Toyota said Tuesday it will invest another $8 billion into its first EV battery factory in North America, as the Japanese automaker tries to ramp up its electrification […]
How to preorder the new MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max
Apple announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros on Oct. 30: The new MacBook Pro with M3 Pro chip and MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip are available to preorder starting at $1,999 and $3,199, respectively.
As of Oct. 31, the new MacBook Pro M3 Pro and MacBook Pro M3 Max are available to preorder at the Apple Store, Amazon, and Best Buy. The 14-inch models start at $1,999 for the M3 Pro and $3,199 for the M3 Max, while the 16-inch models start at $2,499 for the M3 Pro and $3,499 for the M3 Max. Shipping begins on November 7.
Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips
![Apple MacBook Pro with silver shell and black design screensaver](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01K0bdF4zLPkUvgc70QYxJm/images-1.fit_lim.size_143x133.v1698763768.png)
Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max chip
![Apple MacBook Pro with space black shell and black design screensaver](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01K0bdF4zLPkUvgc70QYxJm/images-2.fit_lim.size_143x133.v1698763768.png)
14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (11-core CPU, 14-core GPU)
![Apple MacBook Pro with silver shell and black design screensaver](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01K0bdF4zLPkUvgc70QYxJm/images-4.fit_lim.size_220x133.v1698769191.jpg)
14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU)
![Apple MacBook Pro with space black shell and black design screensaver](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01K0bdF4zLPkUvgc70QYxJm/images-2.fit_lim.size_143x133.v1698763768.png)
16-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU)
![Apple MacBook Pro with space black shell and black design screensaver](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01K0bdF4zLPkUvgc70QYxJm/images-3.fit_lim.size_217x133.v1698769191.jpg)
14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Max (14-core CPU, 30-core GPU)
![Apple MacBook Pro with silver shell and black design screensaver](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01K0bdF4zLPkUvgc70QYxJm/images-5.fit_lim.size_220x133.v1698769191.jpg)
16-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M3 Max (14-core CPU, 30-core GPU)
![Apple MacBook Pro with space black shell and black design screensaver](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/01K0bdF4zLPkUvgc70QYxJm/images-3.fit_lim.size_217x133.v1698769191.jpg)
Apple’s second Apple Event of the past *checks notes* two months welcomed new MacBook Pros with several iterations of the new M3 chip — scary fast processing appropriately unleashed at the official “Scary Fast” Halloween Eve event.
The two real stars of the show were the Pros featuring the advanced M3 Pro and the super advanced M3 Max chips. Both can live in a 14-inch or 16-inch Pro, and both come in the one shade that could be sleeker than Space Grey: Space Black, baby.
One word to sum the M3 generation up? Power. Apple wasn’t shy about the fact that these are the most powerful MacBooks ever built by a long shot, operating up to 2.5 times faster than the already-fast M1 Max chip and up to 11 times faster than the older Intel-based MacBook Pros. The liquid retina XDR display is also more vivid, offering 1600 nits of peak brightness in HDR and 600 nits in SDR.
As for the differences between the two, the M3 Max is available with a 14- or 16-core CPU (compared to the M3 Pro’s 12-core CPU), 30- or 40-core GPU (compared to the M3 Pro’s 18-core GPU), up to 48GB of Unified Memory (compared to the M3 Pro’s 18GB or 36GB), and 1TB of SSD storage (compared to the M3 Pro’s 512GB SSD). The Max is the beast to trust for the most intense workflows — we’re talking to you, machine learning programmers, 3D artists, video editors, and MATLAB masters.
The best Apple deals for October 2023: AirPods, iPads, and more
Prime Day may have been two weeks ago, but you can still grab second-gen AirPods Pro at their Prime Day price of $189 or the iPad Air for its Prime Day price of $499.99. Plus, check out more of the best Apple deals as of Oct. 31.
UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2023, 12:00 p.m. EDT We’ve updated this post with the best deals from across the Apple universe leading into Black Friday season. Here are our top picks:
2022 MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
(Save $200)
![space gray m2 macbook air](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-138.fit_lim.size_219x133.v1683054824.jpg)
2021 iPad (WiFi, 64GB)
(Save $80)
![a silver 2021 10.2 in ipad](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-30.fit_lim.size_133x133.v1633384495.jpg)
iPhone 14 Plus at Verizon
(Save up to $799)
![black iphone 14 plus](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-143.fit_lim.size_97x133.v1695151206.jpg)
Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS + cellular)
(Save $30)
![Apple Watch in pink.](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-27.fit_lim.size_134x133.v1632859509.png)
AirPods Pro
(Save $60)
![second generation airpods pro](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-136.fit_lim.size_108x133.v1679412058.jpg)
Apple may have an iron grasp on the general population, but when it comes down to it, their products look good, work well, and stay cutting-edge — so of course, people love ’em. Whether you build your calendar around Apple events or you just want solid tech no matter the brand, Apple’s got you covered. Sure, they’re a little notorious for their high prices, but we’ve rounded up the best deals on iPads, AirPods, MacBooks, and more to help you save where you can. Check them out below.
Mac and MacBook deals
![space gray m2 macbook air](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-138.fill.size_256x155.v1683054824.jpg)
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Why we like it
Check out our full review of the M2 MacBook Air.
$899 is no longer a particularly uncommon price to see this M2 MacBook Air at, yet we’re no less excited when we see it return to this all-time low price. That’s because for under $1,000 you get impressive M2 power, a 13.6-inch display (trust us, you’ll notice the difference from a 13.3-inch display), and a keyboard that Mashable’s Alex Perry described as “kingly.” Whether you’re a student, looking for a work-from-home workhorse, or looking for an everyday laptop to replace your old, dusty MacBook, we’re willing to bet you’ll be more than happy with the M2 Air.
More Mac and MacBook deals
MacBook Air
-
15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,099
$1,299at Amazon (save $200) -
15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,249
$1,499at Amazon (save $250)
MacBook Pro
-
2022 MacBook Pro (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,049
$1,299at Amazon (save $250)
iPad deals
![a gray 2021 10.2-in ipad](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-35.fill.size_256x256.v1633976398.jpg)
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Why we like it
Prime Day brought the ninth-generation iPad back down to its $249 low, and Amazon and Walmart have kept it there for two weeks after the sale’s conclusion. Though this isn’t the iPad for you if you’re planning on doing a bunch of gaming or art, for many people this budget-friendly tablet will be more than enough for note-taking and video streaming.
More iPad deals
iPad (10th gen)
-
2022 iPad (WiFi, 64GB) — $399
$449at Amazon (save $50)
iPad (9th gen)
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2021 iPad (WiFi, 64GB) — $249
$329at Walmart (save $80) -
2021 iPad (WiFi, 256GB) — $399
$479at Walmart (save $80)
iPad Air
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iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $499.99
$599at Amazon (save $99.01) -
iPad Air (WiFi, 256GB) — $649.99
$749at Amazon (save $99.01)
iPhone deals
![black iphone 14 plus](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-143.fill.size_188x256.v1695151206.jpg)
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Our pick: iPhone 14 Plus at Verizon
Why we like it
The iPhone 15 may be the shiniest new Apple toy, and while the deals on the phone certainly aren’t bad, they are contingent upon you having a decent trade-in. If you feel any doubt in your trade-in power, going for this Verizon deal on the 14 Plus requires none — only that you open a new line on select unlimited plans. Still some hoops, but far fewer to get an $800 phone basically for free.
More iPhone deals
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iPhone 14 (128GB) at AT&T — $10.99/month for 36 months on select unlimited plans, then receive a $334.44 bill credit.
$699(save $159) -
iPhone 14 Pro (128GB) at AT&T — $15/month for 36 months on select unlimited plans, then receive a $360 bill credit.
$899(save $360) -
iPhone 14 Pro Max (128GB) at AT&T — $20/month for 36 months on select unlimited plans, then receive a $280 bill credit.
$1,000(save $280) -
iPhone 15 (128GB) at AT&T — $99 with an eligible trade-in on select unlimited plans. (save up to $700)
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iPhone 15 Plus (128GB) at AT&T — $229 with an eligible trade-in on select unlimited plans.
$929.99(save up to $700) -
iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) at AT&T — $199 with an eligible trade-in on select unlimited plans.
$1,199(save up to $1,000) -
iPhone 13 (128GB) at Verizon — $0 on a new line and select 5G unlimited plans.
$599(save $599) -
iPhone 14 (128GB) at Verizon — $0 with select 5G unlimited plans.
$699(save up to $699) -
iPhone 14 Pro (128GB) at Verizon — $0 when you open a new line with select unlimited plans.
$899.99(save up to $899.99) -
iPhone 15 (128GB) at Verizon — $0 with an eligible trade-in on a new line and select unlimited plans.
$799(save up to $799) -
iPhone 15 Pro (128GB) at Verizon — $0 with an eligible trade-in on a new line and select unlimited plans.
$999(save up to $999) -
iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) at Verizon — $199 with an eligible trade-in on a new line and select unlimited plans
$1,199(save up to $1,000)
Apple Watch deals
![Apple Watch SE](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-144.fill.size_219x256.v1698768144.jpg)
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Why we like it
The Apple Watch SE is a great option for those who don’t necessarily need all of the pricey bells and whistles that come with other Apple Watch models. You’ll get all the must-have features you need like health tracking, crash detection, Smart Stack, and emergency SOS options. Also, it’s $30 off at Best Buy, and we’ll never turn down a discount on the already-most-affordable Apple Watch.
More Apple Watch deals
Series 9
-
Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) — $389.99
$399at Amazon (save $9.01) -
Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS) — $389.99
$399at Walmart (save $9.01) -
Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) — $419.99
$429at Amazon (save $9.01) -
Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) — $419.99
$429at Walmart (save $9.01)
Series 8
-
Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS) — $319.97
$399at Amazon (save $79.03) -
Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm, GPS) — $329.51
$429at Amazon (save $99.41)
Ultra
-
Apple Watch Ultra (49mm, GPS + cellular) — $629
$799at Best Buy (save $170) -
Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular) — $774
$799at Amazon (save $55)
More Apple Watch deals
Apple accessories deals
![second generation airpods pro](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/04JtVl9VovM4n5VQc0EUFnb/images-136.fill.size_208x256.v1679412058.jpg)
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Why we like it
Read our full review of the second-generation AirPods Pro.
The AirPods Pro are some of the best noise-canceling buds in the business, and Walmart’s randomly decided to bring them back to their Prime Day (and record-low) pricing this week. At the time of writing, these buds are sold out at Amazon. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder wrote in his review that these AirPods are “the first pair of earbuds I’d actually consider taking on an airplane (instead of my much larger and clunkier over-ear headphones).”
More deals on Apple accessories
-
Apple Magic Mouse — $69.99
$79at Amazon (save $9.01) -
Refurbished AirPods Max — $389.99
$499.99at Best Buy (save $110) -
AirPods Max — $479.99
$549at Amazon (save $69.01)
New nonprofit backed by crypto billionaire scores AI chips worth $500M
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Yuzu wants to make health plans cheaper by letting insurers mix and match benefits
In the U.S., figuring out ways to pay for health insurance is a perennial problem — not just for individuals, but for the businesses employing them. Companies pay […]
M3 MacBook 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook 14
The M3 MacBook Pro 14 is here, but how is it different from the M3 Pro MacBook 14?
We’re going to pit the M3 MacBook Pro 14 against the M3 Pro MacBook Pro. Let’s get ready to rumble!
The M3 MacBook Pro 14 has the most affordable starting price out of all the MacBooks dropped during the “Scary Fast” event on Oct. 30. If you need something more powerful to compliment your resource-intensive workflow, you’ll be better off with an M3 Pro chip. This is where the M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 comes into play.
Of course, although they’re minor, there are more differences between the two models aside from their chips.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: Price
The M3 14-inch MacBook Pro has a starting price of $1,599. It comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The most expensive configuration, packed with an M3 chip (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 24GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage, will set you back nearly $2,600.
![Woman using M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00LKjXOhWtRb21MWdKqDrbe/images-9.fill.size_2000x1125.v1698736224.png)
Credit: Apple
The M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has a starting price of $1,999. This base-level configuration comes with 18GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
However, this laptop can cost nearly $4,000 if you max it out with an M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU), 36GB of RAM, and 4TB of SSD storage.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: Design
Both the M3 and M3 Pro models have the same design. After all, they share the same 14-inch MacBook Pro chassis.
![Woman using the M3 MacBook Pro 14](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00LKjXOhWtRb21MWdKqDrbe/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1698731726.png)
Credit: Apple
There are no major changes from the previous-generation 14-inch MacBook Pro. As such, you’ll still get that funky-looking notch on top of the display with slim bezels. Plus, you’ll get an island-style keyboard that is flanked by a divine-sounding, six-speaker audio system. And you’ll get Touch ID on the top-right corner of the keyboard.
The lid features that well-known Apple logo that that will make brand-conscious passers-by jealous.
The M3 MacBook Pro 14, on the other hand, is negligibly lighter than M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 (3.4 pounds vs. 3.5 pounds). However, they share the same thinness of 0.61 inches.
Unlike the M3 MacBook Pro 14, the M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 offers a new color, Space Black, in addition to Silver. The M3 MacBook Pro 14 only comes in Space Gray and Silver. Yawn!
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 13: Display
You guessed it. Both have the same display.
The M3 MacBook Pro 14 and the M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 have a 14.2-inch, 3,024 x 1964-pixel screen with a variable refresh rate that can climb to 120Hz. It has a peak brightness of up to 1600 nits, particularly for HDR content.
Plus, it has a mini-LED display, an energy-efficient display technology that can deliver high luminance compared to the likes of OLED.
![M3 MacBook Pro 14](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00LKjXOhWtRb21MWdKqDrbe/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1698731725.png)
Credit: Apple
The only aspect of the 14-inch MacBook Pro body that may give you pause is its controversial notch. Some people don’t mind it. For example, I forget that it’s even there. However, others find it to be repulsive, so it’s all up to your own personal taste.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: Ports
Both laptops have an HDMI port, SDXC card slot, and a 3.5-mm headset jack.
![14-inch MacBook Pro ports](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00LKjXOhWtRb21MWdKqDrbe/images-10.fill.size_2000x983.v1698736224.png)
Credit: Apple
Plus, there’s MagSafe 3 charging available, allowing you to free up those Thunderbolt ports for other important uses.
The M3 MacBook Pro 14 sports two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 has three Thunderbolt 4 ports.
It’s worth noting that the M3 MacBook Pro 14 only has support for one display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. The M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14, on the other hand, has support for up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: the chipset
Of course, Apple packed the 14-inch MacBook Pro with new chips from the M3 family, which the Cupertino-based giant claims is 15 percent faster than the M2 family. When it comes to image effects and filters, Apple claims the the M3 family is 40 percent faster.
![M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00LKjXOhWtRb21MWdKqDrbe/images-8.fill.size_2000x1125.v1698736224.png)
Credit: Apple
When you go to purchase the M3 MacBook Pro 14 on the Apple website, you’ll notice that it only offers an 8-core CPU and a 10-Core GPU.
The M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14, on the other hand, comes in two chipset flavors:
-
M3 Pro – 11-core CPU, 14-core GPU
-
M3 Pro – 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU
If you select the M3 Pro chip with more cores, it should, in practice, handle computational demands more seamlessly and efficiently.
According to Apple, the M3 Pro is 20 percent faster than the M2 Pro, its predecessor, when it comes to image processing.
M3 MacBook Pro 14 vs. M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14: Battery life
Apple claims that the M3 MacBook Pro 14 lasts 22 hours on a single charge, which is pretty damn good (if this is true). The Cupertino-based tech giant boasts that the M3 Pro MacBook Pro has a runtime of 18 hours, which is impressive, too.
However, we’ll have to test these laptops ourselves to know for sure.
Final thoughts
There is no clear winner here. It all depends on your workflow.
The M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14 is recommended for coders, researchers and creatives. However, the cheaper M3 MacBook Pro 14 targets students who need a zippy laptop that can keep up with their everyday tasks.
However, I’m a sucker for good battery life and I love to save money, so I’d personally opt for the M3 MacBook Pro over its pricier sibling.
![13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00LKjXOhWtRb21MWdKqDrbe/images-3.fill.size_256x144.v1698731725.png)
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The Apple Mac event was a scary bad Halloween flop
Apple’s 2023 Mac event, a first evening live launch for the company, was light on content. Did we even need this half an hour?
You could be forgiven for expecting something special from a fancy Apple launch event the day before Halloween — especially when the company was branching into new chronological territory. This was the first evening launch of the modern Apple era. Would we see Cook in impeccable evening wear, carrying a martini?
Then there’s the timing. And the event title: “Scary Fast.” That suggested we were getting speedier machines, sure. But it also suggested a theme.
Was it too much to hope that Apple, which has previously had a ton of fun with a 420-themed event, a rocking California-themed event, and more Craig Federighi appearances than you can shake a book of Dad jokes at, was going to go all out on a spooktacular spooktacular — something that sold genuinely interesting upgrades with a dash of its signature, and highly seasonal, pizzaz?
Well yes, we concluded afterwards, apparently that was too much to hope. The M3 chip speeds in its new laptops were somewhat interesting for those of us looking to upgrade, even if Apple was engaging in some sleight of hand about model comparisons. The screen was a little brighter. The “Space Black” color got the interest of some Macheads, while others compared it to the dull black Powerbooks of the early Carrie Bradshaw era.
I couldn’t help but wonder: If that’s all Apple was going to give us, then why not make this a TikTok — or our similarly brief summary above — instead of a 35-minute affair that felt three times as long?
There was no horror movie vibe to carry us through all that hard-to-parse benchmark test info. Not unless you count the 13-inch Macbook growing … a whole inch! Or the Touch Bar being quietly knifed off-screen. (Typical murder-mystery: It’s always the one the audience likes the least that gets it first.) There was nothing scary save the $2,000 price tag on the Space Black MacBook.
Where was the pumpkin spice on this weak small decaf? Well, not counting about 10 seconds of Scooby-Doo level Halloween CGI while zooming over the Apple campus at the very beginning, it was … the CEO’s bright orange Apple Watch band. If this is his idea of a costume, Tim Cook must be fun at Halloween parties.
Oh, and several of the executives featured used variations on the word “monster,” as in “monster CPU” and “monstrous improvement.” (Geddit? Because Halloween?) Despite being stuck underground in dungeon-like labs inside a spaceship, these presenters never once uttered phrases like “It’s alive!” Or “Soon my evil plan to make you buy a whole new laptop for a 15 percent speed improvement over last year’s model will be unstoppable!”
In short, Tim Cook made the Apple event equivalent of Saturday Night Live‘s famous David S. Pumpkins Halloween sketch, in which an elevator in a haunted house keeps opening on a not-very-scary Tom Hanks and a couple of skeletons who dance for a couple of seconds. Except Cook didn’t even give his audience a chance to ask “Any questions?”
Because yeah, like the paying customers in the sketch, we might have a few questions. Like: Where’s the fun? How long do you think the world’s wealthiest company can get away with launch events widely judged to be disappointing? What did you have against the 13-inch Macbook, which was that little bit easier to tote around or slip in a bag than the 14-inch replacement? And is the only innovation we have to look forward to from this company … just faster chips in newer models?
The notion that Apple itself has no clue how to answer these and other questions may, for us fans, be the scariest Halloween surprise of all.
Apple’s October Scary Fast Event: Everything revealed about the new MacBook Pro, iMac and M3 chips
It’s time for another Apple event, with a spooky twist. The company announced a surprise “Scary Fast” event last week, prompting the rumor mill to speculate that Apple […]
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is dead with the release of M3 14-inch MacBook Pro
The launch of the 14-inch MacBook Pro signals the end of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
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](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00hWSnzrWnP5IMOqjIXLZQ0/images-2.fill.size_2000x1125.v1698699210.jpg)
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.
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](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00hWSnzrWnP5IMOqjIXLZQ0/images-1.fill.size_2000x1125.v1698699210.jpg)
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](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00hWSnzrWnP5IMOqjIXLZQ0/images-4.fill.size_2000x1125.v1698713044.png)
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](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/articles/00hWSnzrWnP5IMOqjIXLZQ0/images-3.fill.size_256x156.v1698699906.jpg)
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Apple brought back the best Mac colorway with the new M3 MacBook Pro
Apple has a new range of updated MacBook Pro notebooks, and while they get a pretty nice internal upgrade courtesy mostly of the new M3 processor lineup, the […]