Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Whatever you do, don’t buy a MacBook Pro right now

Luke Larsen
By
The MacBook Pro on a wooden table.
Digital Trends

I know plenty of people walk into Apple Stores and buy a MacBook right off the shelf because they need one. I get it.

But if you’re considering a purchase of a MacBook Pro, in particular, it’ll really pay off to pump the brakes. Apple is holding a surprise product launch event next Monday, and if the rumors are to be believed, all three MacBook Pros are going to get updated. Upgrading all three at once would be an unprecedented way to upgrade these laptops for Apple as it simultaneously launches the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips.

Recommended Videos

But even if the rollout is different than the reports indicate — trust me, it’s worth waiting it out to find out. Because if you’re buying a MacBook Pro (as opposed to a MacBook Air), you’re likely after some kind of extra performance. The M2 MacBook Air is plenty powerful for everyday work, but if you’re a professional content creator of any kind, you’ll need the extra CPU cores, GPU cores, and active cooling.

Related

And if that’s you, the rumored MacBook Pro updates should be quite a boon to what these machines can do. Don’t get me wrong — the current-generation MacBook Pros are already quite powerful, especially considering how quiet they are under load. But the M3 chips will reportedly deliver a significant jump in performance, which will vastly improve the efficiency of each core, using TSMC’s 3nm process. If Apple can deliver, it’ll be a bigger leap ahead than the M2 was over the M1 — that’s for sure. Apple doesn’t tend to increase price with each new generation, so that means extra performance for the same price by just waiting a week.

Even if you aren’t interested in the latest and greatest, new models always mean discounts on older generations. So, regardless of which generation you end up buying, you’ll either be paying less or getting more performance. You know you won’t be paying for lots of other extras either, as this update will be primarily just a chip upgrade.

Now, before you get too excited, we still don’t know exactly what Apple will announce next week. It could just be a new iMac or some updated iPads for all we know. But it’s worth waiting to see if new MacBooks really are in the works if you’re in the market for a powerful new MacBook.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Luke Larsen
Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Senior editor of computing, managing all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, Macs, and more.
Steve Jobs killed this MacBook feature 15 years ago. Now it might be back
Someone using a MacBook Pro on a table in front of a scenic background.

In 2008, Steve Jobs claimed that Apple had explored adding some sort of 3G connectivity to its MacBooks, but abandoned the plans because the required chips would take up too much space inside the laptop’s case.

If Apple can integrate a wireless modem into its Apple silicon chips by 2028, however, that problem could be fixed -- 20 years after Jobs admitted defeat.
20 years in the making
In the future, your MacBook could come with wireless connectivity, allowing you to access the internet even without a Wi-Fi link. That would be perfect for any time you head out onto the road with your MacBook and struggle to connect to the internet, and would bring it on par with the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Read more
The easy way to decide between the MacBook Air 15 and MacBook Pro 14

Picking out a new MacBook isn't as easy as it used to be. While Apple finally dropped the 13-inch MacBook Pro that didn't match the line's modern design, it introduced a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an entry-level M3 processor. If you prefer a larger screen or more performance, you might be left considering two compelling options: the 15-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Having reviewed and used both laptops extensively, I'm here to lay it all out for you. Here's the difference between the two machines and how to easily determine which is right for you.
The easy way to know which to buy

Read more
Don’t wait for new GPUs. It’s safe to buy a gaming laptop now
Upcoming Nvidia RTX 40-series laptops over a black and green background.

If you've been planning to buy a gaming laptop, it seems that it might be best to shop now instead of waiting for new hardware. Although rumor has it that Nvidia might soon launch three new desktop GPUs, it appears that those graphics cards are unlikely to appear in laptops anytime soon. Is there any point in waiting for the RTX 40-series refresh if you're a laptop user? For various reasons, most likely not.

Various leakers have been sharing information about the rumored RTX 4070 Super, RTX 4070 Ti Super, and RTX 4080 Super for a while now. Considering that Nvidia is planning to deliver a "special address" at CES 2024, the general assumption is that this is when the company will officially announce the RTX 40-series refresh.

Read more