MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Pro M3: Apple's high-end laptops compared

Space Black Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 sitting on a grey/blue table
16-inch MacBook Pro M3 (Image credit: Apple)

The MacBook Pro lineup has seen significant updates with the move from M2 to M3 chips. But how do these latest models compare, and which is the better choice for creative professionals, when both have spent time on our best laptops for graphic design list? Let's break it down.

First of all, there isn't just one M2 MacBook Pro model and one M3 MacBook Pro model, but 10 in total. Pretty confusing right? Basically the difference between them comes down to screen size (and, by extension, the size of the device itself) and the type of processor each runs. So to spell it out clearly, you have the choice of:

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MacBook Pro M2 vs MacBook Pro M3: Specs
Row 0 - Cell 0 MacBook Pro 13-inch M2MacBook Pro 14-inch (M2 Pro or M2 Max)MacBook Pro 14-inch M3MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 Pro or M3 Max
ProcessorApple M2 chip, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPUApple M2 Pro chip or Apple M2 Max chip, up to 12-core CPU, up to 38-core GPUApple M3 chip, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPUApple M3 Pro chip or Apple M3 Max chip, up to 16-core CPU, up to 40-core GPU
Screen13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology, 2560 by 1600 pixels14.2-inch (diagonal) mini-LED backlit display, 3024 by 1964 pixels14.2-inch (diagonal) mini-LED backlit display, 3024 by 1964 pixels14.2-inch (diagonal) mini-LED backlit display, 3024 by 1964 pixels
RAMUp to 24GBUp to 96GBUp to 24GBUp to 128GB
StorageUp to 2TBUp to 8TBUp to 2TBUp to 8TB
Battery lifeUp to 20 hoursUp to 18 hoursUp to 22 hoursUp to 18 hours
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera1080p FaceTime HD camera1080p FaceTime HD camera1080p FaceTime HD camera

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Tom May

Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and technology. Author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Great TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine. Today, he is a regular contributor to Creative Bloq and its sister sites Digital Camera World, T3.com and Tech Radar. He also writes for Creative Boom and works on content marketing projects. 

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