Apple has announced its latest MacBook Pro lineup, featuring the powerful M4 chip family and the addition of Apple Intelligence, a new feature focused on enhancing privacy and personal productivity through machine learning capabilities. The new models, available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, are now offered in both space black and silver finishes. Preorders are open, with availability starting November 8.
The M4 chip family includes the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max, each built using second-generation 3-nanometer technology. The chips are designed to handle demanding workloads with improved CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine performance, enabling longer battery life and advanced processing for AI-based tasks. Apple Intelligence, included in these models, leverages the power of the M4 chips for enhanced privacy and AI features, such as refined Siri capabilities and system-wide writing tools.
The new MacBook Pro also features an advanced Liquid Retina XDR display with an optional nano-texture layer, up to 24 hours of battery life, a 12 MP Center Stage camera, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity on M4 Pro and M4 Max models.
Specifications
MacBook Pro with M4
- Chip: M4 with 10-core CPU (4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores)
- GPU: 10-core GPU
- Memory: Starts with 16 GB, expandable to 32 GB; 120 GB/s memory bandwidth
- Ports: Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3, headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
- External Display Support: Supports up to two high-resolution external displays
- Price: Starts at $1,599 ($1,499 for education)
MacBook Pro with M4 Pro
- Chip: M4 Pro with 14-core CPU (10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores)
- GPU: Up to 20-core GPU
- Memory: Up to 64 GB, 240 GB/s memory bandwidth
- Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3, headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
- External Display Support: Supports up to four high-resolution external displays
- Price: Starts at $1,999 ($1,849 for education)
MacBook Pro with M4 Max
- Chip: M4 Max with 16-core CPU
- GPU: Up to 40-core GPU
- Memory: Up to 128 GB, over 500 GB/s memory bandwidth
- Ports: Three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3, headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
- External Display Support: Supports up to four high-resolution external displays
- Price: Starts at $2,499 ($2,299 for education)
Display Enhancements
- Type: Liquid Retina XDR with optional nano-texture layer for reduced glare
- Brightness: Up to 1000 nits for SDR content, 1600 nits peak for HDR
Other Key Features
- Camera: 12 MP Center Stage with Desk View
- Audio: Six-speaker system with Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos support
- Apple Intelligence: Includes Siri updates, on-device privacy features, and integrated ChatGPT access for U.S. users starting in December
- Operating System: macOS Sequoia with iPhone Mirroring, updated Safari features, and enhanced gaming capabilities
For creative professionals, the new MacBook Pro models are designed to handle demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and audio production with ease. With the M4 Pro and M4 Max, users get enhanced GPU performance, faster ray-tracing capabilities, and up to 40 GPU cores, making these machines ideal for managing large files and complex projects. The high memory bandwidth of up to 546 GB/s in the M4 Max supports working with large datasets and high-resolution media, while the advanced Media Engine with dual ProRes accelerators allows for real-time editing of 4K and even 8K video. This level of performance, combined with Apple’s renowned energy efficiency, means creatives can work on extensive projects with smooth multitasking and longer battery life, making the MacBook Pro a powerful and versatile tool for professionals across the creative spectrum.
With a focus on AI-driven privacy, higher memory bandwidth, and powerful GPU capabilities, Apple’s new MacBook Pro models mark a significant step forward for professionals and creatives looking to maximize efficiency without sacrificing security.
My impression on these is: "Same computer as usual, numbers higher"
What I find interesting is that while the entry-level Macbooks are about the same price as they always have been, the upper ones are much higher priced now.
A couple years ago I bought an M2Max with 128gb of ram, I went back and looked at my invoice. An M4Max with 128gb is $1000CAD more than I paid in January 2023. Apple likes to continue to test the limits of us power users. ;)