1 min readAs expected, Apple today refreshed the MacBook Pro family with its latest M4 chipsets.
The most interesting device in the family is the new entry-level model: the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4.
Key upgrades make it feel a little more pro, despite not featuring the M4 Pro or M4 Max chipset. To start, it now has 16GB of RAM as a baseline, rather than 8GB, and 512GB of storage instead of 256GB.
It supports up to two external displays, with the laptop open. On last year's model, you could only power one monitor unless you had the lid closed.
Lastly, there's also an extra USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port, taking the total to three. You'll also find a HDMI port, SD card reader, and MagSafe charging connector. Apple says the MacBook Pro with M4 lasts up to 24 hours.
Some other changes have been applied across the entire MacBook Pro with M4 family, including an improved 12MP webcam, a brighter display, and the option to upgrade to glare-reducing nano-texture glass.
Despite the increased storage and RAM, the MacBook Pro with M4 starts at $2,499. That's $200 less than last year's entry-level model.
When it comes to the M4 Pro and M4 Max variants, performance and pricing both increase.
Apple says the M4 Pro chipset is up to three faster than the M1 Pro, while the M1 Max is up to 3.5 times faster than the M1 Max. The laptops also feature Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports, which enable transfer speeds of up to 120Gbps.
M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models are still available in a choice of 14-inch or 16-inch. You'll pay a minimum of $3,299 for a M4 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, or $4,999 for a M4 Max model. Opting for 16-inch takes pricing to $3,999 for M4 Pro or $5,699 for M4 Max. Prices for these models are between $200 and $300 cheaper than last year's equivalents.
Every new MacBook Pro is available to pre-order from today, ahead of a November 8 release date.
As part of today's announcement, Apple also increased the starting RAM on the MacBook Air with M2 and MacBook Air with M3 to 16GB. Pricing hasn't changed.
Today's news follows a Mac mini and iMac refresh earlier in the week.
