Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
| Manufacturer | Apple |
|---|---|
| Product family | MacBook Pro |
| Release date | October 2023 |
| Introductory price | USD 1599 to 3499 |
| Discontinued | No |
| Operating system | macOS 14 Sonoma |
| CPU | Apple M3 Apple M3 Pro Apple M3 Max |
| Memory | 8, 16, or 24 GB unified memory (M3) 18, or 36 GB (M3 Pro) 36, or 96 GB (M3 Max 30-core) 48, 64 or 128 GB (M3 Max 40-core) |
| Memory slots | None (soldered) |
| Storage | 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, or 4 TB SSD (M3, M3 Pro) 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, or 8 TB SSD (M3 Max) |
| Storage slots | None (soldered) |
| 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: Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion) Brightness: 600 nits (SDR), 1000 nits (XDR), 1600 nits (peak HDR) Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 P3: 100 % 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 with advanced image signal processor |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.3 3 x USB 4 (Thunderbolt 4) 1 x HDMI 1 x MagSafe 3 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x SDXC card slot |
| Dimensions | W: 12.31 inches (31.3 cm) D: 8.71 inches (22.1 cm) H: 0.61 inches (1.5 cm) |
| Mass | 3.4 pounds (1.5 kg) (M3), 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) (M3 Pro), 3.6 pounds (1.6 kg) (M3 Max) |
| Power brick | 70W or 96W USB-C power adapter |
| Battery | 70 Whr or 72.6 Whr lithium-polymer |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard |
| Chassis | Color: Space Black, Silver Materials: Aluminum |
| Number pad | No |
| Fingerprint reader | Yes (Touch ID) |
| Facial recognition | No |
| Predecessor | MacBook Pro 14 (2021) |
| Website | Apple |
All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.
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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, and offers a range of memory and storage options. The MacBook Pro 14 is designed for professionals and power users who require robust performance, a high-quality display, and long battery life.
Primary Hardware
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Processor
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) can be configured with the following processors[1]:
- Apple M3 chip with 8-core CPU (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores)
- Apple M3 Pro chip with 11-core CPU (5 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores) or 12-core CPU (6 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores)
- Apple M3 Max chip with 14-core CPU (10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) or 16-core CPU (12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores)
Apple claims that the M3 series chips offer significant performance improvements over their predecessors. The M3 chip is designed for efficiency and performance, while the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are aimed at more demanding tasks, offering higher core counts and better multi-core performance.
Reviewers have noted that the M3 Pro's multi-core performance is between the old M2 Pro with 10 cores and the M2 Pro with 12 cores, with a performance difference of no more than 10%. The full version of the M3 Pro with 12 cores is around 12% faster. The single-core performance is significantly better than the M2 generation, with a 20% improvement.[2] The M3 Max shows a significant performance increase over the M2 Max, with a 63% improvement in Cinebench R23 Multi test. It outperforms competitors like the Intel Core i9-13900H and AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS in multi-core performance.[3]
Benchmarks:
- Cinebench R23:
Graphics
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) can be configured with the following GPUs[1]:
- Apple M3 chip with 10-core GPU
- Apple M3 Pro chip with 14-core or 18-core GPU
- Apple M3 Max chip with 30-core or 40-core GPU
Apple claims that the M3 series GPUs offer significant improvements in graphics performance, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and support for advanced graphics technologies. The M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are designed for more demanding graphics tasks, offering higher core counts and better performance.
Reviewers have noted that the M3 Pro GPU performs better than the iGPUs from AMD and Intel, coming between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 4050 Laptop GPUs in some benchmarks.[2] The M3 Max GPU performance is 20% higher than the M2 Max, with significant advantages in video editing due to shared memory. It competes well with Nvidia's RTX 4070 Laptop GPU.[3]
Benchmarks:
Memory
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) can be configured with the following memory options[1]:
- 8 GB or 16 GB unified memory, configurable to 24 GB (M3)
- 18 GB unified memory, configurable to 36 GB (M3 Pro)
- 36 GB unified memory, configurable to 96 GB (M3 Max 30-core)
- 48 GB unified memory, configurable to 64 or 128 GB (M3 Max 40-core)
Apple claims that the unified memory architecture allows for better performance and efficiency, with high memory bandwidth and low latency. The M3 Pro and M3 Max chips offer higher memory capacities and bandwidth for more demanding tasks.
Reviewers have noted that the system offers extremely high subjective performance, with quick app launches and smooth operation of native apps.[2]
Benchmarks:
- CrossMark Overall: 1966 pts[2]
- CrossMark Productivity: 1795 pts[2]
- CrossMark Creativity: 2376 pts[2]
- CrossMark Responsiveness: 1461 pts[2]
Storage
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) can be configured with the following storage options[1]:
- 512 GB or 1 TB SSD (M3)
- 512 GB or 1 TB SSD, configurable to 1 TB, 2 TB, or 4 TB (M3 Pro)
- 1 TB SSD, configurable to 512 GB, 2 TB, 4 TB, or 8 TB (M3 Max)
Apple claims that the SSDs offer high transfer rates and reliability, with fast read and write speeds. The M3 Pro and M3 Max chips offer higher storage capacities for more demanding tasks.
Reviewers have noted that the SSD offers high transfer rates, with a maximum read rate of about 6 GB/s and a write rate of ~4.5 GB/s.[2] The base model uses a PCIe 3.0 interface, resulting in lower performance compared to models with PCIe 4.0.[4]
Benchmarks:
- Blackmagic Disk Speed Test 5GB:
Co-processors
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) includes the following co-processors[1]:
- 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 (Late 2023) 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.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the keyboard is functional but could be improved. The typing experience is comfortable and precise, though key strokes could be quieter and the arrow keys are small.[4][3]
Touchpad
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) features a Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities. It enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the touchpad performs excellently, providing precise control and a superior implementation with macOS. It is highly customizable and offers an excellent clicking experience with no moving parts.[4][3]
Webcam
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera with an advanced image signal processor and computational video.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the webcam provides good image quality but lacks features like Face ID or Center Stage.[4][3]
Microphone
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) features a studio-quality three-mic array with a high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming.[1]
Output Devices
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Display
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) features a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a native resolution of 3024 x 1964 pixels at 254 PPI. The display supports HDR, True Tone technology, and ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. 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.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the display is bright and offers accurate colors, with extremely high HDR brightness. The display is excellent for both SDR and HDR content, providing high contrast and good color accuracy.[2][3][4]
Benchmarks:
- Maximum SDR brightness: 631 nits[4]
- Maximum HDR brightness: 1676 nits[4]
- Color accuracy: ΔE Color 2.9, ΔE Greyscale 3.6[4]
Audio
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) features a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, wide stereo sound, and support for Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the speakers are impressive, providing high-quality sound with powerful and loud output. The sound quality is excellent for a laptop, comparable to top competitors.[2][3][4]
Connectivity
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WiFi
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the WiFi performance is reliable and fast, with stable transfer rates.[2][3][4]
Benchmarks:
SD Card Reader
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) includes an SDXC card slot.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the card reader performs well, providing fast data transfer rates.[2][3][4]
Benchmarks:
USB
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) includes three Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4) ports, one HDMI port, one MagSafe 3 port, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the USB ports offer high-speed data transfer and power delivery.[2][3][4]
Display Outputs
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) supports the following display outputs[1]:
- HDMI digital video output: Support for one display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 240Hz
- Thunderbolt 4 digital video output: Support for native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
Case
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The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is available in two colors: Space Black and Silver. The chassis is made of aluminum, providing a high-quality and sturdy build.The dimensions of the MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are 0.61 inches (1.55 cm) in height, 12.31 inches (31.26 cm) in width, and 8.71 inches (22.12 cm) in depth. The weight varies slightly depending on the configuration: 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg) for the M3 model, 3.5 pounds (1.61 kg) for the M3 Pro model, and 3.6 pounds (1.62 kg) for the M3 Max model.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the case is high-quality and stable, though the Space Black variant is prone to fingerprints. The design is premium and sturdy, but the hard front edge can be uncomfortable during prolonged use.[2][3][4]
Maintenance
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The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) offers limited maintenance options. The bottom panel is secured by Pentalobe screws, making it difficult to open. The RAM and SSD are soldered and not user-upgradable, limiting the ability to upgrade or replace components.[2][3][4]
Cooling System
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The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) features a cooling system with two fans. The cooling system is designed to keep the device cool under load, but the M3 Max chips can challenge the system's effectiveness.[3]
Reviewers have noted that the cooling system is effective but reaches high noise levels under load. The device remains cool during normal use, with surface temperatures well managed.[2][3][4]
Benchmarks:
Noise
The fans are generally quiet during normal use and only become audible under maximum load. The 16-inch model has quieter fans that run less frequently compared to the 14-inch model.[5]
Benchmarks:
Energy Management
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Power Consumption
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) ships with either a 70W or 96W USB-C power adapter, depending on the configuration. The device is fast-charge capable with the 96W USB-C power adapter.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the power supply is efficient, with lower power consumption compared to the M2 Pro. However, the power supply is insufficient for maximum load scenarios, leading to battery drain.[2][3][4]
Benchmarks:
Battery Life
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) includes a 70 Whr or 72.6 Whr lithium-polymer battery, depending on the configuration. Apple claims up to 22 hours of Apple TV app movie playback and up to 15 hours of wireless web for the M3 model, and up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback and up to 12 hours of wireless web for the M3 Pro and M3 Max models.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the battery life is significantly improved, offering long runtimes. The 16-inch model has better battery life compared to the 14-inch model.[2][3][4]
Benchmarks:
- WiFi Websurfing: 15h 51min (M3)[4]
- WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness: 6h 14min (M3)[4]
- Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p: 19h 03min (M3)[4]
- Load (maximum brightness): 1h 38min (M3)[4]
Biometrics
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The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) includes a fingerprint reader (Touch ID) for biometric authentication. The device does not support Face ID.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the fingerprint reader performs well, providing quick and reliable authentication.[2][3][4]
Software
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All SKUs ship with macOS 14 Sonoma. The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) comes with a range of preinstalled software, including:
- App Store
- Books
- Calendar
- Contacts
- FaceTime
- Find My
- Freeform
- GarageBand
- Home
- iMovie
- Keynote
- 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[1]
Accessories & Warranty
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The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) comes with a USB-C power adapter (70W or 96W) and a USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable.[1]
There is a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.[2]
Reviews Summary
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Overall Sentiment
The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is considered one of the best high-performance laptops available, offering significant improvements in CPU and GPU performance, a high-quality display, and long battery life. It is suitable for professionals and power users who require robust performance and a premium build. The primary downsides are the limited upgradeability and the high cost of higher-end configurations.[2][3][4][5]
Problems Summary[2][3][4][5]
- Limited upgradeability (RAM and SSD are soldered)
- High cost of higher-end configurations
- Space Black variant is prone to fingerprints
- Hard front edge can be uncomfortable during prolonged use
- Reduced cooling performance in the base model
- No Face ID or Center Stage features for the webcam
Links
M3, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD: NotebookCheck
M3 Pro, 18 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD: NotebookCheck
M3 Max, 64 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD: NotebookCheck
M3 Max, 48 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: MaxTech
Community Reception
Overall Sentiment
Problems Summary
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 "MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) Specifications". Apple.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 "Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3 Pro review: Improved runtimes and better performance". Notebookcheck.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 "Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3 Max Review: The fastest CPU in a 14-inch laptop". Notebookcheck.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 "Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 M3 Review: The base model now comes without a Pro SoC". Notebookcheck.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "MacBook Pro 14 vs 16 (2023)". MaxTech.