With the arrival of the M4 chip on the MacBook Pro, it is time to analyze its developments compared to the MacBook Pro M3. Exactly 365 days passed between one generation and anotherand the bar was very high. How powerful are the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips? How expensive are new Macs when base RAM is increased? We completely compare them!
And with the launch of the MacBook Pro M4, Apple’s first release cycle comes to an end. We have already met the iMac M4 and the Mac Mini M4. We now add the MacBook Pro M4. For the rest of the Macs, like the MacBook Air or the Mac Studio, you will have to wait until 2025. Therefore, if you are considering changing your MacIt’s definitely a good time.
MacBook Pro M3 vs MacBook Pro M4 comparison table
|
MacBook Pro M3 |
MacBook Pro M4 |
|
|---|---|---|
|
RELEASE DATE |
October 30, 2023 |
October 30, 2024 |
|
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT in the 14-inch model |
Alto: 1.55cm Ancho: 31.26 cm Down: 22.12cm Weight: 1.55 kg (M3), 1.61 kg (M3 Pro) and 1.62 kg (M3 Max) |
Alto: 1.55cm Ancho: 31.26 cm Down: 22.12cm Weight: 1.55 kg (M4), 1.60 kg (M4 Pro) and 1.62 kg (M4 Max) |
|
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT in the 16-inch model |
Alto: 1.68cm Ancho: 35.57 cm Down: 24.81 cm Weight: 2.14 kg (M3 Pro) and 2.16 kg (M3 Max) |
Alto: 1.68cm Ancho: 35.57 cm Down: 24.81 cm Weight: 2.14 kg (M4 Pro) and 2.15 kg (M4 Max) |
|
screen |
14.2 or 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Up to 600 nits sustained in SDR 1,600 nit pico and HDR ProMotion with frequency up to 120 Hz |
14.2 or 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Up to 1,000 nits sustained in DTS 1,600 nit pico and HDR ProMotion with frequency up to 120 Hz |
|
PROCESSOR |
Apple M3 with 8-core processor Apple M3 Pro with 11 and 12 core processor Apple M3 Max with 14 or 16 core processor |
Apple M4 with 10-core processor Apple M4 Pro with 12-core processor Apple M4 Max with 14 or 16 core processor |
|
MEMORY |
M3: 8 GB / 16 GB / 24 GB M3 Pro: 18 GB / 36 GB M3 Max: 36GB/48GB/64GB/96GB/128GB |
M4: 16 GB / 24 GB / 32 GB M4 Pro: 24 GB / 48 GB / 64 GB M4 Max: 36 GB / 48 GB / 64 GB / 128 GB |
|
STORAGE |
M3: 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB M3 Pro: 512 GB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB Maximum M3: 512 GB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB |
M4: 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB M4 Pro: 512 GB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB M4 Max: 512 GB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB |
|
webcam |
1080p FaceTime Camera |
1080p FaceTime camera with center stage |
|
AUDIO |
Hi-Fi six-speaker system |
Six-speaker Hi-Fi system |
|
PORTS |
M3: Two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, HDMI port, SD card reader and 3.5mm headphone jack M3 Pro and M3 Max: Three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, HDMI port, SD card reader and 3.5mm headphone jack |
M4: Three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, HDMI port, SD card reader and 3.5mm headphone jack M4 Pro and M4 Max: Three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 5 support, HDMI port, SD card reader and 3.5mm headphone jack |
|
CONNECTIVITY |
Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth5.3 |
Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth5.3 |
|
autonomy |
Until 10 p.m. |
Up to 24 hours |
|
colors |
M3: Space Gray and Silver M3 Pro and M3 Max: Black and silver space |
M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max: Black and silver space |
|
OPERATING SYSTEM |
macOS 15 Sequoia (at launch) |
macOS 15 Sequoia (at launch) |
|
PRICE MacBook pro 14 inches |
M3: from 2,029 dollars (at launch) M3 Pro: from 2,549 dollars (at launch) Maximum M3: from 4,049 dollars (at launch) |
M4: from 1,929 dollars (at launch) M4 Pro: from 2,449 dollars (at launch) M4 Max: from 3,849 dollars (at launch) |
|
PRICE MacBook pro 16 inch |
M3 Pro: from 3,049 dollars (at launch) Maximum M3: from 4,299 dollars (at launch) |
M4 Pro: from 2,949 dollars (at launch) M4 Max: from 4,149 dollars (at launch) |
MacBook Pro M3 vs M4 design and display
The design of the MacBook Pro M4 remains the same that of the MacBook Pro M3: robust, aluminum body and anti-fingerprint finish. An essential part of this design are the ports, designed for the most professional users.
- He The M4 base MacBook Pro now has three ports USB-C Thunderbolt 4, while the M3 model only had two.
- The MacBook Pro M4 Pro and M4 Max have three Thunderbolt 5 ports, the new connection standard with twice as fast transfer speeds
The screen of these MacBook Pros retains its size: 14 inches and 16 inches. Among the most technically advanced mini-LED screens at 120 Hz. Having it on a laptop is a delight. What increases (and a lot) is the brightness of the screen. While the MacBook Pro offers 600 nits in SDR content, the MacBook Pro M4 goes up to 1,000 nits.
The novelty this year is in the new nanotextured finishwhich offers a glare-free screen. This finish is available on the MacBook Pro M4 Pro and M4 Max for 170 dollars more. As on the iMac or the iPad Pro, it is a film on the screen which allows you to pass the same amount of brightness and colors, but reflects less outside light. This is perfect for a laptop like the MacBook Pro, which sees a lot of use by professionals outside of the home or office.
The nanotextured finish is offered for 170 dollars more on the MacBook Pro M4
Just above the screen we find the FaceTime camera. Although it has the same resolution on the MacBook M4 and MacBook Pro M3, the difference lies in how it frames us. The MacBook Pro M4 has Center Stage or Centered Framing. It is an ultra wide angle camera that will reframe our image to always place us in the center of the video call, as if the camera was following us wherever we are.
The MacBook Pro M4 camera has a centered frame
If we talk about colors, last year with the MacBook Pro M3 we noticed a difference: the new Space Black finish was only available for the MacBook Pro M3 Pro and M3 Max. Now, with the MacBook Pro M4, andl Space Black is accessible to everyoneregardless of the processor chosen. Additionally, the traditional silver color is also present in all models.
The big difference between the MacBook Pro M3 and the MacBook Pro M4 is their processors
As the name suggests, the generational leap is in the chip. And the M4 chip takes to the nth degree everything that was learned during these three previous generations of Apple Silicon. The MacBook Pro M4 is available in three processor families, just like the MacBook Pro M3.
|
M3 |
M3 Pro |
M3 Max |
M4 |
M4 Pro |
M4 Max |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Manufacturing |
3 nanometers (1st generation) |
3 nanometers (1st generation) |
3 nanometers (1st generation) |
3 nanometers (2nd generation) |
3 nanometers (2nd generation) |
3 nanometers (2nd generation) |
|
Total number of CPU cores |
8 hearts |
11 or 12 cores |
16 hearts |
10 hearts |
12 hearts |
16 hearts |
|
processor core performance |
4 hearts |
6 hearts |
12 hearts |
4 hearts |
8 hearts |
12 hearts |
|
efficiency of processor cores |
4 hearts |
6 hearts |
4 hearts |
6 hearts |
4 hearts |
4 hearts |
|
GPU cores (graphics) |
10 hearts |
14 or 18 cores |
30 or 40 cores |
10 hearts |
16 or 20 cores |
32 or 40 cores |
|
Neural engine |
16 hearts |
16 hearts |
16 hearts |
16 hearts |
16 hearts |
16 hearts |
|
Bandwidth |
100 GB/s |
150 GB/s |
400 GB/s |
120 GB/s |
273 GB/s |
546 GB/s |
|
Minimum RAM memory |
8 GB |
16 GB |
36 GB |
16 GB |
24 GB |
36 GB |
As we see, the MacBook Pro M4, compared to the MacBook Pro M3, has an increase in power in all directions: for example, theThe basic RAM offered is double. In addition, this memory is faster than that of the previous generation. The graphics cores also increase, and the CPU cores distribute their division in favor of more efficient cores. Here is some data to help you understand this advancement of the MacBook Pro M4 compared to the MacBook Pro M3.
- The processors in the M4 range integrate the fastest processor core in the world.
- Hardware ray tracing is twice as fast on the M4 as on the M3.
- The bandwidth in the M4 Pro is 75% faster than M3 Pro.
- MacBook Pro M4 battery lasts two hours longer than MacBook M3
Summary of everything that changes in the MacBook Pro M3 vs MacBook Pro M4
We summarize all the new features that you will find in the MacBook Pro M4 by comparing it with the MacBook Pro M3: there is a generational leap in the processor, highlighting above all increased bandwidth speed. The base RAM is expanded to 16 GB. The screen can be configured with the nano-textured finish and the FaceTime camera has a centered framing function. To this must be added lower prices and, for many users, the advantage of not having to increase the RAM memory since it already has at least 16 GB.
Without a doubt, these MacBook Pro M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max will delight the greatest number of professionals, allowing them to work more in less time. Is upgrading from MacBook Pro M3 worth it? Maybe if you have the base model, yes, since you will have more RAM and CPU cores. In addition, when we go up to the M3 Pro and the M3 Max, the differences with the M4 become more pronounced in the graphics area and in the bandwidth, up to 75% faster. Now the final decision after knowing this comparison between MacBook Pro M4 and M3 is up to you.
In Applesfera | Good news for the MacBook Air M2 and M3: Apple doubles the base memory to 16 GB in entry models, at the same price
In Applesfera | New Mac mini M4 (2024): the design we dreamed of, powered by the advanced M4 Pro
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