# The M4 MacBook Pro: A Noteworthy Upgrade
Last October, Apple unveiled the M4 MacBook Pro, which at first glance seems to be merely another specification enhancement within the MacBook Pro series. Nevertheless, several crucial features render it a compelling choice for individuals contemplating an upgrade, even if they already possess an older 14″ MacBook Pro.
## Why M4?
Recently, there has been a notable change in MacBook Pro pricing. In the past year, Apple launched a new entry-level MacBook Pro priced at $1599 equipped with the standard M3 chip. Furthermore, the base memory has been boosted to 16GB, addressing some of the principal trade-offs linked to the M4.
Consequently, you can now purchase a MacBook Pro with 512GB of storage and 16GB of memory for $1599 directly from Apple, a price that previously began at $1999. Although this model does not incorporate the Pro chip, the benefits it provides may exceed this limitation.
## Significantly Better Battery Life
One of the most noteworthy advancements with the M4 MacBook Pro is its battery longevity. The baseline Apple Silicon is markedly more energy-efficient. According to Apple, the M1 Pro 14″ MacBook Pro can support up to 11 hours of web surfing on a single charge, whereas the M4 can reach up to 16 hours—a nearly 50% enhancement.
Users have reported experiencing almost double the battery duration, primarily due to diminished power consumption from background applications. The M1 Pro has only two efficiency cores, whereas the M4 has six, enabling much lower energy use during idle tasks. This substantial improvement in battery life is remarkable, making it less typical to charge the MacBook Pro throughout the day.
## Enhancements to the Screen
All 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro models feature miniLED displays, but the M4 brings significant enhancements in standard brightness. Older models, including the M1 Pro and M2 Pro, provided a maximum of 500 nits of standard brightness, while the M3 raised it to 600 nits. The M4 MacBook Pro now shines with up to 1000 nits of standard brightness, greatly enhancing visibility in outdoor settings.
While third-party applications like Vivid could enable additional brightness on older models, having a higher native level of standard brightness significantly improves the overall user experience, making the M4 feel more akin to the M4 iPad Pro, which also offers 1000 nits of standard brightness.
## Upgraded Webcam
The M4 version presents a major enhancement to the webcam, now equipped with a 12MP Center Stage camera. This ultra-wide camera provides a broader field of view and includes face tracking features, making it ideal for video conferencing. The enhanced resolution and capabilities make the MacBook Pro a more practical choice for FaceTime, a feature previously limited to the iPad.
## Performance
Transitioning from an M1 Pro chip to an M4 chip might appear to be a performance downgrade, particularly for tasks that heavily depend on GPU power. However, for most users, the M4 delivers an overall performance improvement because of three years of advancements that have narrowed the divide between basic and pro chips.
In Geekbench 6, the M1 Pro achieves around 2386 in single-core performance and 12344 in multi-core performance, while the M4 records approximately 3750 in single-core and 14704 in multi-core performance. This represents a 57% rise in single-core performance and a 19% increase in multi-core performance, all while utilizing less power. The M4 also showcases a substantial enhancement in neural engine performance, which may prove beneficial as Apple continues to focus on AI technologies.
## Conclusion
While upgrading between two MacBooks of the same design generation might seem dull, the disparities between the M1 Pro and M4 MacBook Pro are considerable. With varying tariff regulations and possible price increases from Apple, postponing future purchases may not be wise. The current offers on the M4 MacBook Pro are attractive, and the expected M5 MacBook Pro is unlikely to present a substantial upgrade.
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