New M4 MacBook Pros: Features, Performance, and Upgrades

The new MacBook Pros with M4 chips enhance performance and introduce exciting features, making them a compelling upgrade option.

### New MacBook Pros: M4 Chips, Features, and Performance Insights
* 💻 The new MacBook Pros feature the **M4 chips**, marking a **significant internal upgrade** while maintaining the same **14 and 16-inch designs** as the M3 versions.
* ⚡ Apple's M4 Pro and Max options offer enhanced capabilities compared to the M3, delivering **"significantly better" performance** than the M1 models, making them **appealing for upgrades**.
* 📊 The M4 chips include low and high power modes, allowing users to **adjust performance based on their needs**, with benchmark results from Geekbench 6 showcasing the **performance improvements**.
* 🎮 For gaming, switching to **high power mode** can enhance performance significantly, although it may impact battery life, which Apple claims can last **up to 24 hours**.
* 🖼 New AI-driven tools in the Photos app, such as the **Cleanup feature**, allow users to **effortlessly remove unwanted elements** from photos, although the effectiveness can vary.
* 🌈 Additional features include **Thunderbolt 5 support** and a nanotexture display option that **reduces glare**, making it **easier to use outdoors**, alongside a new **12-megapixel Center Stage camera** with a **Desk View feature** for presentations.
* 💰 The pricing starts at **$1,600 for the 14-inch model** and **$2,500 for the 16-inch**, prompting potential buyers to consider whether to **upgrade now or wait for future models**.
* 🤔 Overall, while the M4 MacBook Pros offer notable enhancements, the decision to purchase may depend on **individual needs** and whether the features **justify the price** compared to the M3 models.

New M4 MacBook Pro: Here’s Why You May or May Not Want One Right Now

CNET is the premier destination for explaining and navigating the changing world around us. Through news, product reviews, price comparisons, and more, we’ll tell you what’s new in the parts of modern life that increasingly matter more — from health, home, and money to tech, culture, and climate — and how to get the most out of them.

CNET

The new MacBook Pros feature Apple's M4 chips, marking the first significant hardware change since the M3 versions.

The M4 Pro and Max options offer low and high power modes for adjustable performance.

These new chips provide a noticeable speed boost, especially compared to the M1, making them a great option for those looking to upgrade.

Power Modes and AI Features in the New MacBook

The MacBook offers three power modes: automatic, low, and high, with high power mode providing better performance for gaming at the expense of battery life.

Apple claims up to 24 hours of battery life, with the M3 MacBook reaching 21 hours in tests.

The M4 MacBook features faster neural engine performance for on-device AI tasks and introduces new AI-driven tools in the Photos app, including a Cleanup tool for removing unwanted elements from photos.

The photo editing tool allows for the removal of people from images, with the option to easily undo the change.

The new MacBook Pros feature Thunderbolt 5, a nanotexture display option for reduced glare, and an SDR brightness of up to 1,000 nits for outdoor use.

The 12-megapixel Center Stage camera offers a desk view feature, creating a virtual camera to capture what's on the user's desk during video calls.

The M4 MacBook Pros offer a unique Desk View feature, allowing users to present their work while on a FaceTime call.

Tightening the view can negatively impact picture quality due to digital zooming.

The M4 chip provides a compelling reason to upgrade from an older M1, but the M3 MacBook Pro at a reduced price may also be a viable option.

The M4 MacBook Pro offers Apple intelligence features, a better webcam, and the ability to adjust performance on the fly.

However, it lacks Face ID support and has a high starting price of $1600 for the 14in model and $2500 for the 16in model.

The decision to buy now or wait for the M5, or look for a discounted M3, is left to the viewer.