Review of the 2024 MacBook Pro with M4 Chip: Power Meets Portability
Apple has consistently pushed the boundaries of technology with each iteration of its MacBook Pro lineup. The 2024 MacBook Pro, equipped with the new M4 chip, promises remarkable performance, enhanced capabilities, and a stunning display, making it a compelling choice for both professionals and casual users alike. In this article, we’ll explore the features, performance, and overall user experience of this powerhouse laptop.
Design and Build Quality
Premium Aesthetic and Durability
The 2024 MacBook Pro retains the sleek, minimalist design Apple is known for, with a sturdy aluminum chassis that feels premium in hand. Users have noted that this laptop is both aesthetically pleasing and resilient, built to withstand the rigors of daily use. The overall weight is slightly heavier compared to the MacBook Air, but this is a reasonable trade-off for the added power and performance.
Port Configuration
With a variety of ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a MagSafe 3 charging port, the MacBook Pro provides ample connectivity options. This flexibility is particularly appreciated by creative professionals who need to connect multiple devices simultaneously.
Rating: 4.8/5
Display and Visual Experience
Liquid Retina XDR Display
The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is one of the standout features of the MacBook Pro. With a native resolution of 3024-by-1964 and an impressive peak brightness of 1600 nits, the display offers vibrant colors and remarkable contrast ratios. Users have reported an unparalleled viewing experience, making it ideal for tasks ranging from photo editing to watching HDR content.
ProMotion Technology
The inclusion of ProMotion technology allows for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, providing a smoother scrolling experience and improved responsiveness. This enhancement is particularly beneficial for users engaged in creative work or gaming, as it delivers an immersive experience.
Rating: 4.9/5
Performance
M4 Chip: Performance Powerhouse
The M4 chip, featuring a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, delivers remarkable performance for both everyday tasks and demanding applications. With hardware-accelerated ray tracing, the GPU provides impressive graphics capabilities, making it suitable for graphic design, video editing, and even gaming. Users transitioning from older Intel-based models have noted a “mind-bending” performance increase, affirming the M4 chip’s capabilities.
Apple Intelligence
The integration of Apple Intelligence enhances productivity, allowing users to interact seamlessly with the device. This feature, combined with the 16-core Neural Engine, facilitates advanced machine learning tasks, making processes like photo enhancement and personal assistant functionalities faster and more intuitive.
Rating: 4.7/5
Battery Life
All-Day Efficiency
The battery life of the 2024 MacBook Pro is one of its most praised aspects, with up to 24 hours of video playback and 16 hours of wireless web use. This remarkable efficiency means users can rely on the MacBook Pro for a full day’s work without needing to recharge, making it an excellent choice for professionals on the go.
Rating: 5/5
Audio and Camera Quality
Immersive Audio Experience
The high-fidelity six-speaker sound system coupled with Spatial Audio support creates an immersive auditory experience. Users have lauded the sound quality for both music and video playback, noting that it significantly enhances the overall experience.
Advanced Camera Features
The 12MP Center Stage camera, with support for 1080p HD video recording, ensures users are well-framed during video calls. This feature, combined with advanced image signal processing, enhances video quality, making it suitable for professional meetings and virtual interactions.
Rating: 4.6/5
User Experience
Setup and Migration
Users have reported an easy setup process, aided by the Migration Assistant, which simplifies the transition from older devices. The intuitive macOS environment ensures a smooth user experience right from the get-go.
Reliability and Integration
Apple’s ecosystem integration allows for seamless interaction with other Apple devices, such as iPhones and iPads. Features like iPhone Mirroring and text messaging from the MacBook further enhance the user experience, making it a versatile tool for those who use multiple Apple devices.
Rating: 4.8/5
Conclusion
The 2024 MacBook Pro with the M4 chip stands out as a remarkable choice for those seeking a powerful, reliable, and beautifully designed laptop. It excels in performance, display quality, and battery life, making it suitable for a wide range of users, from creative professionals to casual consumers. While some minor design aspects could be improved, such as the slightly narrower opening for the lid, the overall package is compelling.
Overall Rating: 4.9/5⭐
With the 2024 MacBook Pro, Apple continues to deliver on its promise of innovation, making it a worthy investment for anyone in need of a high-performance laptop. Whether you are editing videos, programming, or simply enjoying multimedia content, this laptop is equipped to handle it all with ease and style.
Rh2music –
Apple’s technology and reputation shine through in their products. The reliability is outstanding, with impressive battery life and sound quality. User-friendly interface and exceptional screen quality make it a top choice.
Casey McDougall –
I upgraded from a 2018 MacBook Pro, and the difference is astounding. The screen quality, battery life, and processing speed are exceptional. The touch fingerprint sensor is a fantastic addition—it’s incredibly accurate and responsive. Transferring my HD and files from my old MacBook was seamless. The only minor issue I have is that the indentation for opening the lid is narrower and has a sharper angle than the previous design, making it slightly harder to open, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. Overall, Apple has truly excelled with the M4!
Damian Andersen –
The build quality and performance meet my expectations perfectly. The 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD model I’ve chosen handles everything I throw at it effortlessly. It even runs games smoothly through a translation layer (CrossOver). While a larger SSD would be nice, the prices Apple charges for bigger models are steep, so an external drive is definitely the way to go.
Frumplegoat Kittenmitten –
This laptop is impressively fast with an exceptionally long battery life. For graphically intensive games that are compatible, the graphics performance is excellent. The display is stunning, capable of displaying twice as many pixels as it actually shows. I snagged it during a Black Friday sale for about $1400, but keep in mind that the M4 Pro 12/16 chip’s performance is comparable to or slightly below that of the previous generation M3 Max 14”. If you can find a good deal on a refurbished or open box M3 Max, it’s worth considering.
Like all M1/2/3/4 models, it features dedicated neural cores for Apple’s intelligence, allowing for a personalized Siri who listens and watches without sharing that data. You can turn off Apple Intelligence and Siri if you prefer, but after getting over the initial creepiness, I set Siri to an Irish female voice, which adds a lovely touch.
The integration with other Apple devices is fantastic; you can control your iPhone remotely from the MacBook, receive texts and messages seamlessly, and even use it for tethering. It also serves as a substitute for your webcam, although the built-in webcam is quite good. This model supports linking hearing aids and works with AirPods similarly to the iPhone. You can quickly use your living room TV as a second monitor, and if you connect via HDMI, you can enjoy full 4K at 120Hz.
macOS is a robust operating system based on Unix, offering ample customization options for everyone, from beginners to advanced users. Time Machine backups using your own external hard drives and iCloud are incredibly convenient. Safari continues to improve, but the Mac versions of Chromium and Firefox are also impressive.
Most non-gaming programs are well-supported on macOS, but if you absolutely need Windows, Parallels Desktop and VMware can run it for you. New users should pay close attention to Tips and explore the settings to learn all the trackpad gestures; once you get used to it, you won’t want to go back to any other trackpad, and you won’t miss a mouse until you decide to game.
I purchased this laptop as a gift for my wife—partly because she needed a new computer and partly because I wanted to convert her. She seems to be quite taken with it!
Jerry Fan –
This is my first M series MacBook Pro, and I opted for the M4 Pro with 16 GPU. I’m really enjoying it!
Andrew –
I purchased this for my wife, and she absolutely loves it! As a software engineer, she appreciates the impressive performance and the ample 16GB of RAM, which perfectly suits her requirements. The only drawback is its weight; I wish it had the lightweight feel of a MacBook Air while delivering the performance of a Pro.
Simon Abbott –
Home computing and writing for research has never been quicker!
Sea11Side –
While the brand has had its share of missteps in the past, the 2024 MacBook Pro M4 Pro truly sets a new standard for laptop design. Sure, I could point out some minor features to tweak, but overall, if you’re in the market for a sleek and well-crafted laptop, this is the one to choose. It’s incredibly fast and remains cool, with the fans never kicking in during my usage. The responsiveness and comfort make it a joy to use. I bought this for development work rather than gaming, so I can’t speak to its gaming performance, but for everyday business tasks and programming, it’s an absolute pleasure. Highly recommended!
Dave P. –
Great laptop! It arrived nearly ready to use and was simple to set up. The Migration Assistant made transferring all my old files a breeze. It functions just like my previous computer. I’m really pleased with my new device, and the battery life seems excellent.
Elemnt Marketing –
This is a significant improvement compared to my previous M2 standard MacBook Pro. I’m really impressed with the display, the additional RAM, and the enhanced speakers. The battery life is even better. I can’t wait to edit some amazing videos on it!
David A Wood –
I’ve been a loyal Apple user since the early 1980s, and I can confidently say that this is the best laptop I’ve ever bought from them. I upgraded from a fully loaded 2018 Intel-based Mac Mini, and the performance boost is astonishing. I’ve also used an M1 Max MacBook Pro, but this laptop outperforms it significantly. If you’re considering an upgrade, whether you’re coming from a Mac or a Windows device, this laptop is the one to get.
Will Lux –
Apple has hit the mark this year! They’ve found the ideal mix of performance, portability, and affordability. There’s something for everyone. For me, this is the ideal laptop—fantastic in every aspect.