Newest M3 MacBooks announced, reminder that the cheapest way to get them is from AOC, a bit cheaper than Apple Education Store, and no they don't check Student ID
MacBook Pro 14 M3 $2,427.70+, MacBook Pro 16 M3 Pro $3,790.60+, iMac M3 $2109+ Delivered @ Apple On Campus Stores (e.g. AEU)
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Base model M3 14' or refurbished M1 16'??
M3 > M1 but M1 16' has 16gb ram and bigger screen for the same price….Any thoughts?
It's M3 (base) vs M1 Pro 16 inch. We don't know the multi core CPU and overall GPU performance difference. Single core CPU performance, M3 will be better.
I wonder why the base models are still 8gb ram? i would have though they woudl have bumped that ot 16gb by now.
Because not only can Apple get away with it, they have an army of apologists at the ready to defend them for it. Pathetic really.
i am sad it isn't 4gb
Yeah, they also make sure to spam negs on anyone who dares neg an Apple deal, like mine.
Apple fanboys have a cult mentality. They should never be trusted.There are a lot of parallels between Apple and Nintendo fans actually. Neither will accept anyone questioning their brand. In a strange way, it must feel nice to be that delusional/comforted by a billion dollar corporation.
Where is this army of apologist exactly? I only see upset people complaining about the 8Gb of ram. Literally zero comments says that 8Gb of ram is great and it’s going to be enough for you etc, and I’ve been reading about these new Mac’s all day
As an 8GB apologist, (it really does work just fine for most people on M1) it does not make sense to pay $$$ to get a M3 with 8GB of RAM. M1/2 with 16 or 32 is WAY more sensible.
@dtpearson: as a video editor anything less than 16gb is not worth it. depending on what kind of video editing your into will depend on how much ram you need eg 32gb and 64gb.
I wonder why the base models are still 8gb ram?
$
It is a new SKU from Apple. Generally, people felt 13 inch M2 Macbook Pro didn't quite make sense (vs Macbook Air). I suspect this new model might be targeted for businesses (for non-tech staff). I think Apple will not release a 13 inch Macbook Pro with M3.
Not releasing Macbook Air with M3 yet is a good move from Apple. It might still entice some people to buy the 14 inch M3 Macbook Pro.
This base model M3 Macbook Pro 14 inch has a lot of room for discount. The RRP doesn't make sense, but with a big chunk of discount later on, it could entice people.
I have to confess that my 8GB m1 Mac mini works the same fluid as my 32GB Windows PC (with dozens Chrome tabs open / multiple softwares running in parallel). I knew this means higher SSD wear but the way Apple made it happen is just insane!
The problem arises when you have a single application using a lot of data. E.g. Running an LLM, Docker image, VM, etc. As others have mentioned, pro means professional and professionals very well could be using it for the above as opposed to just Word/Excel/Chrome.
Well I do use Docker at work but been using OrbStack as an alternative for saving memory.
Also had Android Studio stacked on top of dozens of Chrome tabs but never bothered to have to kill any of them.
so as a software developer i reckon I am a pro user?@oatslovemilk: That's interesting, yep you're definitely a pro user. I haven't heard of OrbStack before, but will check it out. I just mentioned docker because in the industry, and at most of my workplaces, docker has just been the standard
@Ibz: yeah, people like to dockerise everything into containers nowadays for whatsoever reason even they might not need it. OrbStack does what they claimed - small, fast and compatible with Docker Desktop.
So, all the people upset about 8GB RAM and really needing more - no matter if it's a real dealbreaker or you're just coming from Windows, where no amount of RAM is ever enough:
Why don't you buy a larger RAM model?
So many people are fine with 8GB. It's not you, we get it. You need to fork out, apparently. We've been through it for years already. People are buying 8 GB Apple laptops. They work. It's nothing personal that you're not being offered 50% off a 64GB machine.
the main reason is its been proven that macos will use the page file like crazy with only 8gb of ram when you do something big like video editing. Which means you ssd will die quicker with all the writes on it.
So you need to do some big-time video editing and you bought an 8GB laptop? And it's not alright that it wears down the SSD using swap?
That's some toxic realtionship.
I already see people with beefed out MPBs complaining they're not getting their 20 hrs (or whatever's on offer atm) of battery, because they "needed" to have more RAM, more SSD, more power.
Yeah, it's hard to satisfy everyone at once. But it's also the hardest to satisfy all the people bitching here just for the sake of complaining.
no what I mean is, its the main reason why people dont' want the 8gb verison.
@kungfuman: No matter if it's you-you or general "you-people", it's still such a poor argument.
So, it's been proven that a memory-heavy operations use swap like crazy? Yeah, I guess so - it's actually the reason swap exists, correct me if I'm wrong.
So, is it not working fine or is is limiting? Or is it actually working great for the casual video editors despite having an entry-level machine?But perhaps to some it's Apple's fault that they're selling an 8GB laptop and then all those home video editors who fell for this cunning agenda are left staring at Activity Monitor occasionally showing the data is being processed in the background?
We've been through it for years already
Which is precisely the problem! You don't get it?
Oh yes, let's keep lamenting under every Apple deal about it.
May touch Apple's execs and change their ways. May also cause rain to fall. Hard to say, it must be such an amazing, strange world to some people!
But surely the lament is going to feed all the trolls coming here solely to bitch about that single thing - 8GB RAM in some entry level laptops. No matter how you interpret "pro" and "productivity device", it's still entry-level. You see what it is, you see how it's labelled.
There are so many flaws in MacOS that prevent me from "pro-ing" away on it. Like not being able to close some dialog windows without mouse/trackpad. Yet, all the "pros" are complaing about 8GB RAM as if they're forced to design spaceships with it and didn't have options available, up to 64 GB or more.
Got the macbook Pro last year, wanted to maybe play a bit of Dota so went the full specced out version. (no idea why i have a gaming PC)
Played 1 game of dota and it played shitty and never played again.
Wish I got the Air and spent a little bit mor emoney on 16gb of ram, its a heavy boi.So the "full specced out version" from last year had 8GB RAM and can't handle your DOTA, you're saying?
Definitely a user issue lol. I play more demanding games on my m1 base 16 and it’s smooth af. Playing baldurs gate 3 right now with every graphic setting at ultra and the fan never go over 2000rpm which means it’s basically silent
in 4k max settings after a while it definitely heats up and plays like shit - with slow down and stuttering.
Not sure if its a driver issue - but why would I bother troubleshooting it i have a gaming PC that plays it buttery smooth?.
Either way it definitely was not as good experience as windows out of the box - mac fanboys gonna hate tho
reordered for $ and delivery delayed by 2 weeks
This laptop is the first laptop since Apple aimed to play video games.
I bought my M1 Max model for the same price as an M3 Pro model…
Apple is like: we didn't make much improvement, but we increased the price to make you feel this year's model is different from last year's.
Well the exchange rates dropped 20% since then and inflations killed the purchasing power of cash. So it's actually cheaper!
Exchange rate is a bitch isn’t it? The USD prices are relatively flat
But hey, must be Apple's fault - just like letting people buy 8GB laptops to edit videos and playing games!
You're just going to keep crying like the Apple fanboy you are, aren't you?
@SvcKpc: Nah, you're the hero who pulled me to the bright side with the most meaningful comment of the day. Keep up the good work, computer kid <3
In the launch video that claimed that prices on the 16" remained the same.
So it seems like the Australian pricing has gone up!
And by a lot too!
The config I was looking at is now $800 odd dollars more expensive :-(
Claiming the 14" is now cheaper is rather disingenuous!
it's a new 14" to replace the old 13" TouchBar model, and hardly a Pro at all :-/So it seems
It seems? Just above your comment somebody else kindly explained to a similarly concerned person that we're not the States and that there are exachange rates.
Yet the excitement and upvotes for such oblivious opinions continue. Great, constructive discussion every time Apple deal shows up.
Well, yes…
But these products are not manufactured in the USA and are not imported from the USA.
The value of the US$ is only mapped to the $AU price because Apple wants it to be.
I own Apple stock - so yay! Put the prices up, make more money!
Go for it Apple.
Doesnt mean I cant be sad that the spec of Macbook I want is now $900 more expensive. :-/
In the same boat here, quite disappointed. Maybe hoping for some decent Black Friday deals/cashbacks/gift cards?
I was hoping there would be HDMI 2.1 on the base M3 spec MacBook Pro.
Should be, since it supports 6K/60Hz, but then again, Apple could do a dodgy brother and supports that only via Thunderbolt.
Hopefully, it is HDMI 2.1.
Only 8GB of RAM at this price point is bizzar in 2023.
Sure the processor may be good, but with such little RAM you may as well buy a cheap tablet, because web surfing and emailing is about all it's good for.
I'd do yourself a favour and take16GB as a minimum.
At this price point and with such a small additional real world cost, this should include 16GB minimum at this price point.
Terrible value IMO.Can do a uni degree in computer science with 8gb ram and probably a lot more, just gotta be a bit prudent with background tasks and processes, more would be better but 8gb is definitely not unusable
Surely at the point unis courses are incorporating Docker?
Considering Docker can’t run natively on a Mac and instead runs in a VM, 8gb ram sounds like a nightmare.
Or am I giving too much credited to the dinosaur lecturers to be using containers?
I'm confused as to why you think containers are at all necessary or appropriate for a student completing a CS degree. An M1 Macbook Air with 8Gb would easily suffice for years to come for a student.
@mtr: Silly me thinking a university would embed a modern skill that is used my the majority of the real world within their curriculum. But like I said, I was probably giving to much credit to the dinosaurs running the courses.
@PainToad: Not entirely sure if you're trolling or not, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Docker is not a "modern skill". It's a tool. And it's a tool that's totally unnecessary for the study of computer science because it solves problems that are entirely irrelevant for 99% of things that any reasonable course on CS would cover. Might it be useful to talk about containers for like a week or two, and understand the problems they do solve? Sure. Is Docker even going to be the preferred tool by the time the student finishes the course? Who knows, but I wouldn't bet on it.
There are plenty of devs working professionally on M1 Macs with 8GB Ram and having a great time. There are others for whom that would be an insufficient set up. But to claim an M1 Mac with 8GB is a tablet or that it's somehow not sufficient for a student because "Docker" is a joke.
Docker is not a "modern skill". It's a tool.
It’s a tool. But knowing how to use said tool is a skill. From local development to DevOp and CI/CD duties.
Is Docker even going to be the preferred tool by the time the student finishes the course? Who knows, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Ummm, it is already an essential skill. The latest Stackoverflow has 56.61% of professional developers using Docker in their job with an additional 21.67% using Kubernetes.
https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/#most-popular-technolog…
Not teaching a tool that the majority of the industry is using is what I’d expect from a university to be honest.
@PainToad: UNSW definitely has docker in its curriculum. This person has not viewed the curriculum lately… And as you mentioned, it is an essential skill in any modern organisation for a software engineer, which is the the job the majority of CS grads take up. Sometimes people are just too blinded to do their own research and realise they're wrong
for the people complaining about the 8gb RAM, if Apple offers 16gb it would be at $2999 and there wont be a $2699 model.
same as they did with the 15 pro max 256gb.
As pointed out by the an OZBer earlier, this new M3 base model for Macbook Pro 14 serves two purposes:
- Allow Apple to claim the entry model of Macbook Pro 14 is now cheaper (but with less RAM, and a basic model M3 processor instead of M3 Pro, which starts with 18GB RAM).
- Potentially replaces the 13 inch Touchbar model, yet allowing Apple to charge more.
Literally. Apple is so greedy it’s not even funny anymore
help me decide, would upgrading the M3 Pro ram from 18gb to 32gb for around $500 be worth it if all I will be doing is after affects and editing? Or is 18gb enough. I’ll most likely be using this laptop for 5 years plus.
I know this is personal preference, but is 512 to 1tb for around 200 worth it? If I edit I’ll be using external always, but is there any speed differences?
Might as well future proof it if you plan on using it for long
Depends on the video files you are editing. If you want reasons to justify 36GB of RAM, then just "assume" you will be doing AI work later on.
If you upgraded to 36GB RAM, then you should upgrade the SSD to 1TB. A Thunderbolt 3/4 enclosure costs $100 (if you are lucky enough to get one at that discounted price), you will probably put in a 2TB SSD, which will cost you around $135 (for a decent one). The speed difference is that internal is PCIe gen 4 x4, via Thunderbolt 3 or 4 or USB 4, it is at most PCIe gen 3 x4.
You go USB 3.2 gen 2 enclosure (for $20), but that's PCIe gen 3 x2 and there is more overhead compared to USB 4 / Thunderbolt.
just can't digest $2,000+ for a 8GB iMac, although after GST & tax deduction it's like $1,000 but still
Buy Apple shares then, $170.29 USD per share. Join Tim Apple and profit from 8GB iMacs selling at $2000+ each.
$2,427 for 8gb RAM is quite a lot, even for Apple
man 8gb ram on a pro model is such a rip off, 2500$ laptop with 8 gb ram no thanks
Why neg the deal for that? Add the extra RAM and whatever price it becomes after, it's still a good value laptop lol
Im on the same board as the other folks here, I wouldnt neg it since its a deal on a newly released item of course, but the pricing to specs here leaves a lot to be desired.
For 95% of users, these m3 machines arent a good buy:
If ones' argument is that 'MacOS doesnt use as much ram as windows and 8gb is enough', then my counterpoint is that 'the 8gb ram severely limits the potential of the m3 chip';
If ones rebuttal is that 'most users wont need more 8gb ram for their usecase', then I would beg to ask 'why do they need a m3 in the first place when even m1 is enough and far cheaper?'
Ultimately, 8gb ram is too little even for the discounted pricetag, and apple charges too much for the upgrade, m3 is essentially bottlenecked here unless you pay premium for upgrade, in which case its not a deal anymore.
Which leads me to the conclusion that it's pure marketing. A bit like the 64GB ipad air. Forces an upsell
Instead of just saying that it limits the potential why don't you prove it. There are numerous videos on YouTube with people doing really heavy stuff, relatively speaking, on 8gb Apple silicon Mac's without any issues. Something at which even the top end Intel PC bawled at.
people doing really heavy stuff, relatively speaking, on 8gb Apple silicon Mac's without any issues. Something at which even the top end Intel PC bawled at.
I really ought to stop replying to you after this sentence, I dont know what kind of ‘heavy workload’ you are looking at because that definitely isnt true. And no, opening chrome tabs isnt a good measure.
Plenty of channels have benchmarks showing the performance upgrade resulting from 8 to 16gb on macs such as this and this and more.
That ‘base macbook > top end intel claim’ is even more absurd when its been proven again and again that apart from top end power efficiency, the actual performance isnt remotely as good as it sounds and apples advertising is way exaggerated with cherry picked benchmarks.
Artificial benchmarks ≠ real world use. Most people only use mail, safari and a few other lightweight apps, which doesn't slow down a M1 with 8GB of ram. Will it use swap? Will that shorten the life of the SSD? Hell yes, but 90% of people won't ever notice.
@dtpearson: Honestly cannot believe how much you Apple fanboys dig your heels. So your idea of "real world use" is just basic recreational tasks? LOL
@Brrrrt thanks for the video links. Actually helpful as I am just looking for the most power efficient laptop that lasts a long time and is snappy. Will look to buy a base model.
I have long been a champion of "8GB of unified RAM is enough for most people on M1" from first hand experience of buying a LOT of Macs for my staff and family. It's only heavy users that "need" more RAM, and they know who they are. From firsthand experience "lots of apps and lots of tabs open" does not significantly slow down a M1 with 8GB of ram.
BUT in this case, you are 100% absolutely correct. If anyone needs the power of a M3 machine, then you absolutely need more than 8GB of RAM, and would be better off with a M1 or M2 with more RAM than a M3 with less ram.
Looks like the AEU store was closed? Duplicated my tab and got a 404, refreshed open pages and same issue.
Laughs in 8gb ram
Laughs at those defending paying 2.5k for 8GB of RAM in 2023 being okay because "most won't need more".
If that's the case then most also won't need this Mac, AKA M3.
I don't consider myself to be a 'Pro' or 'Power' user by any means, but the way I work has certainly changed since buying an M1 Max with 64gb ram.
Right now I'm using 20.40gb ram with 15.64gb in cached filed - memory pressure shows no signs of sweat. I've got about 15 tabs open in Safari and 32 tabs in Firefox, streaming Foxtel with practically the whole Office suite open, across two widescreens whilst the MBP is in clamshell mode. CPU load is averaging 2.5%
I don't think I could ever go back to just 8gb - I agree with others though that it can be done, if you're aware of your background apps etc, but once most are accustom to a certain way, it can be difficult changing back.
I'm likely to buy a new MBP, but with 18gb ram - since it will be used for travel and personal use. I don't foresee needing any more. Shitty thing is though, whatever you choose is for life because we cant upgrade - part of the reason why I splurged for 64gb - who knows how resource intensive future apps etc will be?
I am on an 8 gb M1 and I just opened 32 tabs in chrome, 15 tabs in safari, have excel, word, Adobe illustrator (not sure what else is in the office suite so I opened an adobe product instead, do you really have power point open?) Bitwig, VLC and a bunch of other crap like photos calendar etc. I am not on any external screens but i'm humming along. It's using all the ram constantly but swapping it as a move between tasks. Occasionally there is a chug between illustrator files or big projects in bitwig or when I switch between the two.
As for me I am a pro at somethings.
haha yeah, powerpoint open, working on a monthly meeting stats pack……riverting stuff.
I wonder why there are no iphone 14 pro
?
- Apple Education Store has never sold iPhones.
- Apple never sells past Pro phones after new ones release.
Apple never sells past Pro phones after new ones release: I found this out the hard way!!! I have the iPhone 8 so there were no PRO versions then. This year I decided I would get the iPhone 14 pro when the 15 was released. so I bought a 1000 Apple GC when the 15% off sale was on earlier this year, and I signed up for a credit card and used my 200 cashback to buy a 200 Apple GC. I was so proud of myself for hacking my way to 1200 Apple GC and I was just patiently waiting for the new release so I could buy the old model. Only to discover that the old pro models are only available at 3rd party retailers 😭😭😭. so I had to shell out another $560 over the weekend to get the 15 pro at Apple (getting $90 trade-in value for my iPhone 8 😭). Thankfully apple GC are on 20x rewards at Coles so I was able to get some FF points at least. anyways this phone will last me another 7-10 years so I guess that's something…
phone lasting 7-10 years, are you for real lol? more like 3-5.
If M1 Air 8GB was under 1k (PM + discounted GC), this or the M1?
What's your use case?
Browsing, Media, Spreadsheets. Replacing my partner's circa 2015 Macbook 13.
Go the M1, it’s an excellent machine for that use case and no need for the extra bit of processing power
I got M1 air 8GB for $1139.05 this morning at Officeworks (please see my below post). Ultimate giftcard was used, which has brought the actual cost below 1K.
Yep we just got the same deal then (I managed to use Celebration cards instead :P)
Honestly, I'd be waiting for refurb M2 Pros. I personally got an M2 Air, refurbished, with 512GB and 16GB RAM for $1700 through Apple, largely using discounted (15% off) gift cards, the Ultimate ones, that I swapped at JB for Apple cards a while ago, when Coles had the 15% extra value deal for Ultimate gift cards. Anyway, absolutely loving the M2 Air, it can handle anything I've thrown at it - including e.g. 30 tabs open while I edit in Adobe After Effects, and have music playing along with various programs open e.g. Word and Lightroom.
It hasn't stuttered once, the battery is amazing, and I am very glad that I chose to get the 512/16 configuration. It is also the 10-core GPU version, which was a nice addition. Anyway, long story short, unless you truly need a power machine, which is what this deal offers, then go for it. But for most people, including people who have pretty large workloads, an M2 Air with the 512/16 configuration - or higher - is something to consider. Especially when you can use discounted Apple gift cards. Whether I would've been fine with 8gb of RAM… who knows.
I just didn't want to risk it, and I feel as though it will future-proof the machine, to an extent. I cannot stand it when a laptop slows down on me, my last laptop (2018 Air) was just so slow at the end, that was an 8/256 setup, I just couldn't bear getting the same configuration again, even though I know so much of the improvements come from the M2 chip itself. An M1 model with the 512/16 configuration would've been fine for me, but I wanted Magsafe and prefer the design of the M2's case etc. Even an M1 model with an 8/256 configuration would be fine for most people's workloads, it's a great machine.
All in all, I'm happy, but I don't personally buy into the whole "these should come with 16gb of RAM by default". Sure, that would be nice, but if you don't like it, just get a different brand of laptop. When you're in the Apple bubble, you've just got to work with what Apple puts out. In any event, these are incredible laptops, the fact that even an M1 Air could handle the vast majority of what most people do… they are such powerful machines, especially given that the M1 model was released almost three years ago, and given it is obtainable for close to $1000. I'm always one to promote Apple refurbished - quick turnaround, arrived all in the proper box with cables, everything is thoroughly checked, any issues resolved with Apple's care and products, the screen and shell have to be spotless, and most of the time, they are just laptops that people have returned in the two-week returns period (or however long it is, it's not long from memory). Most people think of it as "second hand", but they are basically new machines, bar the name.
I just bought macbook air 13" M1 8G RAM and 256G SSD this morning. It is $1199 on www.emporiumelectronics.com.au, only has Space Grey option. I asked for price beat in Officeworks, so got it at $1139.05.
lol of course OzB is crying about 8GB RAM instead of being hype about Space Black being released on MacBooks for the first time! 🥳
negged for caring about Space Black and how big of a deal it is. MKBHD spent the first 3 minutes of his review talking about the color. university campuses have new competition on what the sleekest device is.
- MacBook Air M1 (Silver / Space Grey)
- iPad Pro with keyboard
- Surface Pro
- Galaxy Tab S8/S9 Ultra
- and now M3 Pro in Space Black!
FYI to use 2 external monitors you need to get the m3 pro which costs $3500 for the base model for the 14 inch. Apparently using 2 external monitor is a luxury haha.
Personally I'd go with one of the discounted M1 Max variants that pop up on special instead of M3 Pro - costs the same, but you get support for 4 monitors, 32G ram, 1TB ssd and roughly similar CPU/GPU performance (8P/2E cores in M1 Max vs 6P/6E cores in M3 Pro).
Main downsides are 2 years less software support (M1 Mac is 2021, so will lose MacOS support 2 years earlier than M3 Pro), and most likely worse battery life/heat.
I'm getting 'Page Not Found'. They're perhaps updating the Macbook pages?
Does anyone know if the invoice you get is the exact same as the regular retail ones? Asking cause I will be taking this overseas so hoping to get a tax refund from TRS.
no, you get an invoice with AOC price.
Does that include GST?
8gb ram in the base model is utterly absurd in a pro device intended for real work and not just some surfing etc. A knock on issue of this is that you have to order 16gb ram in a custom order which essentially means no jbhifi deals etc, you have to buy it from apple.
Essentially this "productivity" device has the same ram as an iPad Air!