The Apple M4 MacBook Pro: An Impressive Update for Professionals
A deep dive into Apple’s M4 MacBook Pro, an ideal choice for professionals but perhaps overpowered for regular users.
The release of the M4 MacBook Pro from Apple has introduced a powerful laptop designed specifically for professional users. Featuring Apple’s latest M4 chip, it promises faster performance and improved efficiency compared to previous versions. For many users, the lighter and more budget-friendly MacBook Air remains a solid choice, but the Pro model still offers distinct advantages that may appeal to professionals with intensive workloads.
The M4 chip is the centerpiece of this model, bringing significant enhancements to power and speed, particularly for demanding tasks such as photo and video editing, animation, and engineering work. Apple claims that this new processor makes the M4 Pro three times faster than the M1 model, introduced just a few years ago. The 2024 MacBook Pro also includes a 12-megapixel webcam with Centre Stage technology, which ensures the user stays centered during video calls—a feature particularly valuable for remote professionals.
One of the standout updates in this model is the optional “nano-texture” display, which reduces glare, making it ideal for outdoor work. With a mini LED backlight, the Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR screen offers a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, reaching up to 1,600 nits for HDR content. This feature, combined with its adaptive refresh rate and high contrast, provides a vivid and detailed visual experience for users who need excellent screen quality.
The M4 MacBook Pro retains its well-known design, available now in silver and Space Black. In terms of ports, it has three USB-C Thunderbolt 5 ports, an SD card slot, HDMI, and a headphone jack, making it a versatile choice for those needing connectivity without relying on external adapters. However, this model weighs slightly more than the MacBook Air, which some may find noticeable when carrying it around.
While the new MacBook Pro performs well with typical tasks, such as web browsing and basic editing, its true strengths lie in processing-heavy tasks. For example, in photo editing tests, large image files were handled quickly and efficiently, underscoring the Pro’s suitability for professional workloads. Apple has clearly targeted creative professionals, from photographers to data modelers, with this release, emphasizing its ability to handle demanding applications and complex edits.
Battery life continues to impress with an estimated 24-hour capacity, showing minimal drain during lighter activities like web browsing. Efficiency remains high, ensuring users can complete extensive work without frequent charging.
Apple’s new software features, such as Apple Intelligence, will be available in December for UK users. These tools include Notification Summaries and advanced writing aids, providing users with greater productivity options. Additional features, such as image generation tools, will follow, with privacy emphasized as a core element of these new AI capabilities.
For most users, the M4 MacBook Pro may offer more capabilities than necessary. The MacBook Air, now with base memory upgraded to 16GB, provides solid performance for regular multitasking, creative projects, and light AI functionality, making it a more practical choice for most. However, for those who need the Pro’s additional processing power, improved display, and professional-oriented features, the M4 MacBook Pro is a premium choice that delivers on Apple’s promise of efficiency and quality.