As of November 2024 , Apple sells two MacBook Pro models : a 14 - in model with either the M4 , M4 Pro , or M4 Max , and a 16 - inch model with either the M4 Pro or M4 Max . The company used to deal a 13 - column inch MacBook Pro but this model was discontinued .
The M4 chip in the 14 - in MacBook offers enough power for most users , but the M4 Pro and M4 Max processor are superscript and rather incredible . However , the MacBook Pro is more than just a killer central processor . It ’s full of smashing features like a ProMotion HDR video display , HDMI output and MagSafe . If you ’re have trouble deciding which one to get , here ’s how they compare .
For more advice about select the Mac laptop for you read : MacBook buying guide : Which Mac laptop computer is best?andMacBook Pro vs MacBook Air .
The M4 chip family starts with the base M4.
14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Specs compared
We ’ll discourse some of the more salient differences point - by - point , but first here are all the most important specs at a glimpse .
14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Price
The first matter you ’ll note is the toll difference between the 14 - in MacBook Pro with M4 and the 14 - inch and 16 - inch fashion model with M4 Pro . You have to pay an extra $ 400/£400 , but that price does include more than a CPU upgrade – you get more GPU cores , and more memory . The M4 Pro MacBook Pro models also offer more retention customization option – the M4 Pro has a maximal bound of 48 GB , while the M4 ’s limit is 32 GB .
The price break between the M4 Pro and Max laptops is like . For example , the high - end 14 - inch M4 Pro poser is $ 2,399 , and to upgrade that to an M4 Max adds $ 600/£600 . The start price for a 16 - column inch M3 Max MacBook Pro is $ 3,499/£3,499 , which is $ 300/£300 more than the top - end 14 - inch M4 Max MacBook Pro standard configuration .
To summarize , the M4 Pro models are more expensive than the M4 models , but they ’re more capable because they have more CPU and GPU core and can have more memory . Upgrading from M4 Pro to M4 Max is a skillful cost / performance deal – so much so that you might forgo an M4 Pro wholly and go with the M4 Max .
14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 (2024)
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)
14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro/M4 Max (2024)
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024)
Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024)
16-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro/M4 Max (2024)
Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024)
Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024)
14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Performance
The new M4 has an 10 - core mainframe ( 4 performance , 6 efficiency cores ) and allot to Apple , is 3.4 clip faster than the M1 .
For more money , you may step up from the M4 to an 12 - core M4 Pro chip , which offer up a 52 per centum increase , or to a 14 - core M4 Pro . However , because of the Pro ’s substance form , it might be a better investment to tread up to a 14 - core M4 Max .
The M4 chip phratry starts with the basis M4 .
The M4 chip family starts with the base M4.
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The 14 - inch MacBook Pro is uncommitted with the M4 , M4 Pro , or M4 Max chips ; the 16 - in MacBook Pro come with either a M4 Pro or M4 Max chip . The M4 Pro and Max are available with dissimilar CPU and GPU core options , and they also have more computer memory constellation available .
14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Display quality and screen size
The 14 and 16 - in MacBook Pro have mini - pass displays with slim bezels . Screen size are actually 14.2 inch and 16.2 inch measured diagonally .
The screens provide skillful muscularity efficiency , contrast , and brightness . The brightness with SDR subject has been boosted from 500 to 600 nit compare to the other 2023 14- and 16 - inch models . With HDR contentedness the young displays can go up to 1,000 nit keep and 1,600 nits peak . That ’s unbelievable HDR performance that crush about any other laptop display on the market .
ProMotion , when it arrived with the 2021 MacBook Pro models was a biz - changer , bringing 120Hz high refresh rates to the MacBook Pro , while also allowing for active variable refresh charge per unit down to 24Hz , which is not only with child for movie - watching , it ’s a big benefit to battery life .
14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Speakers, mics, and headphones
The 14- and 16 - in MacBook Pro have a six - loudspeaker sound scheme that promises high fidelity in addition to documentation for Spatial Audio . All the MacBook Pros have a beamforming three - mic regalia , but the 14 - inch and 16 - in models have improved sensitiveness and a lower interference floor , so recordings should voice well .
There ’s a headphone jack on all the MacBook Pros , and it confirm high - impedance headphones . That ’s great for studio apartment headphones , which need more mogul to drive them .
The 2023 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro ’s HDMI port supports multichannel audio output .
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14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Webcam (and the notch)
The MacBook Pros have a 12MP Canter point webcam with Desk View support . That ’s an upgrade from the 1080p tv camera used in the previous MacBook Pro role model .
The webcam is house in a middling significant - sized notch at the top of the exhibit , which first made an visual aspect on the 2021 MacBook Pro models . Despite looking very much like that on the iPhone , it’snota TrueDepth sensor . There ’s no Face ID or Animoji or anything like that . The mountain pass does n’t really cut into the principal showing domain , though . The areabeneaththe pass is a 16×10 showing , just like all prior MacBooks . The show area on either side of the notch extends up from there , addingscreen area on top of the 16×10 rectangle . The menu bar is located in that area , in effect dedicate you more perpendicular space for all your apps . Developers can prefer to use that supererogatory screen space if they desire to .
14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Connectivity and expansion
Years ago , Apple got rid of our dear MagSafe charging connective , opt alternatively to take up one of the few Thunderbolt ports for charging . And they got free of the South Dakota card time slot and HDMI embrasure , too .
When Apple updated the 14- and 16 - inch MacBook Pro models in 2021 , Apple gave us one extra Thunderbolt interface , and it play back the HDMI port , SDXC bill slot , and MagSafe connector . moderately bewilderingly , the troupe also usesMagSafeas the brand for the iPhone ’s magnetic charging and supplement attachment technology , which is sort of a different thing but also involves charismatic charging .
In the M4 MacBook Pro , Apple now offers three Thunderbolt / USB - C ports ; the M3 theoretical account it repalces had only two ports . The M4 MacBook Pro ’s ports use the Thunderbolt 4 specificaion , while the M4 Pro and Max laptops use Thunderbolt 5 , which offers more bandwidth and fast carrying out . Most users wo n’t find the remainder between Thunderbolt 4 and 5 unless they are using Thunderbolt 5 devices and are performaning very bombastic data transfers . Thunderbolt 5 also endure high wattages for blame and running equipment .
The M4 chip family starts with the base M4.
14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Touch Bar
The 13 - inch MacBook Pro had a Touch Bar . Apple dumped that laptop with the introduction of the M3 series in the 14- and 16 - inch MacBook Pro , which also think that it dumped the Touch Bar totally . The 14- and 16 - in MacBook Pro does n’t have a Touch Bar , they have a full - height row of Function keys with a Touch ID sensor at the right hand . Both system of rules have a Touch ID button in the upper rightfulness of the keyboard like the iMac ’s Magic Keyboard with Touch ID .
14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Pro: Battery life
The 14- and 16 - inch MacBook Pros have really splendid barrage fire life specs . The 72.4Wh battery in the 14 - inch M4 model will keep it going for 16 60 minutes ; the same battery in the 14 - inch M4 Pro and Max laptops will last about 13 to 14 hours . The 16 - column inch model gets 21 to 24 hour of television playback out of its 100Wh electric battery .
The M4 and M4 Pro 14 - column inch MacBook Pro come with a 70W mogul adapter , and both also offer up an choice for a 96W adapter . The 96W model is necessary for fast charging and comes standard with some configurations , otherwise , it ’s a $ 20 acclivity . The 16 - in model comes with a 140W power adaptor in all configurations .
Verdict
The 14 - inch or 16 - column inch MacBook Pro is the infrangible pinnacle of the portable Mac . We recommend arrest as much random-access memory and computer storage as you’re able to afford . The sweet spot for most people will be the 12 - core CPU/16 - center GPU M4 Pro with 24 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage , but we ’re confident that you ’ll be felicitous with any of the shape Apple offers .
If you ’re look for a 13 - inch M3 MacBook Pro , you wo n’t find it . Apple replaced it with the 14 - inch MacBook Pro , which has a different purpose , no Touch Bar , a good display , and a higher cost . Overall , the M4 MacBook Pro is a better laptop computer , but if you love the Touch Bar , you either have to accept the novel keyboard , lodge with your Touch Bar laptop , orfind a 13 - inch M2 MacBook Profrom a third - political party seller orApple ’s demonstrate Refurbished Store . instead , the 13 - inch MacBook Pro might be the good option for you , see our comparison of theMacBook Pro vs MacBook Air .
If you are on a budget and the 14 - in M4 MacBook Pro looks attractive , you wo n’t be disappoint . It ’s a much expert deal than the M3 MAcBook Pro it replace .
For more purchasing advice read ourBest Mac templet . For buying advice on thebest Windows laptop , see our baby site PCWorld .
The Touch Bar is gone, and in its place a row of full-size Function keys.
