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Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M3 Pro / M3 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (M1 Pro / M1 Max)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacBook Pro 14″ (M3 Pro / M3 Max)AppleMacBook Pro 16″ (M1 Pro / M1 Max)
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2023October 2021
Display
Screen size14.2″16.2″
Resolution3024 × 19643456 × 2234
PanelMini-LEDMini-LED
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Brightness600 nits500 nits
HDR peak brightness1,600 nits1,600 nits
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeLiquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlightingLiquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting
Pixel density254 ppi254 ppi
Colour rangeWide colour (P3); 1 billion coloursWide colour (P3); 1 billion colours
Display features1,000,000:1 contrast; 1,000 nits sustained full-screen HDR brightness; ProMotion adaptive refresh up to 120 Hz; fixed 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94 and 60 Hz rates; True Tone1,000,000:1 contrast; 1,000 nits sustained full-screen HDR brightness; ProMotion adaptive refresh up to 120 Hz; fixed 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94 and 60 Hz rates; True Tone
Performance
ProcessorApple M3 Pro or Apple M3 MaxApple M1 Pro or Apple M1 Max
CPU cores11, 12, 14 or 1610
Graphics14-core GPU, 18-core GPU, 30-core GPU or 40-core GPU16-core GPU, 24-core GPU or 32-core GPU
Memory18 GB, 36 GB, 48 GB, 64 GB, 96 GB or 128 GB16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB
Storage512 GB to 8 TB512 GB to 8 TB
CPUM3 Pro: 11-core CPU (5 performance, 6 efficiency) or 12-core CPU (6 performance, 6 efficiency); M3 Max: 14-core CPU (10 performance, 4 efficiency) or 16-core CPU (12 performance, 4 efficiency)M1 Pro or M1 Max with 10-core CPU, comprising 8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores
GPUM3 Pro: 14-core or 18-core GPU; M3 Max: 30-core or 40-core GPU; hardware-accelerated ray tracing; H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW media engine with AV1 decode; M3 Max has two video encode and two ProRes encode/decode enginesM1 Pro with 16-core GPU; M1 Max with 24-core or 32-core GPU; hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW with video decode and encode engines and ProRes acceleration; M1 Max has two ProRes accelerators
AI engine16-core Neural Engine16-core Neural Engine
Memory typeUnified memory; M3 Pro supports 18 GB or 36 GB; 14-core M3 Max supports 36 GB or 96 GB; 16-core M3 Max supports 48 GB, 64 GB or 128 GBUnified memory; 16 GB or 32 GB with M1 Pro, 32 GB or 64 GB with M1 Max
Memory bandwidth150 GB/s (M3 Pro); 300 GB/s (14-core M3 Max) or 400 GB/s (16-core M3 Max)200 GB/s (M1 Pro); 400 GB/s (M1 Max)
Storage typeSSD; M3 Pro starts at 512 GB and supports up to 4 TB; M3 Max starts at 1 TB and supports up to 8 TBSSD; M1 Pro starts at 512 GB with 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB or 8 TB options; Apple lists M1 Max starting at 1 TB with 2 TB, 4 TB or 8 TB options
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 18 hoursUp to 21 hours
Battery capacity–99.6 Wh
Weight1.61 kg2.1 kg
Thickness15.5 mm16.8 mm
Width × depth312.6 × 221.2 mm355.7 × 248.1 mm
Battery life detailUp to 12 hours wireless web; Apple’s main specification states 72.4 Wh, but the generic footnote gives 69.6 Wh for the 14-inch model; capacity omitted from the main comparison because these figures conflictUp to 21 hours Apple TV app movie playback or 14 hours wireless web; marketed as 100 Wh, with actual rating 99.6 Wh in Apple's footnote
Charger70 W USB-C adapter with 11-core M3 Pro; 96 W adapter with 12-core M3 Pro or M3 Max, optional on the entry configuration140 W USB-C power adapter included
Fast chargingWith 96 W USB-C Power AdapterWith the included 140 W USB-C adapter and USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable
Materials100% recycled aluminium enclosure100% recycled aluminium enclosure
ColoursSilver, Space BlackSilver, Space Grey
Connections
Ports3 × Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SD card slot, MagSafe 3, headphone jack3 × Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SD card slot, MagSafe 3, headphone jack
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.35.0
Webcam1080p FaceTime HD1080p FaceTime HD
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailThree Thunderbolt 4 ports with charging, DisplayPort and USB 4 up to 40 Gb/s; HDMI; SDXC slot; MagSafe 3; 3.5 mm jack with high-impedance headphone supportThree Thunderbolt 4 ports with charging, DisplayPort and USB 4 up to 40 Gb/s; HDMI; SDXC slot; MagSafe 3; 3.5 mm jack with high-impedance headphone support
External displaysM3 Pro supports two at 6K 60 Hz over Thunderbolt or one at 6K 60 Hz plus one at 4K 144 Hz over HDMI; M3 Max supports three at 6K 60 Hz plus one at 4K 144 Hz, or two at 6K 60 Hz plus one at 8K 60 Hz or 4K 240 Hz; HDMI alone supports 8K 60 Hz or 4K 240 HzM1 Pro supports up to two external displays at 6K 60 Hz; M1 Max up to three at 6K 60 Hz plus one at 4K 60 Hz; HDMI supports one at 4K 60 Hz
KeyboardBacklit Magic Keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, including 12 full-height function keysBacklit Magic Keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, including 12 full-height function keys
TrackpadForce Touch trackpadForce Touch trackpad
SpeakersSix-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers; wide stereo; spatial audio with Dolby AtmosSix-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers; wide stereo; spatial audio with Dolby Atmos
MicrophonesStudio-quality three-mic array with directional beamformingStudio-quality three-mic array with directional beamforming
BiometricsTouch IDTouch ID
In the box14-inch MacBook Pro, 70 W or 96 W USB-C Power Adapter, USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable (2 m)16-inch MacBook Pro, 140 W USB-C adapter, USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable (2 m)

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