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MacBook Pro - page 8

Act fast for great deals on iPad Pro, M3 MacBook Pro and more

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MacBook-Pro-M3-trio
You have your choice of big deals on MacBook Pro with M3, M3 Pro or M3 Max chips.
Photo: Apple

Some great deals on Apple gear only last for a day, like Woot’s nice discounts on 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021) and Beats Solo3 headphones. Others may last longer, but for an unknown amount of time, like the price war we’ve been tracking between Amazon and Best Buy. Loads of M3 MacBook Pro models are on sale. See some sample below.

Here’s how to go way past ‘adequate’ with workstation audio [Setups]

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Yamaha HS7 speakers
Yamaha HS7 speakers on stands blow out this setup's sound.
Photo: [email protected]

What would the computer setup that has everything — in fact, two of many things — be missing? Well, in the case of today’s dual MacBook Pro workstation, it’s not excellent audio gear. Not only does it double up on high-end laptops, Studio Displays, Trackpads and more. It also mounts powerful Yamaha HS7 speakers and an AKG condenser microphone to help provide a fabulous soundtrack.

Here’s the argument for stacked Studio Displays [Setups]

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stacked Studio Display setup
Stacking Studio Displays might seem odd to many folks, but this user loves it.
Photo: [email protected]

We’ve seen quite a few instances of stacked external displays in setups, but today’s M2 MacBook Pro rig might be the first time we’ve seen Studio Displays mounted that way. With all the questions commenters asked about the workstation, the user ended up laying out quite a few points about why it works great.

Killer MacBook Pro rig enjoys awesome audio recording and playback [Setups]

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Shure MV7 USB microphone setup
A Shure MV7 USB microphone on a nice stand and Audioengine speakers keep the audio clear here.
Photo: [email protected]

If you’re going to sound your best on podcasts, online videos or conference calls, it helps to invest in a USB microphone. Today’s MacBook Pro setup takes advantage of a USB mic from the excellent brand Shure. And the user throws in a nice pair of Audioengine speakers for loud-and-clear playback, too.

Retail giants slash $500 off top MacBook Pro models

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Get $500 off top MacBook Pro models
Any way you slice it, $500 is a big deal.
Photo: Apple

Apparently now’s the time to upgrade to a powerful 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro or M3 Max chip. Major retailers Amazon and Best Buy currently offer the same big-time deals on the killer laptops — $500 off. And it doesn’t matter what set of memory and storage specifications you go for, each machine is five Benjamins cheaper than normal.

M3 MacBook Pro finally gains dual external display support

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M3 MacBook Pro multi-display support
You can now drive dual external displays with the M3 MacBook Pro.
Photo: Apple

Apple has finally added dual external display support to the M3 MacBook Pro, nine months after its release. The latest macOS Sonoma 14.6 update enables this feature.

After the update, M3 MacBook Pro users can run two external displays simultaneously, albeit with the lid closed.

Big refurb and open-box sale: Get up to 31% off iPads and MacBooks

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deas on iPads and MacBooks
The sale at Woot! features older models, but there are M3 MacBook Pro models in the mix.
Photo: Apple

Amazon bargain site Woot! currently runs a sale with deals on iPad and MacBooks, including brand new, new (open box) and refurbished models, through August 6. Discounts range up to 31% off. So let it be Christmas in mid-summer with some new (to you) Apple gear.

“Jobs nods his head in approval from the Clouds,” Woot! says at the top of the sale page.

Can’t afford a Studio Display? Build one. [Setups]

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DIY Studio Display setup
Want a 5K display without paying Studio Display (or even LG) prices? Build it yourself.
Photo: [email protected]

The main complaint about Apple’s 5K Studio Display is price — at about $1,600, it’s financially out of reach for many people. And 5K monitor competitors like LG only bring the cost down a few hundred bucks. So how about saving some dough by making your own DIY Studio Display? The owner of today’s M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup did just that, crafting dual 27-inch 5K monitors for several hundred dollars less than buying production models.

Best Amazon Prime Day deals on all things Apple [Updated – deals extended!]

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best Amazon Prime Day Apple deals - extended
Prime Day is over but the savings haven't stopped.
Image: Tamanna Rumee/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac

Amazon Prime Day officially ran July 16 and 17, but it’s not over yet, as Amazon extended many big bargains on Apple products. Tons of goods from Apple and others are discounted. See our selection of the best deals on AirPods (and Apple subsidiary Beats), AirTags, Apple Watch, iPads, MacBooks, Mac mini and more below. Return to this page for updates (and beware that deals can change suddenly with supply fluctuations, so you may click through to find updated pricing or sold-out items in some cases).

UPDATE: Amazon extended a host of Prime Day deals on Apple products into Thursday and Friday and even into Saturday, so you can still shop many of the items below!  Items with full strikethroughs represent deals no longer available.

Developer loves ‘hated Touch Bar’ on MacBook Pro [Setups]

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MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Unlike many, this developer actually likes the Touch Bar on his 2017 MacBook Pro.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple doesn’t have a very long list of unpopular products or features, but whatever list of shame it may keep probably includes MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar. But not everyone hates the feature. The Python developer who runs today’s MacBook Pro setup actually loves it.

Light up July 4 with up to $500 off M3 MacBook Pro models

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MacBook-Pro-M3-trio
You have your choice of big deals on MacBook Pro with M3, M3 Pro or M3 Max chips.
Photo: Apple

Want to kick off your July 4 holiday weekend with a bang? Bag a 14- or 16-inch M3 MacBook Pro for up to $500 off at Amazon or Best Buy. You’ll have it by the time the smoke clears from the fireworks. And compared to whatever machine you have now, your computing power will more-or-less explode.

Get a speedy new MacBook every 2 years with Upgraded subscription

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The MacBook Upgrade Program from Upgraded.
It's easy to sign up and get started.
Photo: Upgraded

A fresh approach to owning a MacBook is here. With Upgraded’s subscription service, you can enjoy the latest MacBook every two years without the hefty upfront cost.

Starting at just $36.06 per month for a MacBook Air and $52.17 for a MacBook Pro with AppleCare+ included, this service keeps you updated with the newest models seamlessly. Interest rates start at 0% and vary based on your credit score. You can check out all available models at getupgraded.com.

Will Apple’s vision for a cheaper headset pay off? [The CultCast]

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Photo of person wearing Apple Vision Pro with dollar signs in her eyes. Plus, The CultCast logo, episode 652.
Will a stripped-down Vision headset, with a radically cheaper price tag, put a ding in the universe?
Photo: Apple

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple seems dead-set on producing a much more affordable version of the Vision Pro. The current $3,499 price tag is definitely a dealbreaker. But will a cheaper version of the Vision Pro headset take off? We discuss the pros and cons — and a possible solution!

Also on The CultCast:

  • Apple’s former obsession with making its products thin and light might make a comeback. Maybe even with Apple Watch Series 10 later this year.
  • We might not have too much longer to wait for MacBook Pros powered by M4 chips.
  • Griffin the risk-taker gives us his hands-on impressions of iOS 18, including 11 “hidden” features that Apple didn’t even mention during the WWDC24 keynote.
  • And finally, the MoviePass saga gets a proper retelling, in the form of an HBO documentary.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Top audio interface shapes MacBook Pro rig’s sound [Setups]

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top audio interface
This shot from Universal Audio shows the Apollo Twin Duo audio interface in action.
Photo: Universal Audio

If you want great sound out of your computer setup, you need excellent speakers, of course. But if you work with music rather than just listening to it, you also need a top audio interface for Mac to run between your computer and other gear. Today’s MacBook Pro setup incorporates one of our top picks in a recent roundup of best audio interfaces for Mac and pairs it with a nice set of Yamaha speakers.

Save up to a staggering $350 on M3 MacBook Pro models

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Apple-MacBook-Pro-2up
You can get M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBooks Pro models in space black and yes, the sale includes them.
Photo: Apple

Sometimes Amazon stuns us with outstanding bargains. This week it’s big discounts on Apple’s powerhouse M3 MacBook Pro, in all or most of its iterations. You can save up to $350 off M3 MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip and solid specs, but that’s just one of many deals. We list six below where you can save anywhere from $200 to $350 on your machine of choice.

Crystal-clear mechanical keyboard wins style points [Setups]

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Yunzii X75 mechanical keyboard
In this shot from Yunzii, the X75 Mechanical Keyboard features clear key caps and clear switches with RGB lighting.
Photo: Yunzii

Ever since computers like iMac G3 pulled off the trick, transparent computer gear has come in and out of style. And now transparent keyboards are having a bit of a moment. One good example is the Yunzii X75 Mechanical Keyboard seen in today’s MacBook Pro setup.

Would you spend $650 on a desk lamp? [Setups]

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Dyson Solarcycle Morph Desk Light-2
The light self-adjusts and allows for very focused lighting.
Photo: Dyson

Cult of Mac‘s setups coverage loves to look at premium products, but we often emphasize value with thrifty-but-reliable gear. Today we marvel, however, at just how much one desk lamp can cost. Our MacBook Pro user places a $650 Dyson Solarcycle Morph Desk Light on a very nice Vari sit-stand desk.

Do people really pay that much for a lamp? Even our user claims it was a gift, not a purchase.

Love it or hate it, this is a great way to store gear [Setups]

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pegboard for setup storage
With the right accessories, you can store pretty much anything on a pegboard (shown at left of setup).
Photo: [email protected]

While many computer setups shown off on social media look suspiciously immaculate, the truth is we tend to live at our desks and make a big mess of them routinely. Stuff just piles up. But a great way to keep your workstation clean and organized is to deploy one of the best fixes — a pegboard for setup storage.

With pegboards, you can put practically anything right on your wall, like today’s MacBook Pro user does. We’ve seen some pretty strong negative reactions to them, but there’s no denying their effectiveness.

Primo speakers and subwoofer blow the roof off [Setups]

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Audioengine desktop speakers
This shot from Audioengine shows its powerful A2 Plus desktop speakers with an iPhone.
Photo: Audioengine

At Cult of Mac, we love great audio. So when a computer setup comes along on social media showing off a killer system, we love to feature it. Today’s M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup kicks out the jams — we also love obscure references to cult-favorite bands of yesteryear — with Audioengine A2 Plus speakers and a Kanto Sub6 subwoofer.

So, as nice as the MacBook Pro’s six speakers may be, they don’t have a chance against that sound system.

Crown this mechanical keyboard ‘customization king’ [Setups]

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Keychron custom mechanical keyboard
This shot from Keychron shows the Q2 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard.
Photo: Keychron

Some people are happy typing away on quiet membrane keyboards like Apple’s Magic Keyboard. Others are obsessed with pimping out their clickity-clackety mechanical keebs with the exact key caps, switches and design flourishes they prefer. Today’s M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup goes for the latter style with a Keychron Q2 custom mechanical keyboard.

It’s an excellent, moderately affordable option in a crowded market.

New MacBook Pro powers perfect workstation [Setups]

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M3 MacBook Pro setup
Everything is well-situated on stands in this M3 MacBook Pro setup.
Photo: [email protected]

Some computer setups just seem to have it all. Today’s featured workstation sports a new M3 Pro MacBook Pro with hefty amounts of memory and storage, plus a speedy Thunderbolt 4 dock connected to a well-curated selection of peripherals. Even the gear stands and furniture are especially nice.

Connect with 4 monitors using Satechi’s new Thunderbolt 4 dock

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Satechi Thunderbolt 4 DisplayLink dock
Finally, you can overcrowd your setup with tons of external displays!
Photo: Satechi

The new Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink uses DisplayLink software to enable Mac users to connect with up to four external monitors, in addition to accessing 96W power delivery for a MacBook and realizing blazing-fast Thunderbolt 4 data transfer speeds, the company said Thursday. If you’re looking for a versatile port hub to expand your Mac’s connectivity, check out this 6-port hub from Zagg.

What’s the best Mac for video editing?

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Best Mac for Video Editing
Really, it’s… all of them.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Whether you run a video production studio or you’re starting a hobby YouTube channel, you’ll want to make sure you have the best Mac for video editing. 

Video editing is a good stress test for any computer. Cutting together an epic two-hour video essay requires high-speed storage, a lot of memory, processing power and GPU power. Apple silicon delivers all this in spades. Apple’s chips also come with special built-in hardware for processing video — the Media Engine. 

These days, every Mac is capable of 4K video editing. The best Mac for you comes down to whether you want a desktop or a laptop — and the size of your budget. Keep reading or watch our latest video.