MacBook Pro M4 Pro, analysis: improving the invincible

The last week of October ended with the launch of three new Mac computers, one per day. The Cupertino company started with the announcement of an updated iMac with an M4 chip, continued with an updated Mac mini and ended with a new one MacBook Pro which is more powerful and autonomous and is not inferior to Apple Intelligence.

The truth is that the new features of the new MacBook Pro can be counted on the fingers of one hand. One of them, of course, is the inclusion of new M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. They come with unified memory, which now starts at 16 GB, and three ports, which now Thunderbolt 5 in the case of Pro and Max chips. The battery has also been improved and now offers a longer service life. up to 24 hours.

Its design has remained untouched, and it is clear: if something works, then it is better not to touch it. The MacBook Pro is exactly the same size and thickness and retains last year’s colors, although the intermediate gray color has been removed this time. It is also available in the same screen sizes: 14 or 16 inches, but with another important change: a new option nano-textured panel to reduce reflections.

Besides the screen, there’s one of the most noticeable changes to the new MacBook Pro: the camera. Apple opted for a 12-megapixel sensor, which now includes two features we’ve already seen in iPad cameras: Central stageand mode Top view. These are changes that promise to make Apple’s unrivaled laptop even better.

Full power

Apple has opted for three processor options to satisfy any type of user. Those students or people who do not use professional tools, but who need a computer for complex tasks or just want a laptop with an HDMI or SD card slot, can choose the M4 chip model, which is available in a version with a 10-core processor and GPU.

For more advanced specialists Chip M4 Pro This is ideal. The model we tested HypertextIt actually has this processor. Namely, with a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, as well as 48 GB of unified memory and 2 TB SSD. Although there is a slightly more “modest” version, with a 12-core CPU and a GPU with up to 14 cores. In both cases, the base RAM that Apple offers is 24GB.

MacBook Pro performance with M4 Pro is impressive. He flies and does it without any effort. In fact, the laptop’s built-in fan almost never turns on; He works less than Tarzan’s tailor. It is almost impossible for him to leave you stranded.

CPU tests conducted using GeekBench not only demonstrate this prowess, but also reflect the performance difference compared to other Apple Silicon chips from previous models. After several tests, the MacBook Pro we tested with M4 Pro was able to score 3901 on one coreAnd 22716 points on multiple cores.

This is an important difference regarding MacBook Pro with M3 Pror with a similar configuration, it scores around 2603 points in single-core and 14248 points in multi-core tests. The M4 Pro chip also has similar performance MacBook Pro with M3 Max from last year, which scored 3104 points in single-core mode and 21207 in multi-core mode.

In other tests such as Cinebenchwhere we measured GPU behavior, MacBook Pro with M4 Pro was able to achieve 9135 pointswhich puts it above the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super (6306 points) and very close to the AMD Radeon Pro W6800 (9643).

Let us remind you that the MacBook Pro can also be equipped with an M4 Max chip., which is available with a processor with up to 16 cores (12 productive and 4 efficient) and GPU up to 40 cores. This option may be ideal for professional users doing advanced video editing, data analysis, artificial intelligence development, or any other type of work that requires more power.

By the way, the M4 Pro chip, we repeat, also adds compatibility with Thunderbolt 5, which allows Transfer speed up to 120 Gbpswhich is more than double that of Thunderbolt 4.

Does this performance improvement affect the battery? The truth is, no. In fact, according to Apple, the MacBook Pro is capable of up to 16 hours of web browsing over Wi-Fi and 24 hours of video playback. In practice, it manages to get through the workday without any problems, even at maximum brightness and when performing demanding tasks.

Designed for Apple Intelligence

“Designed for Apple Intelligence.” It was with this phrase that the company presented this and the rest of the equipment it announced at the end of October. And the truth is that Apple is right. MacBook Pro M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max models feature Neural Engine, which Apple says twice as fast as the previous generationand up to 2.4 times faster in AI tasks than Intel Core Ultra 7 258V.

Currently, Apple Intelligence is only available in English in the US, although it can already be used in the European market. So all you have to do is change your device language and join the waiting list. Once Apple accepts the request, some features previously announced by the company can be used. like magically erasing photos, a new Siri or other text editing and viewing tools, such as those that can change the tone of the text to be more friendly or formal, or a summarizing function.

The truth is that current Apple Intelligence features work great. Magic Erase in photos removes elements from an image with superior accuracy, especially when there is nothing around the subject or subject. The text summary feature also does a great job, as does the option to change the tone.

New Siri, For now, it has only received a new interface and now shows a series of macOS-related tutorials in case the user doesn’t know how to edit a PDF file, for example.

Later, Apple Assistant will be able to understand the context of what’s happening on the Mac so the user can ask more related questions. Additionally, in the next version of macOS will be integrated with ChatGPTand other features are coming, such as the ability to create images using a short text description via Image PlayGround. These are features that can be really useful and can help improve productivity in many cases. The possibilities of such a powerful device as the MacBook Pro are almost limitless.

Nanotexture screen is the best thing to ever happen to the MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro, available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, has best screen I’ve ever seen on a laptop. The Liquid Retina XDR display delivers superb clarity, unparalleled contrast and perfect color reproduction. ProMotion technology, which goes from a 1Hz refresh rate when the screen doesn’t detect motion, to 120Hz, greatly improves usability. And to this is added another new feature that makes the screen of this device even better.

It’s about finishing screen with nanotexturewhich significantly reduces reflections and allows the panel’s colors to be fully displayed. Although Apple has offered it in some of its products, such as the iPad Pro or Studio Display, it has not included it in the MacBook Pro until now. And I can only wonder why they didn’t do this sooner.

Using this cover on a laptop makes special sense when you consider that this is a device that can be moved from one place to another, and that sometimes we may be working in a gentrified specialty coffee shop behind a huge window overlooking the street. , because this was the only place left free.

But the nano-textured screen has a drawback. This requires additional costs, which in the case of the MacBook Pro it is 170 euros.. Is it worth paying this extra fee? I think for those who do image and video editing, this is an ideal option.

Who is MacBook Pro with M4 Pro/M4 Max for?

The new MacBook Pro isn’t a radical upgrade over last year’s model. It refines small details of the previous version and adds some improvements that will be highly appreciated by users who need a computer for work. Now, The MacBook Pro isn’t for everyone; not only because of its price (which starts from 1929 euros), but also because it designed for a specific type of user.

MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max chip. It is ideal for those who need a powerful tool when working with resource-intensive software. There is no laptop as powerful and efficient as this MacBook Pro. Of course, if you have a previous model with an M3 Pro or M3 Max chip, it’s not worth upgrading because there is a difference in power. Last year’s Apple Silicon processors continue to work great, and will also be able to run fine any AI features the company includes through Apple Intelligence.

Apple also offers a version MacBook Pro with M4 chip which may be ideal for advanced users who perform complex programming tasks but do not require many resources, such as students or users involved in graphic design or image editing. This device has some features that the MacBook Air doesn’t have, such as an SD card slot or an improved nano-texture screen.

For other types, more casual users or those who don’t need as much power, the MacBook Air is without a doubt the ideal option. And also the most economical. And we shouldn’t forget about the new Mac mini, which also includes the M4 Pro chip at a slightly lower price. At the same time, many will even prefer to opt for this model if they need power for work, and for MacBook Air for those cases when they have to leave their workplace at home or in the office.

In any case, the MacBook Pro remains the same. best laptop on the marketwith some minor negative points that we hope Apple will fix in future versions; It would be nice to see a FaceID system or a thinner design. But at the moment there is no such team, without a doubt.