Apple has made the highly anticipated announcement of the M4 MacBook Pro, available in both 14-inch and 16-inch configurations. Alongside the standard M4 model, there are also M4 Pro and M4 Max versions in each size.
However, let’s be honest: the M3 MacBook Pro was already an exceptional device. Is it truly beneficial to upgrade to the new version? While I won’t have a definitive answer until I conduct my own tests, here are six important updates you should know about the latest MacBook Pros.
The M4 Chip
The centerpiece of interest in these new MacBook Pros is undoubtedly the M4 chip. Available in M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max setups, the latest generation maintains the same CPU core counts as its predecessor. The top-tier M4 Max features a 16-core CPU, composed of 12 Performance cores and four Efficiency cores.
Apple touts the M4 as “the world’s fastest CPU core,” highlighting its enhanced single-threaded performance. The graphics have also seen improvements, though the GPU core counts remain unchanged. The enhanced cores are designed to operate at higher frequencies, along with increased video memory bandwidth, leading to superior graphics performance.
Apple showcased several notable performance gains across various applications like Redshift and Cinema 4D, as well as the upcoming game Control. However, we will have to wait for third-party evaluations to accurately measure the generational improvements. This also applies to AI performance, especially considering Apple’s claims regarding the M4 Neural Engine’s significant efficiency gains, which is now twice as fast as its forerunner.
More, Faster RAM
Apple has increased the base memory of the M4 from 8GB to 16GB. For years, the decision to offer a “Pro” device with only 8GB of RAM was a long-standing point of contention, making this upgrade much appreciated.
Previously, Apple defended the use of 8GB in the M3 MacBook Pro, asserting that 8GB on a Mac was akin to having 16GB on a Windows laptop. Regardless of the validity of that claim, many competitors have shifted to 16GB as a standard option this year, primarily to meet the “Copilot+” criteria.
This update was also applied to the M4 iMac and M4 Mac mini revealed earlier this week, and even the MacBook Air received this welcome RAM upgrade.
Moreover, the new RAM features a 30% increase in bandwidth across all configurations.
Brighter, Less Reflective Screens
This generation brings two significant display enhancements to the MacBook Pro. Firstly, the mini-LED panels can now reach an impressive 1000 nits of brightness in standard dynamic range (SDR), making these screens potentially much brighter than the previous models. In terms of HDR content, peak brightness soars to 1600 nits.
Additionally, customers now have the option to upgrade to a nano-texture display, which effectively minimizes glare and reflections without diminishing brightness and clarity as matte finishes often do.
A Better Webcam
This iteration features an upgrade from the 1080p FaceTime camera to a higher-resolution 12-megapixel version, which is a significant boost in image quality for video calls.
The M4 MacBook Pro also introduces some new functionality, such as Center Stage, which automatically frames your face in the shot similarly to the iPad’s camera. Users can manually adjust this to achieve perfect alignment. Moreover, the Desk View feature provides a top-down perspective of your workspace, making it useful for presentations and video interactions.
Thunderbolt 5
The port selection on the M4 MacBook Pro remains unchanged, but there is one noteworthy enhancement: the USB-C ports have been upgraded to Thunderbolt 5.
This enables transfer speeds of up to 120Gb/s, a substantial increase compared to the 40Gb/s offered by the previous Thunderbolt 4 ports.
More Battery Life
Amidst the ongoing battery life competition, Apple is raising the stakes. The M4 MacBook Pro claims an impressive battery life of up to 24 hours, a notable improvement from the previous 22 hours. Naturally, standard usage will influence real-world battery performance, but an extra two hours can be quite beneficial.
I anticipate that battery life may be slightly reduced in the M4 Pro and M4 Max variants, but I’ll reserve my detailed assessment until I have a chance to test them firsthand.
Space Black for All
The final prominent change regarding the new MacBook Pros is the color of the chassis. The previously introduced Space Black on the 16-inch M3 MacBook Pro is now available for all configurations of the 14-inch model as well.
While it may not be the most dramatic update, it’s certainly a welcomed feature among users.