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Written by Rowan

Which Apple MacBook Silicon chip suits you?

Apple Silicon is the collective name for the chips from the M series. These chips are designed for macOS and they work fast and energy-efficiently. There are many different Apple MacBook chips, so we're happy to help you make the best choice. For example, what's the difference between the M3 chip and the M3 pro chip? And which one suits your usage situation best? Read it in this article.

Comparison Apple MacBook Silicon chips

Apple M3 Max Apple M3 Pro Apple M3 Apple M2 Max Apple M2 Pro Apple M2
Recommended for Professional use and 3D editing Photo and video editing Students and everyday use Professional use and 3D editing Photo and video editing Students and everyday use
Number of CPU cores 14 11 or 12 8 12 10 or 12 8
Performance cores 12 6 4 8 8 4
Energy-efficient cores 4 6 4 4 4 4
Number of GPU cores 30 or 40 14 or 18 10 30 or 38 16 or 19 8 or 10
Maximum RAM capacity 128GB 36GB 24GB 64GB 32GB 24GB
Number of transistors 92 billion 37 billion 25 billion 67 billion 40 billion 20 billion
External screens Connect up to 4 screens Connect 2 monitors Connect 1 screen Connect up to 4 screens Connect 2 monitors Connect 1 screen

Apple M3 Max chip (2023): for the most demanding workflows

M3 Max

If you want the best of the best, choose the M3 Max chip. With this chip, you can edit complex 3D files and 8K video files. But you can also develop apps in programs like Xcode. The 14-core CPU and the 30 or 40-core GPU are powerful enough for this. In addition, the M3 Max is up to 20% faster than the M2 Max. Partly, that's thanks to the 92 billion transistors. These are tiny electrical parts that ensure that you have more RAM. As a result, you can perform even more demanding tasks.

  • Edit large 8K video files or make complex 3D calculations.
  • The M3 Max chip is up to 20% faster than the M2 Max chip.
  • Connect 3 Pro Display XDR screens and a single 4K screen.
  • Apple Silicon chips aren't expandable. Do you want more RAM? Connect an external SSD or HDD.

Apple M3 Pro chip (2023): even faster, demanding video editing

M3 Pro chip

With the M3 Pro chip, you can edit professional photos and videos. You can connect up to 2 Pro Display XDR screens, so you can easily switch between demanding programs. Choose between an 11 or 12 core CPU and a 14 or 18 core GPU. The 18 core GPU is up to 10 percent faster than M2 Pro. In short: everything goes faster and smoother, without sacrificing your battery.

  • Edit large video files and switch between demanding programs like Final Cut Pro.
  • The M3 Pro chip is 10% faster than the M2 Pro chip.
  • Connect 2 Pro Display XDR screens.
  • Want to create complex 3D designs or edit 8K videos? Choose the M3 Max chip.

Apple M3 chip (2023): daily use and light video editing

M3 chip

The M3 chip is the successor to the M2 series. You can still perform all your daily tasks, but everything goes even faster now. This is thanks to the new 3 nanometer technology. All the distances inside of the chip are smaller, so the chip processes all your tasks even faster. You can also edit videos in iMovie or photos in Adobe Photoshop. The 8-core CPU, the 10-core GPU and, the 25 billion transistors are suitable for this. Because the M3 chip is up to 2-% faster than the M2 chip, which saves you time while rendering your videos.

  • Quickly complete all your tasks and edit photos and light videos.
  • The M3 chip is up to 20% faster than the M2 chip.
  • Connect a single 6K screen.
  • Want to edit more demanding videos? Choose the M3 Pro chip.

Apple M2 Max chip (2023): complex 3D editing

Apple M2 Max chip.

The M2 Max chip is suitable for professional use. This allows you to edit complex 3D files and 8K video files. You can connect up to 4 external monitors for an organized overview. The 12-core GPU and the 30 or 38-core GPU are powerful enough for this. With 67 billion transistors, the M2 Max chip is more powerful than the M2 Pro chip. In addition, you can code videos up to 2 times faster than with the M2 Pro.

  • Edit large 8K video files or make complex 3D calculations.
  • Code videos up to 2 times faster than with the M2 Pro.
  • Connect 3 Pro Display XDR monitors and a single 4K monitor.
  • Apple Silicon chips aren't expandable, so you have to connect an external SSD or HDD if you want more storage.

Apple M2 Pro chip (2023): demanding photo and video editing

Apple M2 Pro chip

The M2 Pro chip is suitable for professional video editing. In addition, you can connect up to 2 Pro Display XDR screens, so you multitask more easily. Choose between a 10 or 12-core CPU and a 16 or 19-core GPU. The M2 Pro chip gets its power from 40 billion transistors. This allows you to render animations 2 times faster than with the M2 chip. This chip saves a lot of time and energy, so you have more time to create something new.

  • Edit photos and multitask with demanding programs like Final Cut Pro.
  • The M2 Pro is 2 times as fast as the M2 chip.
  • Connect 2 Pro Display XDR monitors.
  • If you want to create complex 3D designs or edit 8K videos, choose the M2 Max chip.

Apple M2 chip (2022): students and everyday use

Apple M2 chip.

The M2 chip is the successor to the M1 family. You can perform all your bookkeeping tasks and more. You can open emails, write reports in Pages, and edit light videos. You can to this on an extra 6K monitors. The 8-core CPU, the 8 or 10-core GPU, and the 20 billion transistors are suitable for that. Because the M2 chip is 18% faster than the M1 chip, you save time when you render your videos.

  • Perform bookkeeping tasks and edit light videos.
  • The M2 chip is up to 18% faster than the M1 chip.
  • Connect 1 monitor with a 6K resolution.
  • If you want to edit more demanding videos, choose the M2 Pro chip.

Apple M1 family

M1 family

The M1 chip is the very first Apple Silicon chip. You can find this chip in the older MacBook Air. The M1 Pro and the M1 Max chip aren't made anymore. That's logical, because everything is faster with the launch of the M2 and M3 series. The first chip from the M series has 16 billion transistors. That might seem like a lot, but the new ones have much more. The M3 chip already has 25 billion transistors. In addition, the M3 series performs better overall.

Conclusion

The M3 series is the successor to the M2 series. These new M3 chips are faster and more powerful, so you can get more out of your MacBook. Which M3 chip version you should choose depends on your usage situation. Do you edit large 3D files or do you develop apps? The M3 Max chip is the best choice for you. Do you edit many demanding video files? Choose the M3 Pro chip. Do you want a MacBook with which you can perform basic tasks and edit a video occasionally? Choose the M3 chip.

Rowan
Article by:
Rowan Apple Expert.
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