Apple recently launched its latest M3 chip, which promises to revolutionize the computing world. This chip first came with the latest iMac and 14-inch MacBook, making the iMac and MacBook more powerful.
Apple says this chip is faster and more powerful than previous chips. From faster processing and better graphics to energy-saving innovations, the M3 chip is ready to take your computer to a new level.
In this article, we will learn about the M3 chip in detail and determine whether it is much better than its previous chip. And we will also find out how cheap or expensive the device that comes with this chip is.
Apple M3 Chip: Release Date and Price
Apple has recently launched its new M3 chip. This chip will first come with iMac and MacBook 14 inches. This new M3 chip has been inserted into both these devices.
The base model of the iMAC with this new chip is currently priced at $1299, while the base model of the MacBook 14-inch with the M3 chip starts at around $1599.
Apart from this, the price of the MacBook 14-inch high model starts from $1999. The starting price of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with this new chip is $2499.
Apple has not yet given information about the price of the device coming with its M3 Max chip, but in a few days, you will also know the cost of the device coming with the M3 Max chip.
Talking about availability, all these devices with M3 chips have been launched in about 27 countries and are available for purchase on Apple’s official website starting October 30, 2023. Apart from the Apple Store, it is also available for purchase on Amazon.
But it must be remembered that its price is not fixed. This price may vary from place to place. Before buying it, check its price on different websites and buy from the website where it is cheapest.
Also Read: What is Processor?
Apple M3 Chip: Performance
CPU Performance
This M3 chip has an 8-core CPU (4 performance and 4 efficiency cores). The performance of its processor (CPU) is much faster than the previous M series (M1 and M2). To increase the performance of this M3 chip, its performance and efficiency cores have been improved.
This performance core is 30% faster than the previous M1 performance core, while the efficiency core is 50% faster. Its M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are even faster and perform better. The M3 Max is 80% faster and more powerful than the M1 Max.
The improved combination of these two performance cores and efficiency cores has made the chip’s performance much faster.
Its performance is fast and smooth, yet it maintains energy efficiency, using only half the power for up to 35% more performance at peak power.
The base M3 chip has an impressive 25 billion transistors, resulting in greater computational power and efficiency. It can be upgraded up to 24 GB of integrated memory.
Apple has focused on the energy efficiency of this chip, so the device (MacBook Pro) that comes with this chip offers better CPU performance without compromising on battery life.
This M3 chip has significantly improved everyday tasks, multitasking, and application performance. Its 3nm architecture and increased transistor count contribute to this boost.
GPU Performance
Apple has given this M3 a 10-core GPU, which is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the M1. Its GPU performance is 65% more powerful than the M1’s GPU, allowing it to handle graphics-intensive tasks well. This increase in GPU performance results in better graphics, faster rendering, and a better gaming experience.
Its performance is excellent, so there are no problems editing videos, working on graphic design projects, or playing games with simple graphics.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 chip, when tested against the M2 in the 13-inch MacBook Pro, showed 40% faster image filter and effects performance than the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
While its M3 Pro has an 18-core GPU, which makes its GPU performance quite powerful, it is 40% faster than the GPU performance of the M1 Pro. This advanced GPU is designed to handle more complex graphical workloads.
Its M3 Max GPU is a powerhouse in terms of capabilities, with a 40-core GPU that is 50% faster than the M1 Max. This massive graphical processing power is great for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming, delivering a smooth and responsive experience.
The M3 chips introduce hardware-accelerated ray tracing and dynamic caching, innovations that significantly increase GPU performance. Ray tracing enhances visual realism, and dynamic caching optimizes memory allocation for a smoother gaming and rendering experience.
Apple M3 Chip: Machine Learning and Media Acceleration
The M3 processor brings some exciting improvements to Mac computers. It has an advanced neural engine. This particular component makes the machine-learning capabilities of the M3 quite good. The M3’s Neural Engine is 60% faster than the older M1 series’ Neural Engine.
Apart from this, M3 chips also have an advanced media engine. This media engine is like a supercharger to handle different video formats. It has hardware acceleration for video codecs like H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, making it do video editing or multimedia more efficiently and easily.
What’s even more exciting is that M3 processors support AV1 decoding on a Mac for the first time. AV1 is a modern and efficient video codec that provides high-quality video at low bitrates.
This support means that when you stream or play content that uses AV1, your Mac powered by M3 will deliver excellent video quality with minimal strain on your computer’s resources.
Also Read: What is GPU?
Apple M3 Chip: Power Consumption
The base, Pro, and Max models of the M3 chip provide better performance and reduce power consumption. These chips deliver 35% more performance than their predecessor M1 chips while still using half the power and providing full performance.
Due to this, the battery life of devices like MacBook Pro and iMac that come with M3 chips has become much better than before.
This power is increased because these M3 chips are manufactured in 3nm. This 3nm manufacturing process packs more transistors, resulting in better power management and performance.
Besides, its graphics performance is also much better than before. In most devices, if the graphics are good, it greatly impacts the battery life.
But despite its graphics performance being 65% faster than earlier chips, the battery life of devices equipped with this chip is better than ever.
The M3 Pro and M3 Max are also energy-efficient. Even with the substantial performance increase, the M3 Pro and M3 Max are designed to be energy-efficient, providing a seamless user experience on devices such as high-end laptops and desktops.
Also Read: What to Look for in a Computer?
Apple M3 Chip: Architecture
The Apple M3 chip is designed for use in Mac computers and iPads. It’s like a central command center for these devices, designed to be incredibly powerful and efficient.
The M3 chip marks a significant change from previous M series chips, which used different chips for different functions. This integration is a primary reason why Apple’s silicon chips are faster and more efficient than those from other manufacturers.
The M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max are built using cutting-edge 3-nanometer process technology, which packs more transistors into smaller spaces, improving speed and efficiency.
These chips introduce an unprecedented GPU architecture with features such as dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and mesh shading for the first time on a Mac, making graphics rendering up to 2.5x faster than the previous generation (M1).
Unified memory architecture efficiently shares data between different components, reducing the need to copy data between aggregated memories. This architecture improves overall performance and efficiency.
The M3 is a single chip built by combining various essential components, eliminating the need for multiple chips in older Macs. The integration of all these components makes it much faster and more efficient.
CPU is the brain of any computer. It processes tasks and calculations. The M3’s CPU is much faster and more powerful than previous versions in terms of performance and energy efficiency.
The GPU handles everything related to graphics and visuals. The M3’s GPU has been significantly improved, resulting in better rendering capabilities and advanced features like ray tracing that are easier to handle.
RAM is the chip’s memory, which stores data for quick access. The M3’s design lets different chip parts easily share data, making everything run faster and more efficiently.
The Neural Engine is like the AI brain of the chip. The Neural Engine for machine learning tasks is up to 40% faster than in the M1, making it great for tasks involving artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The Secure Enclave keeps data secure, and the M3 chip provides an enhanced Secure Enclave, which is critical to protecting your information.
The image signal processor processes images from the device’s camera. The image signal processor on the M3 chip produces stunning photos and videos.
Also Read: What to Look for in a Graphics Card?
Comparison between M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max
| Features | M3 | M3 Pro | M3 Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Cores | 8 (4 P-Core, 4 E-Core) | 12 (6 P-Core, 6 E-Core) | 16 (12 P-Core, 4 E-Core) |
| GPU | Up to 10-core | Up to 18-core | Up to 40-core |
| Memory Capacity | Upto 24 GB | Upto 36 GB | Upto 128 GB |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5 |
| Memory Frequency | 6400 | 6400 | 6400 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 100GB/s | 150GB/s | 400GB/s |
| Neural Engine (NPU) | 16-core/18 TOPS/FP16 | 16-core/18 TOPS/FP16 | 16-core/18 TOPS/FP16 |
| Storage | Up to 8TB | Up to 8TB | Up to 8TB |
| Process Tech | 3nm | 3nm | 3nm |
| No Of Transistors | 25 Billion | 37 Billion | 92 Billion |
| USB | USB4/Thunderbolt 4 2x Ports | USB4/Thunderbolt 4 4x Ports | USB4/Thunderbolt 4 6x Ports |
| Display Controller | 2 Displays (1 Internal + 1 External) | 3 Displays (1 Internal + 2 External) | 5 Displays (1 Internal + 4 External) |
Final Words
With its integration into the latest iMac and 14-inch MacBook, Apple has improved performance and efficiency. Its impressive CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine enhancements make the device with the M3 extremely fast and energy efficient.
Apple’s continued commitment to energy efficiency is evident in the capabilities of the M3 chip, which delivers a seamless user experience while saving power. Introducing hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AV1 decoding on Mac devices marks a significant step forward in graphics and multimedia capabilities.
It is a powerhouse for both professionals and everyday users. The use of cutting-edge 3-nanometer technology to create these chips results in superior speed and efficiency, making them the most advanced chips ever created for personal computers.
