Apple's M3 chip announcement has been met with considerable excitement, signifying a further step forward in Silicon’s processing capability. But the question for audio professionals is whether the latest M3 chip family markedly exceeds its forerunners in real-world day-to-day tasks. Audio software, particularly DAWs, often don't tap into the extreme computational power that these chips possess, especially when it comes to the M3 Pro and M3 Max.

The Reality of Power vs Performance

Here’s a secret: most of the Experts team buy refurbished Apple Macs for our own use. In fact one of the team purchased a Apple Refurbished M2 MacBook Pro just a few days before the latest M3 versions were announced. And, they are not upset in the slightest that the M3 Macs are now here.

The fact is, refurbished M1 and M2 Macs are far from antiquated. They provide ample power for audio editing, mixing, and mastering. The M1 marked a quantum leap in Apple's processing power from Intel based Macs, with the M2 refining this prowess. Both handle large sample libraries and huge track counts without breaking a sweat, especially when compared to their Intel counterparts. In real-world applications, the performance gap between these chips and the M3 might be marginal, especially in audio-centric tasks.

It’s worth noting that at the launch event, when Apple was quoting performance gains with the new M3 chip, most were comparisons with M1 and even Intel-based chips.

Consider this: the M1 chip already offered a significant jump in performance, handling complex Pro Tools sessions or Logic Pro X projects without any issue. The M2 built on this, offering a 20% performance boost. The M3 promises even more, but how much of this is overkill? In tests running typical audio processing tasks, the M1 and M2 often come within a margin of error in performance when compared to the M3. For instance, an M1 may take a few extra seconds to bounce a large project to disk compared to an M2, which in turn, might be a hair slower than the M3. But will those seconds truly impact your workflow?

How To Save Money With Little Compromise

A refurbished M1 or M2 Mac can offer significant savings without substantially compromising the performance quality necessary for professional audio production. When considering the price difference between these models and the latest M3 Macs, the savings could be better allocated towards enhancing your studio with other equipment or software, or indeed an external hub or chassis (cough!)

The refurbished world is not what it used to be. Apple's certified refurbished products undergo rigorous testing, ensuring they meet high standards. Purchasing a refurbished M1 or M2 Mac means you receive a device in 'like new' condition but at a more attractive price point. For those of us in the professional audio world industry, where budgets are decreasing for the same work, this is an opportunity to economise intelligently without skimping on quality.

What’s also worth noting is that an Apple Refurbished product qualifies for the Apple Care programme, well worth buying for peace of mind.

It’s not only Apple that offer refurbished products, in the UK there are excellent dealers like Hoxton Macs. If you know of a similar company in your country, let us know in the comments. One small point, don’t use a link or your comment won’t publish.

Hoxton Macs offer a great selection of refurbished Macs and also their own (not Apple Care) warranty for all refurbished Macs. A quick look on both Apple and on Hoxton Macs showed some significant savings for comparable refurbished Macs.

Future-Proofing Your Setup

Opting for the newest M3 Mac is often seen as an investment in future-proofing. Yet, given the recent debut of the M1, software that fully harnesses even this chip's capabilities is scarce. Investing in an M3 Mac for future-proofing may not be as economically sensible if your present production requirements don't demand such power.

Before you consider an M3 Mac, evaluate your studio's needs. Will the advancements in the M3 chip tangibly affect your current workflow and productivity? If the gains are so small then it may be money wasted.

For many audio professionals, a refurbished M1 or M2 Mac will not only suffice but also excel, offering a balance of power, efficiency, and value that is difficult to surpass.

Many of our team are using M1 powered Macs and incredibly happy. When one of our team was asked how fast their M1 Mac is, they replied, “So fast I don’t notice.”

Closing Thoughts

The temptation of the latest technology is undeniable, as someone once said; “there’s nothing more attractive than something you don’t have.” But making smart choices for your studio setup is important; after all, profit is what you don’t spend!

An M1 or M2 Mac offers formidable power, reliability, and savings that can be significant. So, before you spring for the latest M3 Mac, ask yourself whether it's really the upgrade you require, or if a refurbished predecessor could be the shrewd, economical choice that ensures your music production remains top-notch.