If you are in the market for a new MacBook Pro and you’re wondering what the real differences are between Apple’s M3 and M4 silicon , you’ve come to the right place. Each platform delivers incredible performance that allows users to complete a wide range of tasks with ease, but there are a few differences you should be aware of before diving in. Right now, we are going to look at the three different tiers of the M3 and M4 chips, compare them, and see exactly how much of an improvement there is from the previous generation to this one.
Before we get into each chip tier, it is important to note some up-front differences. Both chips have a 16-core Neural Engine, although with the M3 version reaches a maximum of 18 TOPS while the M4 version reaches 38 TOPS. This will allow the full Apple Intelligence suite to run smoother on the M4 platform over the M3.
Another main difference is the unified memory speed form factor. The M3 platform uses LPDDR5 unified memory with operating speeds up to 6400 MHz while the M4 platform uses LPDDR5X memory with 7500 MHz on the M4 chip and 8533 MHz on the M4 Pro and M4 Max platforms. M3 Pro and M3 Max both offer support for Thunderbolt 4 while M4 Pro and M4 Max offer Thunderbolt 5, giving you faster speeds for your favorite peripherals and resource-demanding devices.
Baseline Chips
The baseline M3 and M4 chips found in the 14” MacBook Pro are great for both the everyday user and business professional. These chips can easily handle multiple tasks that range anywhere from word processing to managing digital media libraries. The M3 and M4 could each manage some medium-load tasks as well; they won’t deliver the optimal performance for running photo and video editing software.
The M3 features 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores that work together with the internal GPU that offers 10 cores of graphical computation power. The M3 also supports unified memory with support for up to 24GB capacity. There are also various configurations of M3 MacBook Pros with a storage capacity up to 2TB.
Meanwhile, the M4 delivers a more robust experience with a 10-core CPU split between 4 performance and 6 efficiency cores. There is also a 10-core GPU built within the M4, giving it the same number of cores as the M3, but greater power due to the M4’s architecture. Systems running the M4 chip also support unified memory with capacities up to 32GB and up to 2TB of storage.
Pro Chips
The next contender is the M3 and M4 Pro chips. These are designed for heavier tasks and operational loads such as photo and short-form media editing. There are two versions of each respective platform, giving users a choice in performance profile that best suits their needs. On the M3 Pro side, we have an 11-core CPU with 14-core GPU as well as a 12-core CPU with 18-core GPU. Meanwhile, M4 Pro offers a 12-core CPU with 16-core GPU and a 14-core CPU with a 20-core GPU.
Between the M3 Pro and the M4 Pro models, the gap in performance based on the core count gives the M4 the upper hand when running heavier workloads. The M4 Pro offers more cores across both the CPU and GPU, giving users additional headroom to run a wide range of software. As previously stated, the M4 Pro chip boosts performance of the USB-C ports, enabling Thunderbolt 5 speeds for your resource-demanding devices. A nice touch if you are someone who manages to treat their MacBook Pro like a central workstation in the office or at home.
Max Chips
Like the Pro level chips, the M3 and M4 Max chips also have dual models. All designed for more resource demanding tasks like CAD, engineering applications, and long-form media editing, the Max chip is the optimal choice for advanced users. So, it is no surprise here to see that the M3 Max has a 14-core CPU with 30-core GPU and 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU variants as the M4 Max offers a 14-core CPU with a 32-core GPU and a 16-core CPU with a 40-core GPU.
We see that the major difference in core counts between these models is the entry level M4 Max having two more GPU cores than the M3 Max. On the surface, it seems like there isn’t much of a difference between the two. But if we dive in a bit further, we can see that there are a few differences that make the M4 Max the more capable processor.
We see that the M4 Max offers greater unified memory bandwidth with performance up to 546 GB/s compared to the M3 Max’s 400 GB/s. Since unified memory is shared between the CPU and GPU of the MacBook Pro, having faster throughput means increased render speeds and multitasking capabilities- essential for all creative software. Aside from that, the generational leap between the M3 and M4 is substantially better considering the increase of performance from the GPU alone with faster execution units and arithmetic logic units which enhance internal calculations at greater speeds.
When it comes to the potential of the M4 platform, there are plenty of instances where you’ll see an overall increase in performance. Delivering greater efficiency, the M4 Max gives the MacBook Pro up to 21 -hours of runtime as well as a new 12MP Center Stage camera, ensuring the M4 chip excels far beyond the M3 platform. Whether you are editing, designing, or even diving into a few of your favorite games, the M4 chip delivers on all fronts.
Are you looking into the M4 family of MacBook Pros? Why not check out more information on the 14” MacBook Pro as well as the larger 16” MacBook Pro, both equipped with M4 chips. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.
