MacBook Pro models using M4 series processors have been thoroughly tested and their performances compared. Extensive testing was conducted to help you choose the right model. From Geekbench scores to photo and video editing tests, the evaluations revealed the differences between the M4 and M4 Pro processors. Read on to find out which model is best for you.
What are the differences between the MacBook with M4 and M4 Pro processors?
The M4 and M4 Pro differ in terms of size, weight, and ports. The M4 MacBook Pro is available only as a 14-inch model, while the M4 Pro comes in both 14-inch and 16-inch versions. Both models feature a flat aluminum body and come in silver or Space Black. There are no changes to the M4 design. In terms of appearance, it is exactly the same as the M4 Pro. In terms of weight, the M4 model weighs 1.55 kg, the 14-inch M4 Pro weighs 1.6 kg, and the 16-inch M4 Pro weighs 2.1 kg.
The M4 series uses Liquid Retina XDR display technology, which hasn’t changed much since 2021. The M4 and M4 Pro displays offer a density of 254 pixels per inch. Thanks to the Mini LED backlight, a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 is provided, and the screen brightness can reach 1,000 nits for SDR content and a maximum of 1,600 nits for HDR content.
The optional nano-texture glass coating on the M4 and M4 Pro significantly reduces screen reflections. In outdoor tests, the nano-texture screen was found to be largely resistant to reflections. For those considering an upgrade from the M4 MacBook Pro, this feature is worth the $150 extra charge, although prices vary depending on where it’s sold.
As for ports, both models have three USB-C ports. However, the M4 supports Thunderbolt 4, while the M4 Pro comes with Thunderbolt 5. Thunderbolt 5 (120 Gbps) provides three times the data transfer rate of Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps). It also offers more power transfer, allowing charging over USB-C at up to 240 watts.
Finally, Apple has also upgraded the MacBook’s camera. The previously 1080p camera now has a resolution of 12MP and Center Stage technology, allowing the user to stay in the frame even when moving.
SSD speed test
The Blackmagic Disk Speed test was used to measure storage speeds. The 512GB M4 MacBook Pro reached read speeds of 2,889 MB/s and write speeds of 3,308 MB/s. On the other hand, the 2TB M4 Pro model performed much better, reaching 6,728 MB/s read and 7,490 MB/s write speeds. This is among the fastest disk speeds ever seen. In other words, the difference between the M4’s 512GB SSD and the M4 Pro’s 2TB SSD is quite large.
The main reason for this speed difference is that the M4 model has lower data transfer rates. It performs almost half as well as the M4 Pro. Apple’s use of fewer NAND chips in the 512GB model may have led to a decrease in memory bandwidth.
M4 vs M4 Pro
In the comparison of M4 and M4 Pro, M4 offers a strong performance boost for daily use. It works 1.8 times faster than M1 chip with 10-core CPU and GPU structure. M4 chip provides 120 GB/s memory bandwidth while supporting up to 32 GB combined memory. It can connect to two external displays and provides high-speed data transfer with three Thunderbolt 4 ports.
The M4 Pro is designed for those working with more intensive workloads. It promises high performance for researchers, software developers and creative professionals. Its 14-core CPU works 1.9 times faster than the M1 Pro. Its 20-core GPU reaches twice the graphics performance of the M4.
The M4 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory and delivers 273GB/s of memory bandwidth. That’s twice the bandwidth of the M4 and far more performance than most AI-enabled PC chips. It also supports Thunderbolt 5, delivering 120GB/s of data transfer speed, making it easier to process large files. Overall, the M4 Pro chip delivers high performance and efficiency for complex workflows.
CPU test results
Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024 were used to test CPU performance, comparing the top-tier 14-core CPU model of the M4 Pro to the base 10-core M4 MacBook Pro model.
In the Geekbench 6 test, the M4 Pro performed better than the M4 in daily tasks. It was 8 percent faster than the M4 in single-core performance, scoring 3,966. The M4 fell behind with 3,816 points. The difference was more noticeable in the multi-core test. The M4 Pro scored 22,605 points, offering 51 percent higher performance than the M4’s 14,980 points.
In a 10-minute long-term load test in Cinebench 2024, the M4 Pro was 4 percent faster than the M4 on a single-core basis (178 vs. 171). However, the difference increases dramatically in the multi-core test, with the M4 Pro outperforming the M4 by 74 percent (1,743 vs. 1,002). In the benchmark tests, the M4 Pro delivered a clear speed boost over the M4. This performance increase is due to the M4 Pro having more high-performance cores.
The new power modes offered by the M4 Pro also contribute significantly to performance. There are three different power modes: low power, automatic and high power. Low power mode reduces the processor’s consumption to 10 watts, providing energy efficiency for light tasks. High power mode increases the system to almost 50 watts, providing maximum performance for heavy workloads such as graphic design and video editing.
While the M4 MacBook Pro generally delivers strong performance, there are some limitations to the cooling system. In Cinebench tests, the fan noise increased significantly when the 14-inch M4 model was running at full load. The fans kick in more frequently because the cooling area is limited due to the small case structure.
In contrast, the 16-inch M4 Pro is more powerful but quieter. Thanks to its larger chassis and dual-fan design, it can dissipate heat more efficiently, eliminating the need for increased fan speed. However, the 14-inch M4 Pro model consumes more power and generates more heat because it has extra performance cores. This causes fan noise to become more noticeable.
For everyday use, the M4 remains a strong choice, but for processing-intensive tasks, the M4 Pro offers significantly better performance.
GPU test results
When it comes to GPU performance, the M4 and M4 Pro offer different levels of graphics power. The M4 MacBook Pro comes with a 10-core GPU, providing enough performance for basic graphics workloads, but for those who need more power, the M4 Pro doubles the graphics performance with a 20-core GPU option.
The M4 Pro stands out as a better option for professional applications, graphics-intensive workflows, and games. It can easily handle tasks such as high-resolution video editing or playing the latest games. While the M4 offers sufficient performance for everyday use, the M4 Pro has a clear advantage in graphics-intensive tasks.
When it comes to GPU performance, the M4 Pro is clearly ahead. In the Geekbench 6 Metal tests, the M4 scored 58,049 points, while the M4 Pro delivered almost twice the performance with a full 113,590 points. The Cinebench 2024 results show a similar picture. While the M4 scored 3,978 points, the M4 Pro reached 9,272 points. This means more than a two-fold increase in GPU performance. The M4 Pro is a much better option for users who need strong graphics performance.
Game performance
In the gaming tests, three different games were run at the highest graphics settings at 1920 x 1200 resolution. The results showed that the M4 Pro had a significant advantage over the M4 in gaming performance. Thanks to its more powerful GPU, the M4 Pro almost doubled the frame rates, especially in graphically intensive games.
In the Borderlands 3 test, the M4 Pro achieved 42 fps, while the M4 could only reach 23 fps. The difference was even greater in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, where the M4 Pro reached 81 fps, while the M4 remained at just 38 fps. Even in Civilization VI, which requires less graphics power, the M4 Pro achieved 98 fps, outperforming the M4’s 53 fps performance.
For those looking for smoother gameplay and higher frame rates, the M4 Pro is a significantly better option, but both models fall short of top-tier gaming PCs.
AI performance
The M4 and M4 Pro share the same 16-core Neural Engine design, but there are some differences in performance. The M4 series features Apple’s fastest Neural Engine to date. This processing unit can perform 38 trillion operations per second, delivering the highest performance of any AI-powered computer by far. It’s three times faster than the M1 chip, providing a big performance boost.
This high speed makes the M4 and M4 Pro extremely powerful for AI tasks, from machine learning to Apple’s on-device AI features. Image scaling and video captioning are made faster and more efficient thanks to the Neural Engine.
Geekbench AI tests showed the M4 Pro had a slight advantage over the M4 in the Core ML Neural Engine Framework. The M4 Pro scored slightly higher in single and half-precision computations and quantized performance. While both models are generally strong for AI workloads, the M4 Pro is slightly ahead in terms of raw processing power.
Real world performance
To test real-world usage scenarios, we first ran Xcode Benchmark. This test measures the compilation time of a large codebase, revealing the performance difference for developers. The M4 Pro stood out by compiling a large codebase with Xcode 16 in just 97 seconds. The M4 model completed the same process in 141 seconds. The 44-second difference shows that the M4 Pro is 31 percent faster than the M4. The M4 Pro is a better option for those who want to speed up their software development process.
The Logic Pro X test for music production measures the maximum number of tracks that can be run without the system being overloaded. While the M4 Pro ran 286 tracks without any problems, the M4 only reached its limit at 144 tracks. Since Logic Pro relies heavily on CPU power, the M4 Pro’s extra cores and higher processing capacity make for smoother project management. For producers working on large projects with many tracks, the M4 Pro offers a distinct advantage. It speeds up the workflow with smoother performance and less slowdown.
Speedometer 3.0 test for web browser performance was conducted via Safari. The M4 model performed 46 operations per minute, while the M4 Pro gave a very close result with 45 operations. Although the difference is insignificant, both models offer a fast and fluid browsing experience. Switching between tabs, scrolling pages, and intensive internet use are all seamless on both devices.
Blender 3D rendering performance
Moving on to the Blender tests, it is seen that the M4 Pro makes a significant difference in terms of performance. In the Blender Benchmark test, the M4 model scored 1,074 points, while the M4 Pro reached 2,546 points. This shows that the M4 Pro is more than twice as fast as the M4. In the tests conducted in Blender 4.2, the Classroom scene render time performed using the CPU was measured. While the M4 completed this process in 6 minutes and 34 seconds, the M4 Pro processed the same scene in 4 minutes and 3 seconds, working 2 minutes and 31 seconds faster.
A similar difference was found in the tests conducted with the GPU. While the M4 model rendered the scene in 1 minute and 5 seconds, the M4 Pro completed it in just 32 seconds. This means a time saving of 33 seconds. Overall, the M4 Pro is clearly ahead in Blender performance. It speeds up 3D modeling and animation processes by offering faster render times and more processing power. The M4 Pro offers a clear advantage for those who work extensively with Blender.
Video conversion
Video conversion is one of the areas where the M4 Pro’s power is most evident. The extra processing power allows for faster processing of high-resolution videos. Video encoding and decoding are accelerated by the CPU and media engine, making them more efficient.
In the Handbrake test, the M4 Pro completed the process of converting a 4K video to 1080p resolution in 2 minutes and 48 seconds. The M4 model performed the same task in 4 minutes and 36 seconds, which is 1 minute and 48 seconds slower than the M4 Pro. For those who want faster video processing and more efficient media editing, the M4 Pro offers a significant performance difference.
Photo editing
In photo editing tests, the M4 Pro is again noticeably faster than the M4. Using Lightroom Classic, we measured the export time of 100 RAW photos. The M4 model completed this process in 1 minute and 55 seconds, while the M4 Pro completed it in 1 minute and 5 seconds.
This translates into a time saving of 50 seconds. For photographers working with large photo files or performing complex editing, the M4 Pro offers a significant advantage by speeding up the workflow. Faster processing power saves valuable time on large projects.
Video editing
In video editing tests, the M4 Pro is slightly faster than the M4. However, the difference is not huge. A 15-minute video was exported in 4K ProRes format using Final Cut Pro. The M4 model completed the process in 8 minutes and 5 seconds, while the M4 Pro completed it in 7 minutes and 45 seconds. The 20-second difference does not make a big difference in overall performance.
The M4 and M4 Pro share the same media engine, so video export times are almost identical. The M4 Pro is a bit faster, but it doesn’t offer a significant advantage for those looking for a big speed difference in their video editing.
Battery life
The M4 and M4 Pro stand out with their long battery life, and both models can easily last a full day of work. The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro has a 72.4 Wh battery, while the 16-inch M4 Pro offers longer use with its 100 Wh capacity.
Apple says the M4 offers 24 hours of video playback and 16 hours of web browsing. But in real-world testing, it’s proven to last even longer than Apple’s official figures. The M4 lasted 18 hours and 20 minutes in a continuous web browsing test at 150 nits brightness. The M4 Pro did even better at 20 hours and 35 minutes.
Apple has made optimizations that will allow the M4 Pro to last longer on a single charge. If long battery life is a priority, the M4 Pro is a strong alternative.
Prices
The 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 model is offered for sale with a price of $1,599. This model comes with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage. With the 1 TB SSD upgrade, the price goes up to $1,799. With the optional $150 nano-texture display, the price goes up to $1,949.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro model with the M4 Pro chip comes with a starting price of $1,999. It offers a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24 GB of memory and 512 GB of storage. The model tested was the 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro configuration. It included a 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48 GB of memory and 2 TB of storage. In addition, the total price reached $3,649 with the nano-texture screen option.
Apple’s memory and storage upgrade prices are also quite high. Going from 16GB to 24GB costs $200, while going from 24GB to 32GB costs an additional $200. Going from 512GB to 1TB of storage costs $200, and going to 2TB costs an additional $600.
M4 vs M4 Pro: Which one to buy?
The most important factor when deciding between the M4 and M4 Pro should be the intended use.
The M4 MacBook Pro, which is offered with a starting price of $1,599, is a powerful option for general use. It is also ideal for students, light users and software developers who need high performance but do not want to pay extra costs. It offers support for two external displays and has three USB-C ports. However, the single-fan cooling system can cause the device to heat up more and the fan noise to increase under heavy use. While it offers balanced performance for most users, it is more than enough for those who do not need an extremely powerful system.
On the other hand, the M4 Pro is more suitable for users who work with heavy workloads. Thanks to its dual-fan cooling system, it works cooler during long-term high-performance operations. With its more powerful processor and graphics unit, it provides a serious advantage in demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D modeling or software development. For users looking for a good balance between speed and efficiency, the M4 Pro is a more powerful alternative.
