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MacBook Pro M4 vs MacBook Pro M3: Biggest Upgrades

Umito October 31, 2024

Apple has just announced a new batch of MacBook Pro laptops featuring the company M4 chip.

The M4 engine iPad Pro launched earlier this year, so the M4 MacBook Pros were inevitable. But while this news isn’t exactly surprising, the new MacBook Pros promise plenty of cool features.

Below, we’ll detail all of the most important upgrades coming to the MacBook Pro M4 laptops and how they compare to the existing MacBook Pro M3 line. Should you upgrade or are current M3 laptops still good enough for your needs?

Read on to find out the biggest upgrades coming to MacBook Pro M4 laptops.

Apple M4 chip

(Image credit: Apple)

The Apple M4 chip is the most significant upgrade in the MacBook Pro lineup. As with the Apple M3 chipthe new processor is available in three versions: the M4, the M4 Pro and the M4 Max. Apple claims that all M4 processors will offer higher performance and better power efficiency than their respective predecessors.

The Vanilla M4 chip containing 10 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores supports up to 32 GB of unified memory (RAM) and has a higher memory bandwidth of 120 GB/s. Laptops with this chip can support two external displays in addition to the built-in display. M4 now supports up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Next, we have the M4 Pro chip, which has up to 14 CPU cores and up to 20 GPU cores. Apple says MacBook Pros equipped with this chip will benefit researchers, developers, engineers and creative professionals who have demanding workflows. The M4 Pro supports up to 64GB of RAM and 273GB/s of memory bandwidth, which Apple says is a 75% increase over the M3 Pro. This chip promises to create games like Control will look and function optimally with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and faster 3D rendering.

The M4 Max is expected to be the titan of the M4 class. This monster chip has up to a 16-core CPU and a 40-core GPU, which Apple says is 2.2 times faster than the CPU and 1.9 times faster than the model’s GPU. M1 Max chip (respectively). M4 Max supports up to 128 GB of RAM and up to 546 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Like the M4 Pro chip, M4 Max supports Thunderbolt 5 with data transfer capacity of up to 120 GB/s.

These specs might not mean much to the average person. But if you need a powerful MacBook Pro for video editing, gaming, engineering and more, the promised power of the M4 chips is undoubtedly fascinating.

Nano-texture display option

MacBook Pro M4

(Image credit: Apple)

If you like working outdoors, you’ll be happy to know that all M4 MacBook Pro models have a nano-texture display option. If this feature works as well on MacBook Pros as it does on the current iPad Pro, then you should see less glare and reflections. While this isn’t the OLED option some wanted, it’s a nice option to have at checkout.

Regarding the display, Apple claims that the MacBook Pro’s screen offers 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness. Parts of the M3 MacBook Pro displays we tested reach almost 1,600 nits of HDR brightness, so this claim doesn’t seem unrealistic. As it stands, you should be able to comfortably see everything on the MacBook Pro’s screen, whether you’re in direct sunlight or a dark room.

24 hour battery life

Apple M4 chip

(Image credit: Apple)

MacBooks with M-series chips set a new standard for laptop battery life, lasting 12 hours at the minimum and nearly 19 hours at the high end. M4 MacBook Pros promise to last much longer.

According to Apple, its Pro M4 laptops have a battery life of 24 hours. For reference, the longest-lasting consumer laptop we’ve tested is the Snapdragon X Elite-powered Dell XPS 13which lasted 20 hours and 51 minutes. If Apple’s claims are true, the M4 chip will increase battery life.

Thunderbolt 5 support

MacBook Pro M4

(Image credit: Apple)

MacBook Pros with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips feature Thunderbolt 5 ports that more than double data transfer speeds up to 120 GB/s compared to Thunderbolt 4. This will enable faster data transfer speeds. speeds and higher power output, which is useful for running the MacBook Pro. in your main desktop computer.

As for ports, all MacBook Pro models have an HDMI port supporting 8K resolution, an SDXC card slot, a MagSafe charging port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The laptops also support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

New 12MP central camera

At the center of the stage

(Image credit: Apple)

New MacBook Pro models now come with an improved 12 MP Center Stage camera. Not only will this camera follow you everywhere, but video calls should be sharper too.

As its name suggests, the Desk View feature allows you to share what’s on your desktop with those you’re video conferencing with. With this, you won’t have to awkwardly hold objects up to the camera for people to see.

Better Apple intelligence

Writing tools

(Image credit: Apple)

As expected, Apple bragged about how the M4 chip would improve Apple Intelligence. We haven’t seen much here than before, but Apple says Apple Intelligence will benefit all M4 MacBook Pro users.

As I have already discussed, Writing Tools is my favorite Apple Intelligence feature because it’s like having a personal editor. Writing tools can help you improve your writing by proofreading, rewriting, or changing the tone of what you’ve written. This can be useful for something as noble as a manuscript or as simple as an email.

I’m curious to see how Writing Tools, the update Siri and other Apple Intelligence features will work on M4 MacBooks compared to M3 laptops. If they work as expected, perhaps this could change my skepticism about generative AI.

Outlook

We’ll have a better idea of what the new MacBook Pro M4 laptops are capable of after we test them. But based on what Apple has announced, they have the potential to be the best MacBook Pros yet.

The power and power efficiency promised by the M4 chip is exciting, and options like nano-textured glass, Thunderbolt 5, and the new 12MP webcam seem useful. The promised 24 hours of battery life is also exciting. And I hope these MacBook Pros can make meaningful use of Apple Intelligence.

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MacBook Pro M4 vs MacBook Pro M3: Biggest Upgrades

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MacBook Pro M4 vs MacBook Pro M3: Biggest Upgrades

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