The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is at an upper midrange price and offers more RAM with the Apple M2 Pro processor, making it stronger for intensive engineering tasks and higher-end 3D work. It is slightly heavier and is somewhat more expensive than its counterpart. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is less expensive and has a newer Apple M3 processor but comes with less RAM, which could be limiting for demanding applications, though it claims a longer battery life and is slightly lighter, enhancing its portability. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
9.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.2in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 for software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro has a high-resolution, bright display with exceptional color accuracy, making it excellent for general use where clear and vivid visuals are important. For engineering and design, its wide color gamuts ensure precise color representation, crucial for detailed work. However, its lower refresh rate compared to specialized 3D laptops limits its effectiveness for 3D applications, which rely on smooth motion and rapid screen updates for optimal performance.
Battery
13.5 Hours
17.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$1,700
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) costs $1,399.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) with the more powerful M2 Pro processor and more RAM is better suited for tasks that require more computing power, thus making it very good for general use, whereas the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023), despite its newer M3 processor, has less RAM, which can limit performance under heavy multitasking, aligning it to just good for general use. Both models offer high-quality Mini LED screens, excellent battery life with the Late 2023 model having a longer battery life, and solid portability, but the higher CPU and RAM in the early 2023 model give it an edge in performance.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.7/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) with the M2 Pro chip includes a GPU with more cores, which is better for handling complex 3D tasks, and both models have high-refresh-rate screens that make interactions smoother. While the newer MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a less powerful GPU, it still maintains good screen quality and refresh rate, making it suitable for less demanding 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.1/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) with the M2 Pro chip has more RAM and a more powerful GPU compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) which sports an M3 chip with less RAM, making the former better suited for demanding engineering and design tasks that can benefit from higher processing power and memory capacity. Both models have high-quality Mini LED screens, but the additional RAM and stronger GPU on the M2 Pro MacBook provide an edge in performance, although the Late 2023 model offers slightly better portability due to its lower weight.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.4/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.4/10
8.2/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
14.2in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) both have best in class build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Recommendations made
24,223
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.