I was due for a refresh of my work computer and requested a silver 14″ 2023 M3 MacBook Pro to replace my 13″ 2018 Intel MacBook Pro. I’ve been listening to podcasts and reading the reporting on Apple silicon since the M1 and have been eager to experience a machine powered by the new systems on a chip.
The Specs
Here are the specifications of my new workhorse:
- System on a Chip: Apple M3 chip with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
- Memory: 16GB unified memory
- Storage: 512GB SSD storage
For the type of work I do I expect this machine to serve me well until I am next up for a replacement in five or six years.
Initial Thoughts
I am still essentially kicking the tires on this new hardware, but I do have some first impressions.
The Display
The display is absolutely stunning. Although the new 14″ screen is only 1″ larger than my old laptop, it feels considerably more spacious. It is much brighter, which I assume is part of the XDR designation and is just, overall, lovely. (The ProMotion probably contributes, too.)
The Juice
The battery life is phenomenal. Some of this is due to the machine being new, but the Apple SOC is reported to be incredibly efficient. I have been working full days without ever worrying about reaching for the power cable. Sometimes I have gone for a couple days before nearing thirty percent remaining battery life. The marketing copy boasts that this generation of MacBook Pro has the longest battery life ever in a Mac. I am a believer. (I’m also delighted that MagSafe has returned.)
End of the Butterfly
There was much hair rending and teeth gnashing about the keyboards in the previous Intel MacBooks. The butterfly key switches were divisive, in part because of the sound and feel but more so because of their tendency to fail. I never had a problem with mine, but I admit that it was a concern. I took extra precautions to keep it clean and do my best not to introduce small particulate matter that might disrupt a switch.
I am still adjusting to the new keyboard with its different switches and updated layout. The switches feel slightly mushy in comparison to the previous ones. They’re definitely quieter. I’m having to retrain my muscle memory for the arrow keys.
The TouchBar is gone in favor of a persistent function row. There were definitely some things I enjoyed about the TouchBar, but I fully support abandoning it. The physical escape key alone is a major benefit, but I also find myself using the dedicated media keys more often than I expected. The extra taps on the TouchBar to do basic things was a minor irritant now gone.
Feeling Gratitude
So, those are my first impressions. I am thrilled with the machine thus far and grateful that I have an employer that supports Macs.
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