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Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Q&A
Published November 30, 2023
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What are all the differences between the "Early 2023 M2 Pro/M2 Max" and "Late 2023 M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max" 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models?
There are three standard 14" "Early 2023" MacBook Pro models -- the MacBook Pro "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 14", "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU 14", and "M2 Max" 12 CPU/30 GPU 14" -- and two standard 16" "Early 2023" MacBook Pro models -- the MacBook Pro "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU 16" and "M2 Max" 12 CPU/38 GPU 16".
These models were replaced by four standard 14" "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models -- the MacBook Pro "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 14", "M3 Pro" 11 CPU/14 GPU 14", "M3 Pro" 12 CPU/18 GPU 14", and "M3 Max" 14 CPU/30 GPU 14" -- and three standard 16" "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models -- the MacBook Pro "M3 Pro" 12 CPU/18 GPU 16", "M3 Max" 14 CPU/30 GPU 16", and "M3 Max" 16 CPU/40 GPU 16".
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Late 2023 MacBook Pro)
The shortest answer is that the "Early 2023" and "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models differ in terms of the processor/graphics processor architecture, display brightness, and color options. There also are a number of different identifiers. It is worthwhile to understand the similarities, too.
External Differences
All of these models use "sealed" aluminum and glass cases. The "Early 2023" MacBook Pro models have silver and "Space Gray" color options as does the entry-level "Late 2023" MacBook Pro "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 14" model. Other "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models have silver or "Space Black" color options instead. Of course, the 16" models from each line are larger and heavier than their smaller 14" contemporaries.
All of these notebooks have an all black, backlit keyboard with "traditional" function keys as well as a "Touch ID" for login. The displays also are very similar -- LED-backlit "Liquid Retina XDR" displays -- but the "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models are slightly brighter and provide up to 600 nits of brightness for SDR content (compared to 500 nits of brightness for their predecessors).
The displays otherwise are functionality identical between lines -- 14.2" (3024x1964) and 16.2" (3456x2234), respectively. All displays also are 254 ppi and provide up to 1000 nits of sustained full-screen brightness, 1600 nits peak brightness displaying HDR content, and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, in addition to support for 1 billion colors, Wide color (P3), True Tone, and ProMotion (for adaptive refresh rates).
All of the "Early 2023" and "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models also include the same 1080p webcam in a "notch" at the upper portion of the display, "Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming," "high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers," and large "Force Touch" trackpads.
Connectivity Differences
With one notable exception for the entry-level "Late 2023" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 14" -- the 14" and 16" "Early 2023" and "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models share nearly the same connectivity.
The entry-level MacBook Pro "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 14" only has two "Thunderbolt / USB 4" ports with support for Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 whereas all other models have three Thunderbolt 4 ports that support Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4.
All of these notebooks also have an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5" analog headphone jack "with advanced support for high-impedance headphones," an SDXC-capable SD card slot, and a magnet-equipped "MagSafe 3" power connector. They also have 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Power also is modestly different between the "Early 2023" and "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models. The entry-level "Early 2023" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU 14" -- was bundled by default with a 67W USB-C power adapter that is not capable of fast charging. The entry-level "Late 2023" MacBook Pro -- the MacBook Pro "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU 14" as well as the MacBook Pro "M3 Pro" 11 CPU/14 GPU 14" -- ship with a 70W USB-C power adapter that also is not capable of fast charging.
All other 14" models from both lines have a 96W USB-C power adapter that is capable of fast charging. All 16" models from both lines have a 140W USB-C power adapter that likewise supports fast charging.
Identification Differences
It is very easy to mix up the "Early 2023" and "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models, even when they are side-by-side. Accordingly, precise identifiers are necessary for identification.
The easiest identifiers to use for these specific models are the Model Numbers, externally, and Model Identifiers in software.
Just as the site has done for decades, EveryMac.com diligently has hand documented all of these details from the hardware itself for your convenience:
MacBook Pro Model |
Model No |
Model ID |
Additionally, EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature can identify these notebooks by other information, too.
Internal Differences
Internally, although there are specific part differences, the "Early 2023" and "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models are highly similar. The later models use faster processors with more standard RAM -- and the option of more maximum RAM at the time of initial system purchase for the highest-end models -- up to 128 GB -- at additional cost. All have RAM and storage that are onboard and that cannot be upgraded after purchase.
Comparison Chart
The major differences between the "Early 2023" and "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models are summarized below. Please refer to the specs page for the model of interest for complete details:
| 14" Early 2023 | 16" Early 2023 | 14" Late 2023 | 16" Late 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size: | 14.2" | 16.2" | 14.2" | 16.2" |
| Resolution: | 3024x1964 | 3456x2234 | 3024x1964 | 3456x2234 |
| SDR Brightness: | 500 nits | 500 nits | 600 nits | 600 nits |
| Architecture: | M2 Pro M2 Max |
M2 Pro M2 Max |
M3 M3 Pro M3 Max |
M3 Pro M3 Max |
| Processor Cores: | 10-12 | 12 | 8-16 | 12-16 |
| Graphics Cores: | 16-38 | 19-38 | 10-40 | 18-40 |
| Std. RAM: | 16/32 GB* | 16/32 GB* | 8-48 GB** | 18-48 GB** |
| Max. RAM: | 32/64/96 GB* | 32/64/96 GB* | 24-128 GB** | 36-128 GB** |
| Std. Storage: | 512 GB, 1 TB | 512 GB, 1 TB | 512 GB, 1 TB | 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Max. Storage: | 8 TB† | 8 TB† | 2-8 TB† | 4-8 TB† |
| Thunderbolt: | 3 Ports | 3 Ports | 2/3 Ports | 3 Ports |
| Fast Charge: | No/Yes‡ | Yes | No/Yes‡ | Yes |
| Colors: | Silver/Gray | Silver/Gray | Silver/Gray/Black | Silver/Black |
| Model No: | A2779 | A2780 | A2918/A2992 | A2991 |
| Model ID: | Mac14,9 Mac14,5 |
Mac14,10 Mac14,6 |
Mac15,3 Mac15,6 Mac15,8 Mac15,10 |
Mac15,7 Mac15,9 Mac15,11 |
| Intro Price (US): | US$1999 US$2499 US$3099 |
US$2499 US$2699 US$3499 |
US$1599 US$1799 US$1999 US$2399 US$3199 |
US$2499 US$2899 US$3499 US$3999 |
| Intro Price (CA): | C$2599 C$3299 C$4099 |
C$3199 C$3449 C$4499 |
C$2099 C$2349 C$2699 C$3249 C$4349 |
C$3299 C$3799 C$4649 C$5299 |
| Intro Price (UK): | £2149 £2699 £3349 |
£2699 £2899 £3749 |
£1699 £1899 £2099 £2499 £3299 |
£2599 £2999 £3599 £4099 |
| Intro Price (FR): | €2399 €2999 €3699 |
€2999 €3229 €4149 |
€1999 €2229 €2499 €2999 €3999 |
€2999 €3459 €4249 €4849 |
| Intro Price (AU): | A$3199 A$3999 A$4999 |
A$3999 A$4299 A$5599 |
A$2699 A$2999 A$3499 A$4199 A$5599 |
A$4299 A$4899 A$5999 A$6899 |
| Intro Price (SG): | S$2899 S$3599 S$4499 |
S$3599 S$3899 S$4999 |
S$2299 S$2599 S$2899 S$3499 S$4699 |
S$3599 S$4199 S$5099 S$5849 |
* The "Early 2023" MacBook Pro models could be upgraded with more RAM, but only at the time of initial purchase. The "M2 Pro" processor cannot support more than 32 GB of RAM. If configured with an "M2 Max" processor, the minimum RAM option is 32 GB and the maximum is 64 GB or 96 GB depending on the specific model.
** The "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models can be upgraded with more RAM, but only at the time of initial purchase. The "M3 Pro" processor cannot support more than 36 GB of RAM. If configured with an "M3 Max" processor, the minimum RAM option is 36 GB and the maximum is 96 GB or 128 GB depending on the specific model.
† All "Early 2023" and "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models have storage that cannot be upgraded later.
‡ Entry-level models are not equipped with a power adapter capable of "Fast Charging" by default.
For introductory pricing in dozens of other countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each Mac as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryMac.com.
So, are the "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models a significant upgrade? Are the "Early 2023" MacBook Pro models still worth considering?
Although newer, more capable processors always are welcomed, the "Late 2023" MacBook Pro models are a simple "speed bump" update compared to their predecessors. They offer (1) modestly faster performance, (2) a brighter display, and (3) a new color option.
Ultimately, the "Early 2023" MacBook Pro models definitely remain well worth consideration, especially when discounted on the used market.
In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new MacBook Pro models with free shipping. Other World Computing and JemJem sell used and refurb MacBook Pro models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. On the other hand, if you need to sell a MacBook Pro, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older notebook with an instant quote and prompt payment.
In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used MacBook Pro models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery throughout the UK. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.
In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise has a variety of used MacBook Pro models sold at low prices and available with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.
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