The M4 Professional boasts unparalleled performance, marking a significant leap forward from its predecessor, the M1 Professional. As the passage of three years unfolds, what changes does one see on their work surface?
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, three years can feel like an eternity. The concern extends to when customers start seeking prospective replacements and upgrades for their existing hardware.
With the professional user in mind, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro chip is now a viable upgrade for owners of the M1 Pro model.
After three years, significant advancements should render a move to the M4 Pro model a compelling upgrade option for current 14-inch MacBook Pro users.
This breakdown examines the options that have been modified – and those that haven’t – over the past three years.
Which laptop is right for you? Here’s a detailed comparison of the M4 Professional and M1 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pros:
**Processors**
* M4 Professional: Apple M4 chip with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU
* M1 Professional: Apple M1 Pro chip with 8-core CPU, 16-core GPU
**Memory**
* M4 Professional: 16GB RAM (expandable to 32GB)
* M1 Professional: 16GB RAM (expandable to 64GB)
**Storage**
* M4 Professional: Up to 2TB SSD
* M1 Professional: Up to 8TB SSD
| Specs | Apple M4 Professional MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2024) | Apple M1 Professional MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021): |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Beginning Value | $1,999 | $1,999 |
| Dimensions (inches) | 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 | 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 |
| Weight (kilos) | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Show | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, Broad Shade (P3) True Tone ProMotion, Nano-texture (elective) | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, Broad Shade (P3) True Tone ProMotion |
| Decision | 3,024 x 1,964 | 3,024 x 1,964 |
| Brightness | 1,000 nits sustained fullscreen, 1,600 nits peak HDR, 600 nits SDR | 1,000 nits sustained fullscreen, 1,600 nits peak HDR, 500 nits SDR |
| Processor | The new Apple M4 Professional chips – a powerhouse in your hands. Two versions to suit your needs: the Apple M4 Professional 10-core and the Apple M4 Professional 12-core. | Apple M1 Professional 8-core, Apple M1 Professional 10-core |
| Graphics | 10-core GPU 16-core GPU | 14-core GPU, 16-core GPU |
| Reminiscence | 24GB 48GB | 16GB, 32GB |
| Storage | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB |
| Battery | 72.4Wh lithium-polymer | 70Wh lithium-polymer |
| Networking | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Contact ID | Sure | Sure |
| Digital camera | 12MP high-resolution Middle Stage camera captures stunning visuals with Desk View’s intuitive interface. | 1080p FaceTime HD |
| Audio | Six-speaker sound system, Power-cancelling woofers, A three-mic array with advanced directional beamforming capabilities, boasting an impressive signal-to-noise ratio that minimizes unwanted interference. Audio output with high-impedance headphone compatibility. What Dolby Atmos does for Spatial Audio is enhance its three-dimensional sonic landscape. | Six-speaker sound system, Power-cancelling woofers, With a three-mic array incorporating advanced directional beamforming technology and an impressively high signal-to-noise ratio, High-fidelity audio experience ensured: High-impedance headphones compatible. Does Dolby Atmos effectively enhance Spatial Audio capabilities? |
| Ports | Three Thunderbolt 5 ports, SDXC Card Slot HDMI 3.5mm headphone, MagSafe 3 | Three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, SDXC Card Slot HDMI 3.5mm headphone, MagSafe 3 |
The main design differences between the M4 and M1 versions of the 14-inch MacBook Pro are subtle yet noticeable. The M4 model has a slightly smaller notch at the top of the screen, measuring 102.8mm compared to the M1’s 103.5mm.
The M4 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pro is largely a spec-upgrade replacement for many users. While there are numerous subtle enhancements on the inside, the exterior remains largely unchanged, with one notable exception standing out.
The professional 14-inch MacBook Pro measures 12.31 inches in length, 8.71 inches in height, and 0.61 inches in thickness. The aluminum wallet is a highly recognizable and prominent player in the pocket book market.
Functionally speaking, the M4 version is analogous to its predecessors in terms of measurement and weight. Each generation’s weight comes in at approximately 3.5 kilograms per unit.
When considering colouration, the exception kicks in. The M4 era now introduces a new option: House Black, in addition to the previously available House Gray or Silver.
Which Apple Silicon processor reigns supreme?
While identical on the surface, we can expect only minor upgrades in display capabilities between the M1 Professional and M4 Professional iterations.
You’ll get a stunning 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display boasting a resolution of 3,024 x 1,964 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 254 pixels per inch. The mini LED backlighting provides an unparalleled distinction ratio of one million to one.
The M4 Professional boasts an impressive 1,000 nits of peak brightness for outdoor viewing of standard dynamic range (SDR) content, and a remarkable 1,000 nits of sustained “XDR” brilliance for immersive full-screen high-dynamic-range (HDR) visuals. The display can reach a peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits when processing High Dynamic Range (HDR) content.
The M1 Pro model is comparable in some aspects, but stands out by offering up to 500 nits of brightness for SDR content. XDR brightnesses are the identical.
The entire show features broad-spectrum coloration (P3) support, True Tone technology, and ProMotion adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. What smartphones feature cameras that are easily accessible thanks to their notched design?
When handling exterior displays, the M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro can efficiently manage two external 6K, 60Hz displays simultaneously. The M4 Pro can output identical, external 6K at 60Hz, or 4K at 144Hz to an HDMI display.
The M4 Professional offers a single external display option: an 8K resolution at 60Hz, or a 4K resolution at 240Hz, both available via HDMI.
Introducing a cutting-edge innovation in our 2024 lineup: an optional Nano-texture therapy experience for our esteemed clients. This innovative etching technology effectively minimizes glare from nearby light sources, drawing inspiration from its predecessors, but unfortunately remains exclusive to the M1 Pro range.
Which laptop to choose when considering both M4 Professional and M1 Professional options?
The M1 Professional was available in a dual-variant configuration. The base model boasted an 8-core processor, comprising six high-performance efficiency cores and two power-efficient effectiveness cores, complemented by a robust 14-core graphics processing unit. Two variants are available for deployment, each compatible with either 10-core central processing units (CPUs) or configurations featuring 14-core or 16-core graphics processing units (GPUs).
The A14 Bionic chip’s architecture boasted a 16-core Neural Engine, alongside a dedicated Media Engine designed to accelerate hardware-based video processing and decoding capabilities.
Upon arrival at nostalgia, the options presented were either 16GB or 32GB of unified memory, boasting a memory bandwidth of 200GB/s.
The M4 Professional camera comes in two distinct variations. The processor features a 12-core design, comprising eight high-efficiency cores and four performance-focused cores, while the graphics processing unit boasts 16 cores.
The enhanced device boasts a powerful 14-core processor, comprising ten high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores, alongside a robust 20-core graphics processing unit.
Equipped with two powerful processing units: a 16-core Neural Engine and a robust Media Engine.
The M4 Professional offers limited reminiscence options, starting at 24GB of unified memory and upgrading to 48GB. With advancements in technology, reminiscence bandwidth has been significantly increased, reaching impressive speeds of up to 273 gigabytes per second.
Which Laptop Is Best For You? The battle between the M4 and M1 MacBook Pros has been raging on for some time now. But, in a world where speed is everything, which one takes the cake?
The M4 Professional, with its Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and Radeon Pro 560X graphics, packs quite the punch.
Without a verified benchmarking method available, we must rely solely on Apple’s claims about the M4 Professional’s performance, making it difficult to substantiate their assertions. Apple declines to explicitly detail specific improvements, thereby prompting us to infer advancements by referencing alternative metrics and estimating the magnitude of those upgrades.
Apple claimed that the M4 Pro’s CPU would offer a 1.8-fold boost in efficiency compared to the m1 Pro, seemingly underwhelming news.
The M4 Professional boasts a GPU performance “twice as high” as its predecessor, the M4. Notably, the M4-powered Mac mini is equipped with a GPU that’s 2.2 times more powerful than the one found in the M1-based device.
Using these references, it is possible to roughly estimate the M4 Professional’s efficiency should fall within a specific range.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro, powered by an M1 Pro chip featuring 10 processor cores, achieves a score of 2,387 on Geekbench’s single-core test, while its multi-core performance reaches 12,349.
According to Apple’s A15 Bionic chip specifications, the M4 Professional is expected to score around 4,300 points in single-core testing and approximately 22,000 points in multi-core benchmarking. This appears to be a significant gap, considering we’re discussing a three-generation void here?
The sales figures for Metal’s M1 Pro and M4 Pro models indicate a significant gap between the two products, with approximately 67,367 units sold in the former and an astonishing 140,000+ units sold in the latter.
This is a mere approximation, valid until actual performance metrics are available.
The cameras on both laptops feature a 1080p resolution, making them suitable for casual video conferencing or taking snapshots. The M4 Pro’s webcam boasts improved low-light performance, ideal for FaceTime calls or recording meetings in various lighting conditions. In contrast, the M1 Pro’s camera excels at capturing vibrant colors and crisp details in well-lit environments.
The audio on both models is equally impressive. Each laptop features a three-mic array that effectively picks up your voice from any angle. The speakers are also upgraded with spatial awareness, allowing for immersive audio experiences when streaming music or watching videos.
The M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro features a built-in 1080p HD camera in the notch. In contrast, the M4 Professional employs a high-resolution 12-megapixel middle-stage camera.
Despite these limitations, the device is still capable of capturing 1080p video, which is further enhanced through the use of a sophisticated picture signal processor that applies advanced computational video improvements. The feature also includes Desk View, Apple’s camera function that enables users to capture what’s on their desk, rather than their own face.
The M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro features a premium six-speaker audio setup with force-cancelling woofers, also found in the M4 Pro model.
With immersive stereo sound and advanced spatial audio capabilities, including support for Dolby Atmos content, users can fully immerse themselves in the listening experience through both speakers or compatible headphones.
For audiophiles, every generation of iPhones has featured a 3.5mm headphone jack that accommodates high-impedance headphones seamlessly.
Apple’s decision to reuse the same three-mic array across its Professional lineup, spanning from the M1 Pro to the M4 Pro, is a testament to the effectiveness and reliability of this design. These studio-grade microphones boast an exceptional signal-to-noise ratio and advanced directional beamforming capabilities.
Which one will you choose? The M4 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pro or the M1 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pro, both of which are top-notch devices designed to meet your needs. Here’s a brief comparison between the two models.
Storage: Both variants have 16GB and 32GB storage options with no expansion possibilities via SD card slot like its predecessor did.
Connectivity: The M4 model boasts an HDMI port whereas the M1 does not.
Energy Efficiency: M1 variant is powered by Apple M1 chip which provides better battery life.
The M1 Pro-powered MacBook Pro’s foundation setup leverages 512GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage and 8GB of memory. While Apple capped the 8TB option for its M1 Pro model, other storage capacity options remain unchanged.
Apple offers two unified memory configurations for the M1 Pro model, starting at 16GB and offering an upgrade option of 32GB. On the M4 Professional, users have the option to choose from two configurations, starting at 24GB and scaling up to a maximum of 48GB.
While bodily connectivity options share similarities, a subtle adjustment sets them apart. While the M1 Professional boasted three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, its successor, the M4 Professional, takes a significant leap forward with three Thunderbolt 5 ports that deliver twice the throughput.
Three key connections – 3.5mm headphone jack, HDMI, and SDXC memory card slot – remain consistently available across all generations.
The M1 Pro’s wireless capabilities include Wi-Fi 6 support for seamless internet connectivity and Bluetooth 5.0 for pairing with devices. The M4 Professional features Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, making it ideal for use with modern networks and devices that support these advanced protocols.
The M1 Pro model features a substantial 70-watt-hour lithium-ion polymer battery for efficient energy storage and management. The M4 Professional’s battery capacity is actually higher at 72.4 watt-hours.
With a single charge, you’ll enjoy more than enough power to get through the entire day without ever having to worry about running out of juice.
The main difference between the M4 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pro and the M1 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pro lies in their processing power. The M4 model is equipped with a more powerful processor, allowing for faster performance and improved multitasking capabilities.
The base M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro started at a price of $1,999 when it was first released.
The latest M4 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pro boasts a powerful configuration featuring a 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, with a price tag of $1,999.
For an extra $200, you can opt for the powerful 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU combination. Upgrading from 24GB of RAM to 48GB comes at an added cost of $400, increasing its overall value.
Upgrades offer varying values: a $200 investment unlocks 1 terabyte of storage, while a $400 upgrade yields 2 terabytes, and a premium option costs $600 to reach 4 terabytes.
Nano-textured glass, a premium feature, adds a significant $150 to the overall price tag.
Which MacBook Pro to buy: M4 or M1 Professional?
It’s safe to say that the newly released 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro is set to be an exceptionally powerful machine, outperforming its M1 Pro counterpart in many respects. Within a span of mere decades, stark contrasts emerge, underscoring the profound impact of generational shifts.
The enhanced memory capabilities are most welcome, as are the options for a House Black pocket notebook and nano-textured surfaces alike. Notably, few changes are expected in Apple’s highly captivating and intriguing pocketbook series.
We’ve converged on nearly identical display capabilities, design, and port selection, effectively rendering the leap to Thunderbolt 5 moot?
Given the relatively short lifespan of Apple’s professional laptops, it is improbable that owners of the M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro will require an upgrade to the M4 Pro model in the near future. The underlying premise could potentially be to achieve greater operational effectiveness.
If efficiency concerns are a major factor, the prospective upgrader may be considering the M4 Max chips as a viable alternative. Besides, there may well be sufficient reason to contemplate a shift towards a completely novel and innovative e-book.
What Apple has done here is a significant enhancement on an existing computing platform. If you’re in the market for a high-performance laptop and value portability, the M4 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro is an exceptional choice.
Which Laptop Should You Buy: M4 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pro or M1 Professional 14-inch MacBook Pro? Best Place to Purchase
Apple’s M4-powered 14-inch MacBook Pro has already seen a price drop, with authorized retailer Adorama offering the machine at a reduced rate.
