The MacBook Pro is an incredible value for high-performance needs, and today we’ll compare it with the MacBook Pro to highlight the significant improvements. With Apple’s most substantial chip upgrade this year, the M4 Pro gains a clear edge. Here’s a breakdown of the key features and benchmarks:
| Category | M3 ProMacBook | M4 Pro MacBook | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design & Display | Identical design, same port layout | Identical design, same ports, slightly brighter display | Better brightness in well-lit environments |
| Thunderbolt Ports | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 5 for faster external SSDs | 3x faster connectivity for external storage |
| SSD Performance | Similar read/write speeds on base 512GB SSD | Similar performance in internal SSD tests | Potential faster speeds with Thunderbolt 5 for externals |
| CPU Performance | 11 cores, 5 performance cores | 12 cores, 8 performance cores | 24% single-core and 43% multi-core performance gains |
| GPU Performance | 14-core graphics | 16-core graphics | 40% better graphics performance |
| Xcode Benchmark | 140 seconds | 108 seconds | 30% faster |
| Figma & Speedometer 3.0 | Handles design files well | Faster loading times and smoother performance | Notable gains in web-based and design apps |
| Logic Pro | Handled layers well, but slower than M4 | Almost double the performance in complex benchmarks | Ideal for intensive audio work |
| Blender Rendering | 1 minute, 7 seconds | 49 seconds | 37% faster |
| Adobe Lightroom | 40 seconds for high-res export | 25 seconds | Nearly 2x faster |
| Final Cut Pro | 1:05 for timeline render | 45 seconds | Smoother workflow, faster rendering |
| Thermals | Less heat, quieter fans | Higher temps, louder fans | Greater power output but more cooling demands |
| Battery Life | 38% remaining after tests | 29% remaining | Lower battery life due to increased power usage |
| Price & Value | $1,999 | $1,999 | Incredible performance gains at the same price |
Design and Display
- Unchanged Exterior: Both models share the same sleek design, identical port layout, and nearly identical display. However, the M4 Pro’s display is slightly brighter, enhancing usability in well-lit environments.
- Thunderbolt 5 Ports: While both laptops look the same, the M4 Pro offers Thunderbolt 5 for triple the connectivity speed—ideal for faster external SSDs.
SSD Performance
In the Blackmagic Speed Test, the M3 Pro and M4 Pro showed similar read/write speeds on the 512GB SSDs, despite expectations of a slight edge for the M4 Pro. However, Thunderbolt 5 offers potential benefits in external storage applications.
CPU and GPU Performance: Huge Gains
- CPU Power: The M4 Pro features higher clock speeds and more performance cores (8 vs. the M3 Pro’s 5), resulting in a remarkable 24% increase in single-core and 43% increase in multi-core performance on Geekbench 6.
- the GeekbenchGraphics: With 40% better graphics performance, the M4 Pro is a game-changer, hitting almost 100,000 on the Geekbench 6 GPU—making it a strong choice for graphic-intensive tasks.
Related :-
App Performance
- Xcode Benchmark: The M4 Pro finished tasks 30% faster than the M3 Pro, rivaling even the M1 Ultra.
- Figma and Speedometer: Smoother performance and faster loading times for high-res design work.
- Logic Pro: For audio editing, the M4 Pro is nearly double the performance of the M3 Pro in certain benchmarks.
- Blender Rendering: Rendering on Blender’s GPU Cycles was 37% faster on the M4 Pro.
- Adobe Lightroom: Exporting high-res images was close to twice as fast on the M4 Pro.
- Final Cut Pro: Video editing showed a significant improvement—completing a timeline render in 45 seconds compared to the M3 Pro’s 1:05.
Thermal and Battery Performance
- Thermals: The M4 Pro’s higher performance results in more heat. Fans run louder, and the system slows down a bit to manage heat, but it still outpaces the M3 Pro significantly.
- Battery Life: The M4 Pro has reduced battery life due to its increased power demands, ending at 29% after intensive testing, compared to 38% on the M3 Pro.
Final Thoughts
For $1,999, the M4 Pro MacBook delivers insane performance improvements over the M3 Pro, even though battery life is slightly lower. With Thunderbolt 5, better CPU and GPU, and unmatched year-over-year performance gains, it’s the MacBook to get if you’re looking for unbeatable value in 2024.
