The Apple M4 marks the primary time within the transient historical past of Apple Silicon M-series chips {that a} new processor era was introduced first in an iPad as an alternative of a Mac laptop computer or desktop. Apple’s newest chip has arrived on its conventional pc lineup after its introduction on the iPad Pro. The brand new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional laptops are equipped with the M4 line of processors, going all the best way as much as Apple’s freshest powerhouse cell chip, the M4 Max. (See our detailed comparison of the M3 and M4 chips.)
With the identical Apple Silicon at play in two distinctly positioned laptops, a better examination is required. For starters, here is a breakdown of the 2 sizes of latest M4 MacBook Professional, and the way they shake out at a spec-by-spec degree.
Primarily based on what we all know to this point, here is which M4 MacBook Professional you should purchase on your particular wants.
Liquid Retina Show: Which Dimension Is Greatest?
Essentially the most vital consideration between the 2 MacBook Professional fashions is how large of a laptop computer you are on the lookout for. The 14-incher measures 0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches and weighs 3.4 kilos. It misses our 3-pound cutoff for a way we outline an ultraportable—consider it extra as a light-weight mobile workstation—however it’s not a burden in your briefcase or backpack.
The 16-inch MacBook Professional, in the meantime, measures 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches and weighs 4.7 kilos—an affordable weight and measurement penalty to pay if you should utilize the extra display actual property. How a lot further display actual property? We’re speaking a few 3,456-by-2,234-pixel mini LED Liquid Retina XDR panel that achieves virtually 4K decision, in contrast with a 14.2-inch show with a 3,024-by-1,964-pixel decision.
(Credit score: Apple)
Each have the identical pixel density of 254 pixels per inch, and all of their different specs are equivalent, too: as much as 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness (Apple calls this “XDR” brightness), as much as 1,000 nits of SDR brightness, and variable refresh charges as much as 120Hz. So, each display sizes present basically equal high quality, leaving the tiebreaker down as to whether you need and wish these further two inches. In case you’re answering emails and reviewing paperwork in espresso outlets and convention rooms all day, you’ll be able to in all probability persist with 14 inches, whereas video editors and different inventive professionals will admire the additional house.
Winner: Tie
Apple M4 Silicon: How A lot Processing Energy Do You Want?
Apple Silicon is very environment friendly, with favorable power-consumption-to-performance ratios. Though we have not examined it but in PC Labs, the M4 is not prone to break this development, and Apple claims to have achieved the quickest CPU cores of any processor with its M4 Professional and M4 Max chips. So, relying in your workflow, one of many M4 choices in both of the 2 MacBook Professional sizes might be greater than ample. The query is, which one?
The 14-inch mannequin offers each choice, from the 10-core entry-level M4 to the blistering 16-core M4 Max. The ten-core chip delivers greater than sufficient computing energy for on a regular basis computing duties. Therefore, it is the one you must in all probability select in case you’re within the 14-inch MacBook Professional for extra primary creation and data-crunching duties. That is except you’ll be able to reap the benefits of superior options like twin ProRes encode/decode engines or 546GBps of reminiscence bandwidth, that are solely obtainable on the M4 Max.
(Credit score: Apple)
The entry-level M4 chip shouldn’t be an choice on the 16-inch MacBook Professional, nonetheless. You’ll be able to solely configure the bigger mannequin with the M4 Professional or M4 Max. That is an unequivocal disadvantage for the tiny sliver of Mac customers who’ve minimal processing wants however can profit from the display house—spreadsheet modifying involves thoughts right here.
On the reverse finish of the spectrum, the extra cooling house that the 16-inch chassis offers may lead, theoretically, to higher efficiency from the top-of-the-line M4 Max configuration in contrast with the equivalent setup within the 14-incher. Once more, we have not examined this speculation but, however based mostly on the previous-generation MacBook Professional benchmark outcomes, we strongly anticipate this to be the case.
Nonetheless, given that the majority patrons in all probability might be served properly sufficient by the vanilla M4 chip, we want Apple bought it in each display sizes.
Winner: MacBook Professional 14-Inch
Battery Life: Both Manner, All Day & All Evening
Most high-end laptops final a very long time away from an influence outlet nowadays—normally lengthy sufficient to get by means of a whole workday, assuming you’re taking the breaks and lunch hour that you must anyway. Nevertheless, like when taking a look at iPhone fashions’ battery life, not each MacBook Professional is created equal. Apple’s estimates vary from 14 hours of internet browsing with the M4 Professional-equipped 14-inch mannequin to 24 hours of video streaming with the M4 14-incher and the M4 Professional 16-incher.
In between, battery life varies enormously relying on the configuration and your duties. The 16-inch MacBook Professional has the biggest battery, at 100 watt-hours, however the greater display consumes extra energy, in order that spec does not lend itself to an easy calculation. As with processing energy, no unbiased checks exist but to test Apple’s battery-life claims.
Nonetheless, we are able to make an early generalization if battery life is important to you: To maximise your unplugged time, go along with the M4-equipped 14-inch laptop computer or the M4 Professional-equipped 16-inch mannequin.
Winner: Tie
Storage & Reminiscence: Do You Want an 8TB SSD?
Concerning SSDs and RAM, the showdown between the 2 MacBook Professional sizes is fairly uninteresting. Each might be configured as much as a most of 128GB of reminiscence and 8TB of solid-state storage. You should not essentially configure a MacBook Professional with these maximums except you could have 8TB of stuff to retailer and know your compute workflows can reap the benefits of that astronomical reminiscence ceiling. (The 8TB improve, particularly, is painfully dear.) Most patrons would do higher to stay with the entry-level configuration, since costs climb shortly when you begin tacking on the gigabytes and terabytes. For the 14-inch MacBook Professional, that is 16GB of reminiscence and 512GB of storage, whereas it is 24GB of reminiscence and 512GB of storage for the 16-inch mannequin.
Winner: Tie
Ports: You may Be Suprised
Bigger laptops have extra room on their chassis for ports, and almost each laptop computer consumer might use extra ports than most laptop computer designers have a tendency to incorporate. The MacBook Professional does moderately properly on this entrance, with enter and output choices that modify in operate and amount. You get three USB-C ports supporting Thunderbolt speeds, an HDMI connector for video output, and an SDXC card slot. Evaluate that with the MacBook Air, which has solely two USB-C ports and no HDMI port or SD card slot.
(Credit score: René Ramos; Apple)
Essentially the most stunning level right here is that every laptop computer’s port state of affairs is equivalent, aside from the precise model of Thunderbolt aboard: The M4 14-inch MacBook Professional is Thunderbolt 4, whereas the M4 Professional and M4 Max variations of each sizes of MacBook Professional assist Thunderbolt 5. That is fantastic for individuals who want a smaller laptop computer, and whereas we might at all times like to see a producer cram extra ports right into a chassis with room to take action, it is not just like the 16-incher is missing in any significant means.
Winner: Tie
Pricing: If You Need to Ask…
The MacBook Professional shouldn’t be low-cost; the larger you go, the dearer it will get. Beginning costs are $1,599 for the 14-incher and $2,499 for the 16-incher. And if you wish to understand how a lot a tricked-out M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Professional with 8TB of storage is, it is best to look it up for your self and never faint earlier than you’ve got completed studying this story. We’re not even going to trouble declaring a winner right here, however it’s particularly painful that in case you simply need the larger 16-inch display and do not care about anything, you need to pay an extra $900 to get it.
Winner: Apple (ka-ching!)
Verdict: Completely different MacBooks for Completely different Of us
Display measurement shouldn’t be the one differentiator between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions. In case you plan to purchase one now, earlier than unbiased checks can be found, we hope this information provides you some concept of how to decide on one of the best one on your wants. However we suggest you wait till we have had an opportunity to check every mannequin in PC Labs, which gives you the professional recommendation it’s good to be assured in your determination. Verify again quickly for our full opinions of the M4 MacBook Execs.
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