro or 16-inch MacBook Pro.

14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro

14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max
Credit: Apple

If you don’t need herculean muscle, you can snag the M3 Pro for either the 14-inch or the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

The M3 Pro, according to Apple, is up to 40 percent faster than the M1 Pro. The M3 Max, on the other hand, is 2.5 faster than the M1 Max.

Apple claims these models will deliver up to 22 hours of battery life. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip starts at $1,999. The 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499.

2. 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 chip

You may be wondering, “Didn’t you just mention a 14-inch MacBook Pro in the last section?”

M3 MacBook Pro

M3 MacBook Pro
Credit: Apple

I did, dear reader, but this one is different. This 14-inch MacBook Pro does not come with an M3 Pro chip nor an M3 Max processor. Instead, it comes with an M3 chip. It may not have the same “oomph” as the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, but it’s a significant leap over the M1 chip. In fact, Apple boasts that the M3 chip up to 60 percent faster than the M1 chip.

It starts at $1599.

4. New Space Black MacBook Pro

You can now get the MacBook Pro in a new color called “Space Black” that consists of a dark aluminum finish – and less fingerprints.

New Space Black MacBook Pro

New Space Black MacBook Pro
Credit: Apple

This is only available among the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips.

For your information, the M3 and M3 Max models are also available in silver. The M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, is available in space gray and silver.

3. iMac with M3 chip

The iMac hasn’t received an update since 2021 when Apple announced a new 24-inch colorful lineup with the M1 chip. Before the Scary Fast event, people have been scratching their heads wondering, “Will Apple pack it with M2 chip or will it leapfrog over to the M3 processor?”

New M3 iMac

New M3 iMac
Credit: Apple

As it turns out, Apple opted for the M3 chip, which is also packed inside the 14-inch MacBook Pro. The Cupertino-based tech giant claims that it’s two times faster than an M1 iMac. It still comes with the same seven colors of last generation, as well as the same size and 4.5K Retina display.

It has a starting price of $1,299.