Just in time for the holidays, Apple has begun sales of the latest M3 MacBook Pro and 24-inch iMac in Malaysia, these computers are announced during Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ event at end October.
M3 MacBook Pro
Available in 14 and 16-inches, the refreshed MacBook Pros are basically identical to their predecessors, except that you get a new Space Black color over the Space Grey option when you pick up the M3 Pro models.
The entry-level M3 chip is only made available on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, where it also replaces the aging 13-inch MacBook Pro, the base model comes with 8GB of Unified Memory and 512GB of storage, while the M3 chip offers an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, it retails for RM7,499.
Once you pick the 14-inch model with the M3 Pro chip, which features a 11-core CPU and 14-core GPU setup, you get 18GB of Unified Memory and 512GB of storage, three Thunderbolt/USB4 ports as opposed to two on the base model, which will cost you RM9,999.
The M3 Max model is pre-configured with 36GB of Unified Memory and 1TB of storage, while you also get a more powerful 96W USB PD adapter. The 14-inch MacBook Pro can ultimately cost you RM29,599 with a M3 Max chip with 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, 128GB of Unified Memory and 8TB of storage.
As for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, you are getting either M3 Pro or M3 Max chip options and similar to the 14-inch model, it can be configured up to 128GB of Unified Memory and 8TB of storage, and surprisingly, the maxed-out cost is slightly more than the 14-inch model at RM30,799, while the M3 Pro base model starts at RM11,999.
2023 M3 24-inch iMac
While it is unfortunate that we aren’t seeing any bigger screen iMac, the 24-inch iMac still remains a popular choice among home users for its colorful yet minimalist design, the new 24-inch iMac with the M3 chip has 2x faster performance than the previous M1 model and now supports faster WiFi 6E connectivity.
The 24-inch iMac is only available in M3 chip variants, though you can opt for a more powerful 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU unit as opposed to an 8-core GPU chip model, it comes with 8GB Unified Memory and 256GB of storage for the base model and can be configured up to 24GB Unified Memory and 2TB of storage.
Similar to the M1 iMac, ports selection is similar on the base and higher end model, where you will need to pay more for having four USB-C ports and an Ethernet port built into the power adapter, and Touch ID doesn’t come on the Magic Keyboard of the base configuration model.
Other than that, you get the same 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, a 6-speaker sound system and a 1080p FaceTime camera.
The 2023 24-inch iMac starts at RM6,299 and maxes out at RM12,099.