M4 MacBook Pro vs M3 MacBook Pro comparison
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The latest MacBook Pro laptops are here powered by the new M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max Apple Silicon. In addition to more powerful and efficient CPUs/GPUs, these MacBook Pro machines have longer battery life, Thunderbolt 5 (with M4 Pro/Max chips), a nano-texture display option, a new webcam, and more. Read on for an in-depth look at what’s new with the M4 MacBook Pro vs M3 MacBook Pro lineup plus a buyer’s guide.
M4 MacBook Pro vs M3 MacBook Pro laptops
CPU, GPU, memory, neural engine
The new M4 Apple Silicon family features options ranging from 10 to 16-core CPUs, 10 to 40-core GPUs, and 16 to 128GB of unified memory.
A nice move here is the base machines starting with 16GB memory.
Here’s the breakdown of the new M4 specs vs M3:
| M4 MacBook Pro | M3 MacBook Pro | |
| Chip/CPU | M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Max – up to 16-core | M3, M3 Pro, or M3 Max – up to 16-core |
| Storage | Up to 8TB | Up to 8TB |
| Unified memory | Up to 128GB | Up to 128GB |
| Memory bandwidth | Up to 547GB/s | Up to 400GB/s |
| GPU | Up to 40-core with hardware-accelerated ray tracing | Up to 40-core with hardware-accelerated ray tracing |
| Media engine | Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, Video decode engine, 2x video encode engines, 2x ProRes encode and decode engines, AV1 decode | Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, Video decode engine, 2x video encode engines, 2x ProRes encode and decode engines, AV1 decode |
| Neural engine | 16-core | 16-core |
| Apple Intelligence | ✅ | ✅ |
Apple says “The CPUs across the M4 family feature the world’s fastest CPU core, delivering the industry’s best single-threaded performance, and dramatically faster multithreaded performance.”
And “The GPUs build on the breakthrough graphics architecture introduced in the previous generation, with faster cores and a 2x faster ray-tracing engine.”
We’ll dig into I/O more below but the new M4 MacBook Pro laptops bring Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, memory bandwidth up to 574GB/s, and a Neural Engine up to 2x faster than the M3 family.
With M4 Pro, Apple says tasks like 3D visualization are up to 30% faster than M3 Pro, and the M4 Max CPU and GPU are up to 20% faster than the M3 Max.
Display
The new M4 MacBook Pro models share most of the same features that we’ve seen since 2021 with the Liquid Retina XDR Display, ProMotion with up to 120Hz refresh rates, a 254 pixel per inch density, and slim bezels.
In 2023, the M3 MacBook Pro models had one main improvement – a 20% brighter screen that displays SDR content at up to 600 nits which matches the Studio Display for consistent brightness.
New for 2024 with the M4 MacBook Pro laptops is the option for the nano-texture display plus an outdoor SDR brightness of up to 1000 nits (previously at 600).
| 14″ M4 MacBook Pro | 14″ M3 MacBook Pro | 16″ M4 MacBook Pro | 16″ M3 MacBook Pro | |
| Actual screen size | 14.2″ | 14.2″ | 16.2″ | 16.2″ |
| Nano-texture option | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 3024 x 1964 | 3456 x 2234 | 3456 x 2234 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 + notch | 16:10 + notch | 16:10 + notch | 16:10 + notch |
| PPI | 254 | 254 | 254 | 254 |
| Nits (brightness) | 1000 sustained, up to 1600 peak for HDR; SDR up to 1000 outdoors | 1000 sustained, up to 1600 peak for HDR; SDR 600 | 1000 sustained, up to 1600 peak for HDR; SDR up to 1000 outdoors | 1000 sustained, up to 1600 peak for HDR; SDR 600 |
| Liquid Retina XDR display | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ProMotion (up to 120Hz) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| mini-LED backlit | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| True Tone | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| P3 wide color | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
The latest MacBook Pros come with a notch at the top center of the display for the 12MP Center Stage camera just like previous models.
Unfortunately, Face ID has still not arrived with the M4 MacBook Pro laptops.
MacBook Pro I/O
The M4 MacBook Pro models feature the same ports with the same layout as the M3 and M2 MacBook Pro.
That includes an HDMI port, SDXC card reader, and MagSafe. There are also 3 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C 4 ports.
However, the M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models have been upgraded with Thunderbolt 5:
Those ports can deliver up to 120GB/s performance. The other major I/O upgrade is a 12MP Center Stage camera.
| 14″ M4 MacBook Pro | 14″ M3 MacBook Pro | 16″ M4 MacBook Pro | 16″ M3 MacBook Pro | |
| Magic Keyboard | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Touch ID | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View | ✅ 1080p | ❌ | ✅ 1080p | ❌ |
| FaceTime camera | – | 1080p | – | 1080p |
| Thunderbolt/USB-C ports | 3x Thunderbolt 5 (3x Thunderbolt 4 for M3 models) | 3x Thunderbolt 4 (2 for M3 models) | 3x Thunderbolt 5 | 3x Thunderbolt 4 |
| HDMI | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| SDXC card reader | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| MagSafe charging | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| External display support | M4 and M4 Pro: Up to 2 external displays at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt, or 1 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI
or 1 external display at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/240Hz over HDMI M4 Max: Up to 4 external displays: Up to 3 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI or Up to 3 external displays: Up to 2 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/240Hz over HDMI |
M3: One external display at up to 6K/60Hz
M3 Pro: Up to 2 external displays at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt, or 1 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI, or 1 at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/240Hz over HDMI M3 Max: Up to 4 external displays: 3 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI, or |
M4 and M4 Pro: Up to 2 external displays at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt, or 1 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI
or 1 external display at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/240Hz over HDMI M4 Max: Up to 4 external displays: Up to 3 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI or Up to 3 external displays: Up to 2 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/240Hz over HDMI |
M3 Pro: Up to 2 external displays at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt, or 1 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI, or 1 at 8K/60Hz or 1 at 4K/240Hz over HDMI
M3 Max: Up to 4 external displays: 3 at 6K/60Hz over Thunderbolt and 1 at 4K/144Hz over HDMI, or |
Colors, size, and weight
Physical dimensions are the same between the M4 and M3 MacBook Pro laptops.
While Apple kept the new Space Black color for the high-end in 2023, all of the M4 MacBook Pro laptops come in Silver or Space Black.
Here’s the breakdown of colors, size, and weight:
| 14″ M4 MacBook Pro | 14″ M3 MacBook Pro | 16″ M4 MacBook Pro | 16″ M3 MacBook Pro | |
| Weight | M4: 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg) M4 Pro: 3.5 pounds (1.60 kg) M4 Max: 3.6 pounds (1.62 kg) |
M3: 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg) M3 Pro: 3.5 pounds (1.61 kg) M3 Max: 3.6 pounds (1.62 kg) |
M4 Pro: 4.7 pounds (2.14 kg) M4 Max: 4.7 pounds (2.15 kg) |
M3 Pro: 4.7 pounds (2.14 kg) M3 Max: 4.8 pounds (2.16 kg) |
| Thickness | 0.61 inch (1.55 cm) | 0.61 inch (1.55 cm) | 0.66 inch (1.68 cm) | 0.66 inch (1.68 cm) |
| Width | 12.31 inches (31.26 cm) | 12.31 inches (31.26 cm) | 14.01 inches (35.57 cm) | 14.01 inches (35.57 cm) |
| Depth | 8.71 inches (22.12 cm) | 8.71 inches (22.12 cm) | 9.77 inches (24.81 cm) | 9.77 inches (24.81 cm) |
| Display size | 14.2 inches | 14.2 inches | 16.2 inches | 16.2 inches |
| Finishes | Silver or Space Black | Silver or Space Gray for M3, Space Black or Silver for M3 Pro and M3 Max | Silver or Space Black | Silver or Space Gray for M3, Space Black or Silver for M3 Pro and M3 Max |
Battery life
Battery life gets a bump across the board with the M4 MacBook Pro laptops offering the longest runtimes yet:
| | 14″ M4 MacBook Pro | 14″ M3 MacBook Pro | 14″ M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro | 14″ M3 Pro/Max MacBook Pro | 16″ M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro | 16″ M3 Pro/Max MacBook Pro |
| Wireless web battery | 16 hours | 15 hours | 14/13 hours | 12 hours | 17/14 hours | 15 hours |
| Video playback | 24 hours | 22 hours | 22/18 hours | 18 hours | 24/21 hours | 22 hours |
| Power adapter | 70W or 96W | 70W or 96W | 70W or 96W | 70W or 96W | 140W | 140W |
| Battery capacity | 72.4Wh | 70Wh | 72.4Wh | 70Wh | 100Wh | 100Wh |
| Fast charging | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Price
The base configurations start at the same $1,599 and $2,499 for the 14 and 16″ M4 MacBook Pro models.
But custom builds can be more expensive with the new nano-texture upgrade that runs $150.
| Model/price | 14″ M4 MacBook Pro | 14″ M3 MacBook Pro | 16″ M4 MacBook Pro | 16″ M3 MacBook Pro |
| Base | From $1,599 | From $1,599 | From $2,499 | From $2,499 |
| Custom builds | Up to $7,049 | Up to $6,899 | Up to $7,349 | Up to $7,199 |
M4 MacBook Pro vs M3: Buyer’s guide
Reasons to buy
If you’re a professional (or aspiring pro) who needs the latest and greatest from Apple, the upgrade may be worth it. And the M3 MacBook Pro laptops will be very impressive for those coming from an Intel or an M1 MacBook.
M4 MacBook Pro upgrades:
- Latest and greatest Apple Silicon
- Thunderbolt 5
- Nano-texture display option
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- Longer battery life
Reasons to pass
For those who already have an M3 or M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pro and/or don’t have workflows that require the absolute best performance, it’s likely the best fit to keep what you have or opt for a MacBook Air.
Deciding on specs
For those unsure about which M4 MacBook Pro specs to pick, you can get the same CPU/GPU with the M4 Pro and M4 Max in the 14 and 16-inch models. The main difference in cost is the upgraded GPU power including the more capable media engine and increased external display support with the M4 Max chip.
When it comes to unified memory, if you have medium to heavy workflows and/or plan to keep your new MacBook Pro for several years (or more), going with 24GB or more will likely be worth the upgrade.
You can find the new MacBook Pro at Apple and soon at Amazon, Best Buy, and more.
Thanks for reading our M4 MacBook Pro vs M3 MacBook Pro comparison!
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The latest MacBook Pro laptops are here powered by the new M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max Apple Silicon. In addition to more powerful and efficient CPUs/GPUs, these MacBook Pro machines have longer battery life, Thunderbolt 5 (with M4 Pro/Max chips), a nano-texture display option, a new webcam, and more. Read on for an in-depth look at what’s new…
The latest MacBook Pro laptops are here powered by the new M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max Apple Silicon. In addition to more powerful and efficient CPUs/GPUs, these MacBook Pro machines have longer battery life, Thunderbolt 5 (with M4 Pro/Max chips), a nano-texture display option, a new webcam, and more. Read on for an in-depth look at what’s new…