Differences between M4 and M3 MacBook Pro models: a comparison
The latest addition to Apple's MacBook Pro lineup, the M4 MacBook Pro, has been unveiled, boasting impressive improvements in performance, battery life, and design over its predecessor, the M3 MacBook Pro.
Performance-wise, the M4 generation offers roughly 10-20% better performance compared to the M3 generation across the board. The baseline M4 chip features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, which, although less powerful than the M4 Pro and M4 Max variants found in MacBook Pro models, still delivers a noticeable boost in efficiency and speed. The M4 Pro and M4 Max chips provide significant performance boosts, with up to 14-16 CPU cores and up to 40 GPU cores, far surpassing the M3 and M4 baseline chips.
In terms of battery life, the M4 MacBook Pro models have been noted for their excellent battery efficiency and longer battery life, particularly in the base M4 configurations prioritizing efficiency over raw performance. The MacBook Pro 14 with the M4 chip features a larger battery capacity, positively impacting endurance.
Design-wise, the overall design of the MacBook Pro has remained quite similar in the M4 generation compared to M3, with only refinements rather than complete redesigns. The M4 MacBook Pro maintains features such as thinner bezels and high screen brightness (up to 1000 nits), while the baseline M4 models can have a slightly lower screen refresh rate than some Pro and Max variants. Improvements like higher screen refresh rates (up to 120 Hz) and better port availability (more USB-C ports) are present in higher-end M4 MacBook Pro models.
The M4 MacBook Pro, released in 2024, starts at a price of $1,599. The key differences between the M4 and M3 MacBook Pro are summarised in the table below:
| Aspect | M3 MacBook Pro | M4 MacBook Pro | |-------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------| | **Performance** | Previous gen CPU/GPU with lower efficiency and speed | 10-20% faster CPU/GPU; M4 Pro/Max offer up to 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores | | **Battery Life** | Good, but less optimized | Improved efficiency, longer battery life, larger battery in some models | | **Design** | Similar to M4 generation | Mostly similar design; slight refinements like thinner bezels, higher refresh rates, more ports in Pro/Max models |
The decision between the M3 and M4 MacBook Pro depends on the importance of factors like battery life, nano-texture display, and additional Thunderbolt 4 port for individual needs. When rendering complex scenes via Blender, the M4 chip is reportedly 3.4 times faster. The physical dimensions of the new M4 MacBook Pro are identical to the M3 model. Apple claims that the M4 chip is 1.8 times faster than the M1 chip for tasks like "editing gigapixel photos."
The M4 MacBook Pro display has a peak SDR brightness of 1,000 nits, compared to 600 nits on the M3 MacBook Pro. The base model of the M4 MacBook Pro comes with 16GB RAM, compared to 8GB RAM in the M3 MacBook Pro. The M4 MacBook Pro is rated for 24 hours of battery life, though this figure has not been verified yet.
The M4 MacBook Pro is available in Space Black in addition to silver, while the M3 model is only available in silver. The M4 MacBook Pro has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, compared to two on the M3 MacBook Pro, providing more flexibility with external displays. The M4 MacBook Pro, like the M3 MacBook Pro, still has a notch that does not include Face ID. Storage options for both M3 and M4 MacBook Pro models have not changed from last year to this year.
The nano-texture display option, designed to reduce glare, is also available on the iPad Pro, Pro Display XDR, Studio Display, and iMac. The M4 MacBook Pro is rated for 24 hours of battery life, although this figure has not been verified yet.
- The M4 MacBook Pro's baseline chip, despite having fewer cores than the Pro and Max variants, still provides a noticeable boost in efficiency and speed compared to the M3 generation's tech.
- The MacBook Pro 14, equipped with the M4 chip, features a larger battery capacity, thus enhancing its endurance.
- In addition to design refinements like thinner bezels, higher screen brightness, and better port availability, the M4 MacBook Pro is available in Space Black, an option unavailable for the M3 model.
