Apple MacBook Pro M4
The difficult choice isn’t whether the M4 MacBook Pro is right for you, but which size and spec to choose
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PRICE 14in from £1,333 (£1,599 inc VAT); 16in from £2,083 (£2,499 inc VAT) apple.com/ukfrom
Apple’s latest MacBook Pro looks and feels a lot like the 2023 model, and it comes in the same 14in and 16in formats as before. However, it brings several upgrades – including a nano-texture screen option, the faster M4 processor and improved battery life – that make it Apple’s most compelling high-end laptop yet.
One simple but pleasing change is that you no longer have to pay extra for black. Previously, the bad-ass Space Black finish was only an option on premium MacBook Pro models with the M3 Pro or M3 Max processor, but now it’s available as an alternative to standard silver across the whole Pro range. The black chassis makes a striking statement, replete with matching black MagSafe power cord, and the coating on the lid does an okay job of resisting fingerprints. It’s just a shame the power brick is still white.
Colour aside, the MacBook Pro M4 looks identical to its predecessor, with an aluminium design that’s easy to carry, yet feels rock solid. I continue to appreciate the front lip that makes the lid easy to open, and the Touch ID button for logging in quickly – although I really wish Apple would add Face ID at this point.
Connectivity is improved over the M3 version, with the M4 offering three Thunderbolt ports compared to two previously. On models with a plain M4 chip these use Thunderbolt 4 for connection speeds up to 40Gbits/sec, while M4 Pro and M4 Max variants support the new Thunderbolt 5 standard, capable of going up to 120Gbits/sec. Whichever you choose, you also get an SD card slot, HDMI port and headphone jack; it’s pleasing to note that on all models you can now use dual external displays at the same time as the laptop display.