Apple Announces New MacBook Pro M4 Series with Enhanced Camera and Silicon Power

Apple has officially introduced the MacBook Pro M4, available in 14- and 16-inch models, building on recent releases like the iMac M4 and Mac Mini M4. While the new M4 silicon chip stands as the series’ central attraction, another notable upgrade is the 12MP Center Stage camera, enhancing video quality significantly over the previous 1080p cameras. This makes the MacBook Pro M4 a strong choice for professionals focused on video communication.

Previously exclusive to the latest iPads and Apple Studio Display, the Center Stage feature is now integrated into the MacBook Pro M4 and the new iMac M4. Center Stage automatically centers users during video calls, compatible with applications like FaceTime and Zoom. According to Apple, the 12MP camera improves performance in difficult lighting and introduces Desk View, a feature allowing users to share a top-down view of their workspace during calls. Although specific technical details on the camera remain scarce, comparisons to the Studio Display suggest an ultra-wide 122-degree field of view, enhancing the functionality for remote work and online presentations.

Under the hood, the MacBook Pro M4 comes equipped with an M4 chip featuring a 10-core CPU and GPU, a significantly boosted Neural Engine, and up to 32GB of Unified Memory. Performance benchmarks indicate up to 1.8x speed enhancements in applications like Affinity Photo compared to the M1 model, with Adobe Premiere Pro’s scene edit detection working 1.7x faster than previous generations.

The M4 Pro and M4 Max further advance Apple’s silicon lineup, with up to a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU for the M4 Pro, and an impressive 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU for the M4 Max. Apple claims the M4 Pro can reach speeds up to three times faster than the M1 Pro, with the M4 Max potentially 3.5 times faster than its M1 counterpart. Both models also feature up to 128GB of Unified Memory, making them a highly attractive option for demanding tasks in video editing, 3D rendering, and advanced data processing.

Connectivity upgrades include three Thunderbolt 5 ports on both models, supporting accelerated data transfer speeds ideal for content creators. Although Thunderbolt 5’s availability in the broader market remains limited, its inclusion sets the MacBook Pro M4 series up for future peripheral advancements.

The Liquid Retina XDR display has also received enhancements, supporting up to 1,000 nits for SDR content and maintaining an impressive 1,600 nits for HDR content. The addition of Apple’s nano-texture technology aims to reduce glare and reflections, making the M4 series more versatile in bright lighting conditions. Battery life, another key update, offers up to 24 hours of use, the longest battery life of any MacBook so far, catering to mobile professionals who require sustained power on the go.

Compatibility with Apple Intelligence and macOS Sequoia 15.1 introduces a suite of AI-powered features, including an upgraded Siri and new writing tools, with further enhancements expected in December.

The MacBook Pro M4 comes at an entry price of $1,599 / £1,599 for the 14-inch model and $2,499 / £2,499 for the 16-inch version. The 14-inch model is available across all M4 chip configurations, while the 16-inch is exclusive to the M4 Pro and M4 Max.