Key Points
- Apple’s new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros come in M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chip configurations, adding performance variety.
- The 14-inch MacBook Pro now includes 16GB of RAM as the standard, responding to user feedback on memory needs.
- The M4 Pro and M4 Max models include Thunderbolt 5, enabling data speeds up to 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost.
- The new MacBooks offer 1,000 nits of SDR brightness and a nano-texture display option for glare reduction.
Following a week of M4 chip upgrades for the iMac and Mac mini, Apple has now brought its M4 series chips to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. These laptops are available in base M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max configurations, providing a range of performance options for everyday users and power-intensive professionals. A notable aesthetic addition includes the Space Black color option for the 14-inch model, making the MacBook Pro line more visually cohesive.
The M4 MacBook Pro lineup boasts a default 16GB RAM configuration on the base 14-inch model priced at $1,599, responding to user requests for more memory by default. Apple also introduced significant performance specs with the M4 Max, which offers a powerful 16-core CPU (with 12 performance cores and four efficiency cores) and a 40-core GPU. The M4 Pro variant, on the other hand, features a 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU, while the base M4 is available with either an 8-core or 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.
One of the standout features in this release is Thunderbolt 5 support, available on both the M4 Pro and M4 Max models, which includes three USB-C Thunderbolt 5 ports. This technology enables data transfer speeds up to 80 Gbps and 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost, doubling the 40 Gbps limit of previous Thunderbolt generations. This feature makes the new MacBooks highly suitable for professionals who manage large files and need better external GPU support and advanced AI processing capabilities.
Other key hardware upgrades include displays that reach 1,000 nits of standard dynamic range (SDR) brightness, up from 600 on previous models. Additionally, Apple offers a nano-texture display option for those working in bright environments, significantly reducing screen glare. The new laptops also feature a 12MP Center Stage webcam, a major upgrade over the previous 1080p resolution, ensuring better video quality for conferencing.
Pricing for the new models remains in line with previous generations: the base 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599 ($1,499 for education), the M4 Pro version at $1,999 ($1,849 for education), and the 16-inch model at $2,499 ($2,299 for education). Pre-orders are open, and the devices will be available in stores on November 8.
