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Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Q&A

Update Published November 20, 2023

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What custom processor options are available for the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro?

There were no custom processors available for any 13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models, but custom processor options are -- or were -- offered at the time of purchase for some 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models.

Apple Silicon MacBook Pro
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Apple Silicon MacBook Pro)

Discontinued 14" & 16" MacBook Pro Models

These default 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models could be upgraded with the following processor/graphics processor options at the time of initial system purchase:

Standard M1 MacBook Pro

Processor Upgrade Options

14-Inch "M1 Pro" 8 CPU/14 GPU

M1 Pro 10-Core CPU

14-Inch "M1 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU

M1 Max 10-Core CPU/24-Core GPU
M1 Max 10-Core CPU/32-Core GPU

16-Inch "M1 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU

M1 Max 10-Core CPU/24-Core GPU


Standard M2 MacBook Pro

Processor Upgrade Options

14-Inch "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU

M2 Pro 12-Core CPU/19-Core GPU
M2 Max 12-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M2 Max 12-Core CPU/38-Core GPU

14-Inch "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU

M2 Max 12-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M2 Max 12-Core CPU/38-Core GPU

14-Inch "M2 Max" 12 CPU/30 GPU

M2 Max 12-Core CPU/38-Core GPU

16-Inch "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU

M2 Max 12-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M2 Max 12-Core CPU/38-Core GPU


Current 14" & 16" MacBook Pro Models

Likewise, these default 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models can be upgraded with the following processor/graphics processor options at the time of initial system purchase:

Standard M3 MacBook Pro

Processor Upgrade Options

14-Inch "M3 Pro" 11 CPU/14 GPU

M3 Pro 12-Core CPU/18-Core GPU
M3 Max 14-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M3 Max 16-Core CPU/40-Core GPU

14-Inch "M3 Pro" 12 CPU/18 GPU

M3 Max 14-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M3 Max 16-Core CPU/40-Core GPU

14-Inch "M3 Max" 14 CPU/30 GPU

M3 Max 16-Core CPU/40-Core GPU

16-Inch "M3 Pro" 12 CPU/18 GPU

M3 Max 14-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M3 Max 16-Core CPU/40-Core GPU

16-Inch "M3 Max" 14 CPU/30 GPU

M3 Max 16-Core CPU/40-Core GPU


No Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models have processors or graphics processors that can be upgraded after the initial system purchase.

What type of RAM does the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro use? Can it be upgraded?

All Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models have "unified" RAM that is integrated with the SoC. At the time of system purchase, and only at the time of system purchase, RAM can be -- or could be -- configured accordingly:

Apple Silicon MacBook Pro

Std. RAM

Max RAM

Upg. Price

13-Inch "M1" 8 CPU/8 GPU

8 GB

16 GB

US$200

13-Inch "M2" 8 CPU/10 GPU

8 GB

16 GB
24 GB

US$200
US$400

 

 

 

 

14-Inch "M1 Pro" 8 CPU/14 GPU

16 GB

32 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M1 Pro" 10 CPU/14 GPU

16 GB

32 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M1 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU

16 GB

32 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M1 Max" 10 CPU/24 GPU

32 GB

64 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M1 Max" 10 CPU/32 GPU

32 GB

64 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M2 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU

16 GB

32 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU

16 GB

32 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M2 Max" 12 CPU/30 GPU

32 GB

64 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M2 Max" 12 CPU/38 GPU

32 GB

64 GB
96 GB

US$400
US$800

14-Inch "M3" 8 CPU/10 GPU

8 GB

16 GB
24 GB

US$200
US$400

14-Inch "M3 Pro" 11 CPU/14 GPU

18 GB

36 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M3 Pro" 12 CPU/18 GPU

18 GB

36 GB

US$400

14-Inch "M3 Max" 14 CPU/30 GPU

36 GB

96 GB

US$800

14-Inch "M3 Max" 16 CPU/40 GPU

48 GB

64 GB
128 GB

US$200
US$1000

 

 

 

 

16-Inch "M1 Pro" 10 CPU/16 GPU

16 GB

32 GB

US$400

16-Inch "M1 Max" 10 CPU/24 GPU

32 GB

64 GB

US$400

16-Inch "M1 Max" 10 CPU/32 GPU

32 GB

64 GB

US$400

16-Inch "M2 Pro" 12 CPU/19 GPU

16 GB

32 GB

US$400

16-Inch "M2 Max" 12 CPU/30 GPU

32 GB

64 GB

US$400

16-Inch "M2 Max" 12 CPU/38 GPU

32 GB

64 GB
96 GB

US$400
US$800

16-Inch "M3 Pro" 12 CPU/18 GPU

18 GB
36 GB

18 GB
36 GB

N/A

16-Inch "M3 Max" 14 CPU/30 GPU

36 GB

96 GB

US$800

16-Inch "M3 Max" 16 CPU/40 GPU

48 GB

64 GB
128 GB

US$200
US$1000


Note that models equipped with a "M1 Pro" or "M2 Pro" processor also are configured with 16 GB of RAM by default and can, or could, be upgraded to 32 GB of RAM at the time of system purchase. Models equipped with an "M1 Max" processor are automatically configured with 32 GB of RAM by default and could be upgraded to 64 GB of RAM at the time of system purchase. Finally, models equipped with an "M2 Max" processor are automatically configured with 32 GB of RAM by default and can be upgraded to at least 64 GB of RAM, and as much as 96 GB of RAM, at the time of system purchase.

To reiterate, the RAM cannot be upgraded after system purchase in any Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models.

What type of internal storage does the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro use? Is it possible to upgrade it?

All Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models have onboard storage that cannot be upgraded after purchase. At the time of system purchase, they can be configured with larger capacity onboard storage, though.

By default, the 13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models have either as 256 GB or 512 GB of onboard SSD storage. They could be custom configured with 1 TB or 2 TB of onboard storage.

The 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models are -- or were -- configured by default with 512 GB or 1 TB of onboard SSD storage. They can, or could, be custom configured with 2 TB, 4 TB, or 8 TB of onboard storage.

Also see: What external storage options are available for the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro? Which is the best?

What are the custom configuration options for the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro?

For the 13" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models, Apple only offered the option of additional RAM and/or SSD storage at the time of purchase:

13" Custom Configuration Options

MacBook Pro RAM SSD Processor
2020, M1 16 GB 1 TB
2 TB
None
2022, M2 16 GB 1 TB
2 TB
None


The 14" and 16" Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models all have -- or had -- RAM, SSD, and processor upgrade options at the time of initial system purchase:

14" Custom Configuration Options

MacBook Pro RAM SSD Processor
14" 2021 32 GB
64 GB
2 TB
4 TB
8 TB
M1 Pro 10-Core CPU
M1 Max 10-Core CPU/24-Core GPU
M1 Max 10-Core CPU/32-Core GPU
14" Early 2023 32 GB
64 GB
96 GB
2 TB
4 TB
8 TB
M2 Pro 12-Core CPU/19-Core GPU
M2 Max 12-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M2 Max 12-Core CPU/38-Core GPU
14" Late 2023 16 GB
24 GB
36 GB
64 GB
96 GB
128 GB

1 TB
2 TB
4 TB
8 TB

M3 Pro 12-Core CPU/18-Core GPU
M3 Max 14-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M3 Max 16-Core CPU/40-Core GPU


16" Custom Configuration Options

MacBook Pro RAM SSD Processor
16" 2021 32 GB
64 GB
2 TB
4 TB
8 TB
M1 Max 10-Core CPU/24-Core GPU
16" Early 2023 32 GB
64 GB
96 GB
2 TB
4 TB
8 TB
M2 Max 12-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M2 Max 12-Core CPU/38-Core GPU
16" Late 2023 64 GB
96 GB
128 GB
1 TB
2 TB
4 TB
8 TB
M3 Max 14-Core CPU/30-Core GPU
M3 Max 16-Core CPU/40-Core GPU


There are no other custom configuration options for the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro. Once more, these upgrades cannot be made after the initial purchase of the notebook, either.

Where can I buy a Apple Silicon MacBook Pro?

In the US, you always can buy a new Mac directly from Apple, but you often can get a better deal by buying your new Apple Silicon MacBook Pro from an Apple Authorized Reseller like site sponsor Adorama. Adorama commonly has deep discounts on recently discontinued models, too. Other World Computing sells used and refurb MacBook Pro models at bargain prices with free shipping, as well.

In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells a good selection of used MacBook Pro models with a one-year warranty and free next day delivery. Delivery across Europe also is available starting at just £9.99 for two-day delivery to France and Germany.

In Australia, site sponsor Mac City has a variety of used MacBook Pro models at low prices with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.

Who designed the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro?

Of course, all of Apple's Macs have been designed by hundreds of hardworking employees, but the company's industrial design for many years has been performed entirely in-house by Apple's Industrial Design Group.

For the "guts" of the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, Apple's "Hardware Technologies" group also deserves a great deal of credit, too.



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