Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)

MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)

Manufacturer	Apple
Product family	MacBook Pro
Release date	October 2023 (2023-10)
Introductory price	USD 1999 to 3499
Discontinued	No
Operating system	macOS Sonoma
CPU	Apple M3 Apple M3 Pro Apple M3 Max
Memory	8GB, 16GB, 18GB, 24GB, 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, 128GB unified memory
Storage	512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB SSD
Removable storage	SDXC card slot
Display	Screen size: 14.2 inch Panel type: Mini-LED Coating: Glossy Resolution: 3024 x 1964 PPI: 254 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 120 Hz (ProMotion) Brightness: 600 nits (SDR), 1000 nits (XDR), 1600 nits (HDR) Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 P3: 99.2 % VRR: ProMotion Screen-to-body ratio:
Graphics	Apple M3 10-core GPU Apple M3 Pro 14-core or 18-core GPU Apple M3 Max 30-core or 40-core GPU
Sound	High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, Wide stereo sound, Support for Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos
Camera	1080p FaceTime HD camera
Touchpad	Force Touch trackpad
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.3 2 x USB 4.0 (40 Gbps) 3 x Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x MagSafe 3
Power	70W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter
Battery	70 Wh or 72.6 Wh lithium-polymer
Keyboard	Backlit Magic Keyboard
Chassis	Color: Silver, Space Black Materials: 100% recycled aluminum
Fingerprint reader	Yes (Touch ID)
Facial recognition	No
Predecessor	MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
Website	Apple

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The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is a high-performance laptop from Apple, featuring the new Apple M3 series of chips. It is available in various configurations, including the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, each offering different levels of performance and capabilities. The MacBook Pro 14 is designed for professionals and power users who require a portable yet powerful computing solution.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) can be configured with the following processors:

• Apple M3: 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores.
• Apple M3 Pro: 11-core CPU with 5 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, or 12-core CPU with 6 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores.
• Apple M3 Max: 14-core CPU with 10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, configurable to 16-core CPU.

The M3 chip benefits from the new 3 nm manufacturing process, offering around 20% performance improvement over the M2 in both single-core and multi-core scenarios. However, it is still outperformed by the M2 Pro in multi-core and GPU benchmarks. The M3 Pro's performance cores can reach up to 4.056 GHz, and the efficiency cores can reach up to 2.748 GHz. The smaller 11-core model uses ~23-24 watts under maximum load. During multi-core tests, the 'small' M3 Pro performed well, coming between the old M2 Pro with 10 cores and the M2 Pro with 12 cores. The M3 Max offers significantly improved CPU performance, with a 63% increase in multi-core performance compared to the M2 Max. It outperforms competitors like the Intel Core i9-13900H and AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS in multi-core tests.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • M3: 10454 (multi-core), 1904 (single-core)
  • M3 Pro 11-core: 13315 (multi-core), 1942 (single-core)
  • M3 Max: 24024 (multi-core), 1968 (single-core)
• Geekbench 6.2:
  • M3: 11966 (multi-core), 3099 (single-core)
  • M3 Pro 11-core: 14412 (multi-core), 3113 (single-core)
  • M3 Max: 21264 (multi-core), 3157 (single-core)

Graphics

The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) comes with the following GPU configurations:

• Apple M3: 10-core GPU
• Apple M3 Pro: 14-core or 18-core GPU
• Apple M3 Max: 30-core or 40-core GPU

The M3 GPU shows a 10-20% performance improvement over the M2 GPU but does not match the performance of the 16-core GPUs in the M2 Pro and M2 Max. The M3 Pro GPU came pretty much right in between the two versions of the M2 Pro during 3DMark WildLife Extreme Unlimited. The M3 Max GPU offers significantly higher performance, making it competitive with Nvidia's RTX 4070 Laptop GPU.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited:
  • M3: 8302 points
  • M3 Pro 14-core: 12094 points
  • M3 Max: 31403 points
• Geekbench 6.2 GPU Metal:
  • M3: 47494 points
  • M3 Pro 14-core: 68043 points
  • M3 Max: 155752 points

Memory

The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) supports the following memory configurations:

• Apple M3: 8GB or 16GB unified memory, configurable to 16GB or 24GB
• Apple M3 Pro: 18GB unified memory, configurable to 36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, or 128GB
• Apple M3 Max: 36GB unified memory, configurable to 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, or 128GB

The memory is onboard and cannot be upgraded by the user.

Storage

The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) can be configured with the following storage options:

• Apple M3: 512GB or 1TB SSD, configurable to 1TB or 2TB
• Apple M3 Pro: 512GB SSD, configurable to 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB; 8TB (M3 Max only)
• Apple M3 Max: 1TB SSD, configurable to 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB

The SSD performance varies between models. The base model with the M3 SoC uses a PCIe 3.0 interface, resulting in transfer rates up to 3 GB/s. The M3 Pro and M3 Max models use a faster PCIe 4.0 interface, with transfer rates up to 6 GB/s for read and 4.5 GB/s for write.

Benchmarks:

• Blackmagic Disk Speed Test 5GB:
  • M3: 2876.6 MB/s (read), 3036.1 MB/s (write)
  • M3 Pro: 4756.4 MB/s (read), 4198.7 MB/s (write)
  • M3 Max: 5294.2 MB/s (read), 6699 MB/s (write)

Co-processors

The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) includes the following co-processors:

• 16-core Neural Engine
• Media Engine: Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, Video decode engine, Video encode engine, ProRes encode and decode engine, AV1 decode

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The MacBook Pro 14 features a backlit Magic Keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys in an inverted‑T arrangement. It also includes Touch ID and an ambient light sensor.

The keyboard offers a comfortable and precise typing experience despite the shallow travel. The key strokes could be quieter, and the arrow keys are very small. The keyboard illumination is superior to many Windows laptops.

Touchpad

The MacBook Pro 14 comes with a Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities. It enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures.

The touchpad is excellent, offering a consistent clicking experience anywhere you touch. macOS provides plenty of customization options.

Webcam

The MacBook Pro 14 features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera with an advanced image signal processor and computational video.

The image quality is good but not comparable to front cameras on iPads. Face ID or Center Stage are not available.

Microphone

The MacBook Pro 14 includes a studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming.

Output Devices

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Display

The MacBook Pro 14 features a 14.2-inch (diagonal) Liquid Retina XDR display with a native resolution of 3024-by-1964 at 254 pixels per inch. The display supports ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz and fixed refresh rates of 47.95Hz, 48.00Hz, 50.00Hz, 59.94Hz, and 60.00Hz. It offers a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, XDR brightness of 1000 nits sustained full-screen, 1600 nits peak (HDR content only), and SDR brightness of 600 nits. The display covers 99.2% of the P3 color gamut and supports True Tone technology.

The display offers excellent picture quality with high refresh rate and extremely high contrast ratio. The maximum SDR brightness is increased to 631 nits, and HDR brightness can reach up to 1676 nits. The panel covers 99.2% of the P3 color gamut.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum SDR brightness: 631 nits
• Maximum HDR brightness: 1676 nits
• ΔE Color: 2.9
• ΔE Greyscale: 3.6
• 99.2% Display P3 coverage

Audio

The MacBook Pro 14 comes with a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, wide stereo sound, and support for Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.

The sound system is powerful and loud, making external speakers unnecessary. The sound quality is excellent, with balanced mids and highs.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The MacBook Pro 14 is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3.

The Wi-Fi performance is very good, with no limitations or reception issues. However, there are some fluctuations in transfer rates.

Benchmarks:

• iperf3 transmit AXE11000: 1605 MBit/s
• iperf3 receive AXE11000: 1700 MBit/s

SD Card Reader

The MacBook Pro 14 includes an SDXC card slot.

The SDXC card reader is very fast, with up to 230 MB/s read speed and 146 MB/s when copying image files.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB): 230.6 MB/s
• Average JPG Copy Test: 146.9 MB/s

USB

The MacBook Pro 14 is equipped with the following USB ports:

• 2 x USB 4.0 (40 Gbps)
• 3 x Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps)

The base model lacks Thunderbolt 4 support and the USB-C port on the right side. The two USB-C ports on the left support USB 4 but only Thunderbolt 3.

Display Outputs

The MacBook Pro 14 includes the following display outputs:

• 1 x HDMI 2.1
• 3 x DisplayPort (via Thunderbolt 4)

The HDMI output supports up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 240Hz. The M3 Max model can drive up to four external displays simultaneously.

Case

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The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is available in two finishes: Silver and Space Black. The chassis is made from 100% recycled aluminum, providing a premium and sturdy feel. The display hinges are good, but the maximum opening angle could be larger. The Space Black model is better at hiding fingerprints compared to the Midnight color.

The chassis quality is excellent, feeling premium and sturdy. The hard front edge can be uncomfortable during long use.

Maintenance

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The bottom panel of the MacBook Pro 14 is secured by Pentalobe screws and small metal hooks, requiring some force to remove. Only the fan can be cleaned by the user. All other components are soldered and cannot be upgraded. The battery is glued but can be replaced if necessary.

Cooling System

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The MacBook Pro 14 features a single fan cooling solution for the M3 model and a dual-fan cooling solution for the M3 Pro and M3 Max models.

Heat

The chassis stays cool during light workloads. Under load, the left side gets warmer, but temperatures are still manageable. The SoC hovers around 101-102 °C during stress tests.

Inside the MacBook Pro 14 can get quite hot, as the M3 Pro and M3 Max regularly reach temperatures over 100 °C under periods of load. Apple has its surface temperatures well under control, and even during stress tests, the laptop remains comfortable to use. The left side of the keyboard area tends to get warmer, but it does not affect usability significantly.

Benchmarks:

• M3:
  • Maximum upper side: ~42 °C
  • Maximum bottom: ~40 °C
  • Idle upper side: ~30 °C
  • Idle bottom: ~28 °C
• M3 Pro:
  • Maximum upper side: ~44 °C
  • Maximum bottom: ~42 °C
  • Idle upper side: ~32 °C
  • Idle bottom: ~30 °C
• M3 Max:
  • Maximum upper side: ~46 °C
  • Maximum bottom: ~44 °C
  • Idle upper side: ~34 °C
  • Idle bottom: ~32 °C

Noise

The MacBook Pro 14 is generally quiet during light to medium workloads. The fan is usually off during these tasks, making the laptop silent. Under load, the fan can get very loud, especially in the M3 Max model, reaching up to 53.8 dB(A) in High Performance mode. Some coil whine was noticed during GPU benchmarks.

Benchmarks:

• M3:
  • Load: ~48.5 dB(A)
• M3 Pro:
  • Idle: ~25.1 dB(A) (min), ~25.6 dB(A) (max)
  • Load: ~49.4 dB(A) (max)
• M3 Max:
  • Idle: ~25.1 dB(A) (min), ~25.6 dB(A) (max)
  • Load: ~53.8 dB(A) (max)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The MacBook Pro 14 ships with either a 70W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter, depending on the configuration.

The power consumption is lower than the M2 Pro, with a maximum of 67 Watts during stress tests for the M3 model. The M3 Pro and M3 Max models consume more power, with the M3 Max reaching up to 101 Watts under load. The included power adapters are sufficient to cover the consumption under load without draining the battery.

Benchmarks:

• M3:
  • Maximum: 67 Watts
• M3 Pro:
  • Maximum: 76 Watts
• M3 Max:
  • Maximum: 101 Watts

Battery Life

The MacBook Pro 14 comes with a 70 Wh or 72.6 Wh lithium-polymer battery, depending on the configuration.

The battery life is excellent, with up to 15 hours and 51 minutes in the Wi-Fi test at 150 nits for the M3 model. The M3 Pro model offers even longer runtimes, with up to 16.5 hours in the Wi-Fi test. The M3 Max model also provides impressive battery life, with up to 18 hours of video playback and more than 15 hours of Wi-Fi usage at 150 nits. The battery recharges to 80% in just over 50 minutes.

Benchmarks:

• M3:
  • WiFi Websurfing (150 nits): 15h 51min
  • Load (maximum brightness): 1h 38min
• M3 Pro:
  • WiFi Websurfing (150 nits): 16h 19min
  • Load (maximum brightness): 1h 17min
• M3 Max:
  • WiFi Websurfing (150 nits): 15h 51min
  • Load (maximum brightness): 1h 38min

Biometrics

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The MacBook Pro 14 features Touch ID for fingerprint recognition.

Software

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The MacBook Pro 14 ships with macOS Sonoma and includes a variety of preinstalled software.

Preinstalled Software

The MacBook Pro 14 comes with a suite of preinstalled software, including:

• App Store
• Books
• Calendar
• Contacts
• FaceTime
• Find My
• Freeform
• GarageBand
• Home
• iMovie
• Keynote
• Mail
• Maps
• Messages
• Music
• News
• Notes
• Numbers
• Pages
• Photo Booth
• Photos
• Podcasts
• Preview
• QuickTime Player
• Reminders
• Safari
• Shortcuts
• Siri
• Stocks
• Time Machine
• TV
• Voice Memos
• Weather

Accessories & Warranty

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The MacBook Pro 14 comes with a USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable and a 70W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter, depending on the configuration.

Apple offers a one-year limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is highly regarded for its performance, build quality, and display. The M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips offer significant improvements over previous models, making the laptop suitable for a wide range of professional and creative tasks. The primary drawbacks include the high price, especially with RAM and SSD upgrades, and the lack of maintenance options.

Problems Summary

• High price, especially with RAM and SSD upgrades.
• Lack of maintenance options.
• Thermal throttling under sustained loads (M3 Max).
• Limited connectivity on the base model (M3).
• No Face ID or Center Stage for the webcam.
• Small arrow keys on the keyboard.

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