Everything you need to know about the MacBook Pro M4, M4 Pro and Max: complete technical sheet, price and our opinion

Apple presented three new machines at the beginning of October 2024. After the iMac and the Mac mini, it is the MacBook Pro which has had the right to take a new step. If its main novelty is found inside, with the arrival of the M4 chip, Apple has also touched up a few details, particularly on the connectivity, to make this laptop a truly smart purchase.

14 or 16 inches

As for several years, Apple does not offer one, but two screen sizes for its MacBook Pro. The laptop is available in a 14-inch format with configurations ranging from the M4 chip to the M4 Max to the Pro. For the larger of the two, the 16-inch model, you will however have to rely on M4 Pro or Max chips only. More powerful, they are also more expensive. And this is felt when purchasing.

If the Apple brand hasn't worked much on the screen this year, it still offers a backlit panel using mini-LED technology. Maximum outdoor brightness (SDR)goes to 1000 nits, compared to 600 on last year's M3 MacBook Pros.

Another interesting little change this year, the arrival of a new proprietary technology on thenanotextured glass. Available as an option on all MacBook Pros (additional €170), it considerably reduces reflections.

Design: why change a winning team?

At first glance, the M4 MacBook Pros look like a carbon copy of the M3 MacBook Pros. They are the same size, have the same keyboard and the same case, and have the same screen. However, a few small details make it possible to differentiate them, without having to deploy them.

The first, visible difference is on the left edge of the machine. Apple has in fact decided to add athird Thunderbolt connection port. Last year, there were only 2. Another difference, this time much more visible, is the finishes. The MacBook Pro M4 isthe only oneto adopt a “dark” look with a “space black” color. Last year Apple limited itself to “space gray” for its M3 MacBook Pros. The computers are still available in the historic silver color, which is the DNA of these devices at Apple.

Performance: hello M4 Pro and Max

It was the big star of the end of October 2024 at Apple, the M4 chip. This is still there with the MacBook Pros. But this time, it is being stolen by the arrival of two variants, the M4 Pro and the M4 Max. If the first had already appeared in the new Mac mini, the M4 Max is, to date, exclusive to MacBook Pros.

To understand the performance gap between these three chips, here is a quick comparison of their respective capacities.

M4 bullet

• CPU: 10 cores
• GPU: 10 cores
• Unified memory: between 16 and 24 GB*
• Bandwidth: 120 Gb/s
• Neural Engine: 16 cores

Puce M4 Pro

• CPU: between 12 and 16 cores*
• GPU: between 16 and 40 cores*
• Unified memory: between 24 and 128 GB*
• Bandwidth: 273 Gb/s
• Neural Engine: 16 cores

M4 Max chip

• CPU: between 14 and 16 cores*
• GPU: between 32 and 40 cores*
• Unified memory: between 36 and 128 GB*
• Bandwidth: 273 Gb/s
• Neural Engine: 16 cores

*depending on the configurations chosen

The benchmark tests are clear, the M4 chips, from the basic version to the Max version, are monsters of power, crushing previous generations without any mercy. For example,M4 Pro chip outperforms M2 Ultra chip.

More and faster connections

It may not seem like much, but Apple has made a lot of effort on the connectivity of its new MacBook Pro M4. In fact, the device goes from 2 to 3 Thunderbolt ports on one side. And at the same time, the technology used is evolving. If the M4 version of the MacBook Pro retains Thunderbolt 4 ports (up to 40 Gb/s), the M4 Pro and M4 Max models are entitled to Thunderbolt 5 technology promising a maximum transfer speed of 120 Gb /s, triple that of Thunderbolt 4.

Autonomy and recharging

The addition of power with the arrival of the M4 chip could appear to be a bad omen for the autonomy of these new MacBook Pros. But on the contrary, the great efficiency of this chip allows the laptop to operate for even longer, without having to charge it.

In detail, Apple mentions the figure of24 hours of use with M4 MacBook Pros(no matter the chip). This autonomy was only10 p.m.the year before with the M3 chip. A fairly significant gain, which could make all the difference on the move.

Apple Intelligence et macOS Sequoia

If the technical sheet of the new MacBook Pro M4 only briefly mentions it, the big news for this year 2024 is obviously the arrival ofApple Intelligence. The functionality presented a few months earlier is therefore arriving on Apple's new computers.

For now, all Macs with an Apple Silicon chip (2020 or newer) are affected. But it will be interesting to see if features in the future will not be reserved for certain generations of SoC, such as the M4, which is “designed for Apple Intelligence” according to Apple marketing.

While this AI feature raises many hopes in Apple Park, you will have to be very patient before you can try it. Apple Intelligence should not arrive until spring 2025 in France.

In the meantime, it is still possible to test the latest software features brought by macOS Sequoia. Although they are not very numerous, they allow you to further personalize your experience on Mac.

Other options to know about

Here are other features to know about the MacBook Pro 14 and 16″, vintage M4 (2024):

• Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Port HDMI
• 12MP Center Stage Camera
• Touch ID

MacBook Pro M4, M4 Pro and Max: prices and availability

It is impossible to give a precise price for MacBook Pros as there are different configurations. The price may vary depending on the size of the screen, the processor chosen, but also the storage, options like nanotextured glass or even the addition, or not, of pre-installed paid software (like Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro).

In order to help us understand, Apple nevertheless gives us basic prices for each of the chips. The apple brand offers:

• The 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 with 512 GB at €1,899
• The 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 512 GB at €2,399
• The 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro with 512 GB at €2,899
• The 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max with 1 TB at €4,099

Remember that in general, each level for the quantity of RAM corresponds to an additional cost of €230. For storage, count€230 for every 512 GB more.

Faced with this mix of specifications, configurations and prices, it can be difficult to find your way around. However, the MacBook Pro M4 is an interesting machine, and it would be unwise to pass it by, frightened by its technical sheet. However, even if this can be impressive, that doesn't mean that you have to go all out and spend the nearly 2000 euros requested.

It is important to remember that the MacBook Pro M4 is designed, as its name suggests,for professionals. If you don't use a laptop every day for your work and especially for demanding, or even very demanding, tasks, you can already move on, the MacBook Air will handle your uses much better. Especially since it too should soon be entitled to an update to take advantage of the powerful M4 chip.

If, on the other hand, you work on a Mac every day, and an Air version is not enough for you, both in terms of connectivity, performance and/or battery life, the MacBook Pro M4 may be a good option. Because here, there will be no shortage of power and the arrival of a third Thunderbolt/USB-C port is a real plus. And if you are ready to pay the price,Adding Thunderbolt 5 technology to models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips can change your life. We are particularly thinking of those who work a lot with external storage, such as video editors, sound engineers or even image specialists.

As you will have understood, the choice of this MacBook depends above all on your use and your requests. For many people, the M4 MacBook Pro will be way too powerful.

But for resource-intensive software and tasks performed dozens of times every day, the new MacBook Proconstitutes the best portable solution on the market, probably.

Where to buy the Mac mini M4?

Finding the MacBook Pro M4 at the best price is not rocket science. Just keep an eye on our price comparison tables below and above. They display prices in real time and therefore take into account the promotions of the different merchants offering the machine for sale. So don't hesitate to come back here regularly before making your purchase, to be sure to take advantage of the most advantageous promotion.