The release of a new MacBook with Apple’s latest silicon usually generates a lot of excitement, but this year, there’s a noticeable sense of calm. The mood online, as I perceive it, is more reserved—almost cautious. Faster, better, more powerful … sure, but no one’s complaining about the improvements. However, the question remains: does the new MacBook Pro with Apple’s M4 chip really offer $3,649 worth of upgrade?
If you’re currently using an M3-based MacBook, the cautious answer is almost certainly no. If you’re still on an M2 or even an M1, the decision seems a bit more uncertain. Maybe it’s the overall vibe of the moment, but I’m not expecting long lines outside stores this time. Let me explain why.
If It Ain’t Broke
There’s no criticism here, no finger-pointing. Apple’s latest MacBook Pro—I tested the 16-inch model with the M4 Pro chip—is just as impressive as any MacBook Pro you’ve probably used before. And that’s where the issue lies. In terms of hardware, the new model appears to be functionally identical to the M3 version at first glance.
Aside from some new color options introduced last year, the MacBook Pro chassis remains nearly identical to the 2021 model. The ports today include three USB-C ports, HDMI, and an SD card slot, with MagSafe 3 still included. Nothing new here, except for the faster USB port speeds—more on that shortly. Rumors suggest that Apple won’t redesign the MacBook Pro chassis until 2026.
But hey, if it works, why fix it, right? Well, let’s take a closer look. In terms of usability, there are still areas for improvement that haven’t been addressed. As with previous models, the 2024 MacBook Pro features full-height function keys that I never use, while the tiny arrow keys, which I rely on daily, are so small they’re almost impossible to operate. The keyboard action is great, but the massive trackpad can be intrusive—and it’s very stiff when clicking. I eventually had to reduce the click force to the lightest setting and enable tap-to-click to make it more comfortable to use.
Then there’s the display notch where the webcam sits at the top of the screen. It’s still an eyesore—and during my testing, it obscured dialog boxes more than once. Additionally, the MacBook Pro fan continues to be extremely loud under load, and, despite the sleek Space Black exterior, the power brick remains white.
These aren’t new issues, but they pale in comparison to a more pressing concern: At 4.7 pounds, the MacBook Pro M4 feels quite heavy—and indeed, it’s a full half-pound heavier than the M3 Max version I reviewed last year. Oddly enough, it’s still 19 millimeters thick. So, where did that extra half-pound go? Must be all the impressive internal upgrades that are bound to blow our minds, right?
If Power Boost
The standout upgrade is the new M4 Pro chip, which sits between the standard M4 and the M4 Max, excluding the rumored M4 Ultra set for 2025. The M4 silicon brings many enhancements, though they’re too detailed and technical to list here. In short, you get more cores on both the CPU (14 in this configuration) and GPU (20), along with 48 GB of unified memory, designed to accelerate everything from video processing to DNA sequencing, if that’s your thing.
There’s also the much-hyped upgrade to the Neural Engine, now sporting 16 cores, which powers on-device AI tasks (and the new Apple Intelligence) at three times the speed of the M1. My test configuration also includes a 2-terabyte solid-state drive, making this machine as fully loaded as it gets.
Aside from the motherboard, there are three new features that stand out. First, the USB ports now support Thunderbolt 5 (120 Gbps/sec) for faster data transfer speeds. The new 12-MP webcam includes a “Desk View” feature, allowing you to livestream your desk while screen-sharing. Finally, there’s an optional “nano-texture” screen upgrade (Apple’s term for glare-reducing technology), which first debuted on the Studio Display. I have this feature on my test model, and if nothing else in the MacBook Pro M4 excites you, this might. It makes the screen feel like you’re looking at a photograph. (The upgrade costs $150.)
So, what does all this translate to? When compared to benchmarks of the 2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max, the M4 Pro delivered CPU performance that was 3 to 7 percent faster, but GPU performance was anywhere from 5 to 24 percent slower. The M4 Pro also saw a slight dip in battery life, dropping from 19 hours and 21 minutes to 18 hours and 26 minutes—still impressive, but it’s clear that extra half-pound wasn’t invested in improving the battery.
While I didn’t run any gene sequencing tests, benchmarks show a 28 percent improvement in that area compared to the M3 Pro. No complaints here: The M4 Pro performs exceptionally well in everything I tested, including Apple Intelligence tasks (though some highly anticipated features are still yet to launch).
The thing is, I had the same impression of the M3 Max last year, and customers voiced similar thoughts about the M2 the year before that, and the M1 before that. These have been excellent laptops for the past four years since Apple first introduced its silicon, and while each new model gets better, the improvements likely won’t make much of a difference to most users—especially power users who need every last fraction of a second to be as productive as possible.
Unless you’re a gene sequencing professional—who, let’s be honest, isn’t using a MacBook for that kind of work—most users won’t notice enough of an improvement to justify spending, well, $3,649. (The base price for the 16-inch MacBook Pro is actually $2,499.) Apple has fallen victim to its own success. The company didn’t realize it at the time, but it came out of the gate too strong.
I fully admit that I too have been caught up in the excitement. My last review of the MacBook Pro may have been a bit too enthusiastic in hindsight. However, with the M4 Pro lacking the blazing graphics performance of the M3 Max, the value proposition becomes much clearer. In other words, sure, you can upgrade to an M4 Pro today, and you’ll likely be impressed—though probably a bit poorer for it. Or perhaps you’re skipping a generation and planning to go from M2 to M4? My gut tells me that if you thought you could wait for the M4, you can likely hold off for the M5 instead.
