Apple has released the latest generation of its entry-level MacBook Pro, featuring updated hardware, an improved webcam, and more RAM, all while maintaining the same starting price. But just how significant is this upgrade? Let's delve into the reviews and benchmarks.
Design
The 14- and 16-inch models are now exclusively available in Space Black. The chassis still attracts fingerprints, though not excessively. Otherwise, the design remains unchanged since 2021. Digital Trends notes that the notch should have been removed, but this improvement has been postponed. A welcome addition is the third Thunderbolt port, allowing convenient connectivity for charging or monitors from either side. The optional nano-texture glass for $150 enhances usability in less-than-ideal lighting conditions, according to The Verge.
Camera
The new 12MP webcam supports Center Stage, keeping the user centered in the frame. Image quality is improved with better contrast and sharpness. However, the Desk View feature, which provides a top-down view of the desk, is considered underdeveloped due to distortion and low resolution. Continuity Camera, using an iPhone as a webcam, is a better alternative for this scenario.
Performance and Battery
The base model comes with the M4 chip and 16GB of RAM, double the RAM of the M3 base model. The M4 boasts a 10-core GPU and 10 CPU cores (two more than the M3). Here are the benchmark results compared to the predecessor:
| Benchmark | M4 | M3 | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinebench Multi | 1003 | 612 | +64% |
| Cinebench Single | 172 | 141 | +22% |
| Cinebench GPU | 3988 | 3334 | +19.6% |
The M4 shows a substantial 64% improvement in multi-core performance, a 22% boost in single-core performance, and a nearly 20% increase in graphics performance. The average performance over a 30-minute run also increased by 41%. Exporting a 4K project from Adobe Premiere Pro took 3 minutes and 14 seconds on the new MacBook Pro, compared to 3 minutes and 47 seconds on the previous model. Overall, the upgrade is significant. Battery life is estimated at around 12 hours with moderate usage.
Price
The starting price for the MacBook Pro M4 is $1599.
