Apple has enhanced the MacBook Pro by incorporating M4 Pro and M4 Max processors.
The updated iterations of all three MacBook Pro models have arrived, featuring increased base RAM and enhanced variants of the M4 chip.
Apple is enhancing the MacBook Pro lineup by introducing more powerful processors. This update was announced this morning through a discreet press release, revealing that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros will now feature the M4 series of chips. This series includes the newly launched M4 Pro chip, which was unveiled yesterday with the Mac Mini, as well as a new, higher-end M4 Max variant. Additionally, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro will receive a minor design enhancement, incorporating an additional USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 port on the right side and a new space black color option to align with its more premium counterparts.
As with previous iterations, the laptops equipped with the M4 Pro will be priced starting at $1,999 for the 14-inch model and $2,499 for the 16-inch version. Both models will see an increase in base RAM from 18GB to 24GB. The standard 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro will continue to start at $1,599, but it will now come with 16GB of RAM, an improvement from the previous 8GB configuration. The new MacBook Pros are set to be available on November 8th, with preorders currently open.
The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with M4 Pro and Max chips represent a significant advancement, as they are the first Mac laptops to feature Thunderbolt 5 ports, in addition to enhancements in chip architecture and RAM. Each of these MacBook Pros is outfitted with a new 12-megapixel webcam that includes a desk view capability, and they can be customized with a new nano-texture display that achieves a brightness of up to 1,000 nits in SDR and 1,600 nits in HDR.
While these supplementary upgrades are commendable, the most substantial improvements lie within the chips themselves. Apple asserts that the M4 chip generation boasts “the world’s fastest CPU core” and “the industry’s best single-threaded performance.” Since the introduction of the M1 generation, single-core performance has been a hallmark of Apple’s Mac chips, and the M4 chips are expected to deliver “dramatically faster multithreaded performance.” Furthermore, the M4 Pro and Max chips feature enhanced GPU cores, including a ray-tracing engine that operates at double the speed. The neural engine has also seen a twofold increase in speed compared to the M3 generation, facilitating enhanced machine learning and AI tasks.
The latest and most advanced silicon from Apple is optimally designed to support the company's significant initiative in artificial intelligence, known as Apple Intelligence, which was recently introduced for compatible Macs, iPhones, and iPads. It is important to note that Apple Intelligence is compatible with Macs that utilize the M1 chip, which was released in 2020; however, the primary limitation for these Macs appears to be their RAM capacity. In conjunction with the recent announcements regarding the MacBook Pro, Apple is also enhancing the base configurations of the M2 and M3 MacBook Air models, increasing the RAM from 8GB to 16GB, with prices starting at $999 for the M2 variant. Consequently, it may only be a matter of time before older models with lower specifications are unable to access the future features that Apple gradually introduces through updates.
The M3 generation of MacBook Pros showcased a blend of sustained excellence through the M3 Pro and Max models, while the non-Pro M3 14-inch variant appeared somewhat out of place. The high-end Mac laptops equipped with Pro and Max chips continue to be excellent options for creatives engaged in performance-heavy tasks using applications such as Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. Conversely, the entry-level 14-inch M3 model presented challenges in terms of justification when compared to a more affordable MacBook Air or one of its more expensive counterparts during sales. However, the newly released 14-inch model featuring the M4 chip seems to offer a more compelling proposition and appears slightly more worthy of the “Pro” designation. It is remarkable how the addition of an extra USB port can enhance the overall appeal.