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Apple M3 Pro

Apple M3 Pro: A Revolution in Mobile Computing in 2025

March 2025

With the release of the Apple M3 Pro processor, the company has once again reaffirmed its leadership in the segment of energy-efficient chips for laptops. This chip, manufactured using a 3nm process, combines record performance with phenomenal battery life. Let’s explore who the M3 Pro is suitable for and what tasks it can easily handle.

1. Architecture and Process Technology: 3nm, 12 Cores, and Next-Generation Integrated Graphics

Hybrid Architecture:

The Apple M3 Pro is built on a hybrid architecture with 12 cores (8 Performance-cores + 4 Efficiency-cores). Unlike competitors from Intel and AMD, there is no hyper-threading here—each core operates with a single thread, explaining the 12-thread count. The Performance cores have a base frequency of 3.6 GHz with turbo boost up to 4.05 GHz, while the Efficiency cores run at 2.2 GHz for background tasks.

3nm Process Technology:

The transition to TSMC's 3nm technology has allowed for a 15% increase in transistor density compared to the M2 Pro. This not only enhances performance but also reduces power consumption.

Integrated Graphics:

The iGPU of the Apple M3 Pro is a 24-core accelerator with ray tracing support and MetalFX. In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme tests, it scores 12,500 points, comparable to the discrete NVIDIA RTX 4050 Mobile (in laptops priced from $1500).

2. TDP of 30W: How Apple Saves Energy

With a TDP of 30W, the M3 Pro demonstrates wonders of efficiency:

- Dynamic Management: The chip automatically distributes the load between Performance and Efficiency cores. For example, when working in Safari, only 2-3 cores are activated, consuming 5-7W.

- Active Cooling: In the MacBook Pro 16" (2025), the cooling system is designed so that even under load, the processor rarely heats up above 75°C.

By comparison, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (28W) consumes 20% more energy in similar scenarios with comparable performance.

3. Performance: From Office Tasks to 8K Video Editing

Office Tasks:

- Running 50 tabs in Chrome while simultaneously using Figma and attending a Zoom conference—the processor load reaches 40%, and the temperature stays around 45°C.

Multimedia:

- Rendering a 10-minute video in 8K (ProRes) in Final Cut Pro takes 8.5 minutes. In contrast, the M2 Pro took 12 minutes for the same task.

- Editing photos in Lightroom using neural filters—no delays even with 50+ layers.

Gaming:

- Cyberpunk 2077 (Medium settings, resolution 1920x1200, MetalFX Upscaling)—stable 50-60 FPS.

- Baldur’s Gate 3 (High, 1680x1050)—45-55 FPS.

Turbo Mode:

When plugged in, the M3 Pro automatically boosts the frequency of the Performance cores to 4.05 GHz. In the Cinebench R23 benchmark, this results in a 12% performance increase compared to battery mode (4.0 GHz).

4. Use Cases: Who Needs the M3 Pro?

- Professionals: Video editors, designers, programmers (especially using Xcode).

- Students: Multitasking + long battery life (up to 20 hours in reading mode).

- Casual Gamers: Sufficient for AAA games on medium settings, but an external GPU is needed for ultra settings.

Examples of Laptops:

- MacBook Pro 16" (M3 Pro, 36 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) — $2899.

- MacBook Pro 14" (M3 Pro, 18 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD) — $2199.

5. Battery Life: Up to 20 Hours of Operation

Thanks to the 3nm process and optimizations in macOS Sonoma 2025, laptops with the M3 Pro can operate:

- Up to 20 hours while web surfing (brightness 50%, Wi-Fi).

- Up to 12 hours while editing video in DaVinci Resolve.

Energy-Saving Technologies:

- Adaptive Voltage Control: Dynamically reduces core voltage during idle times.

- Dark Silicon: Unused chip blocks are completely turned off.

6. Comparison with Competitors

- Apple M2 Pro (2023): The M3 Pro is 35% faster in single-threaded tasks and 50% faster in multi-threaded tasks.

- Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (28W): Wins in compatibility with Windows applications but lags in battery life (up to 9 hours in comparable MacBook scenarios).

- AMD Ryzen 9 8940HS (35W): Performs better in multi-threaded workloads (16 cores), but its iGPU is 25% weaker.

7. Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Record performance per watt.

- Integration with the Apple ecosystem (AirDrop, Sidecar, Continuity).

- Quiet operation even under load.

Weaknesses:

- High price (laptops start from $2000).

- Limited upgrade options (memory and SSD are soldered).

8. How to Choose a Laptop with M3 Pro?

- Ultrabook: MacBook Air 15" (2025) — for mobility and work on the go ($1799).

- Workstation: MacBook Pro 16" — for video editing and 3D modeling ($2899).

What to Look For:

- RAM Size: minimum of 18 GB for professional tasks.

- SSD: 1 TB or more if working with 4K/8K material.

9. Conclusion: Who is the M3 Pro Right For?

The Apple M3 Pro is the ideal choice for those who need maximum performance without compromising battery life. This processor is designed for:

- Professionals who value time.

- Students needing a versatile device.

- Gamers willing to make compromises in graphics for portability.

Key Advantages:

- 20 hours of operation without being plugged in.

- Power for any creative tasks.

- Silent operation and no overheating.

If your budget allows for investment in a premium laptop, the M3 Pro will be a reliable companion for the next 5-7 years.

Basic

Label Name

Apple

Platform

Laptop

Launch Date

October 2023

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

M3 Pro

Code Name

Apple M3

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Performance-cores

Efficient-cores

Performance-core Base Frequency

3.6 GHz

Efficient-core Base Frequency

2.48 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

4.05 GHz

L1 Cache

192K (per core)

L2 Cache

16MB (shared)

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

Apple M-Socket

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

3 nm

TDP

30 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

LPDDR5-6400

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

36GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

True