2024 MacBook Pro First Impressions: Apple’s M4 Supremacy
The M4 MacBook Pro represents Apple’s third venture into Silicon-powered Macs, and it unequivocally stands as the most refined model the company has crafted to date.
The M4 MacBook Pro represents Apple’s third venture into Apple Silicon-powered Macs, and it unequivocally stands as the most refined model the company has crafted to date. After an intensive 24-hour experience with the M4 MacBook Pro, it’s evident that this device isn’t merely a laptop; it embodies the zenith of sophistication and power in mainstream computing. Let’s delve into the specifics that elevate this MacBook above its competitors.
Apple’s choice to reintroduce the space black colour, first seen with the M3 MacBook Pro, is a masterstroke. This year, the space black variant exudes an understated allure that’s challenging to capture on camera yet mesmerising in person. Subtle hints of purple emerge under certain angles of light, lending the device a refined, almost regal quality. Unlike its predecessor, it resists smudges and fingerprints remarkably well, maintaining its pristine appearance with minimal effort. As always, Apple’s commitment to impeccable build quality is unwavering, rendering this MacBook Pro one of the most meticulously crafted notebooks on the market.
Apple’s reputation for producing thin, elegant devices remains untarnished, yet the M4 MacBook Pro has a distinct, robust presence, especially when compared to the ultra-slim designs of Intel’s Lunar Lake and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops. It isn’t heavy per se, but there’s a reassuring heft and solidity to it that contrasts with today’s trend towards ultra-thin builds. For those who seek portability in its most ethereal form, Apple’s MacBook Air and iPad Pro remain ideal alternatives, embodying the brand’s lightest, sleekest designs.
The M4 MacBook Pro is a veritable tour de force in connectivity. Apple has wisely included an HDMI port, an SD card slot, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a high-impedance 3.5mm headphone jack, and, of course, the reliable MagSafe charging port. This extensive range of ports makes it an outstanding choice for creative professionals, particularly those requiring versatile options for multimedia workflows. Thunderbolt 4’s 40 Gbps speed capabilities allow for lightning-fast data transfers and ample bandwidth, which is essential for media-heavy projects. While this model lacks a touchscreen or stylus support, a feature standard in similarly priced competitors, Apple has reserved that functionality exclusively for the iPad line. In essence, this MacBook Pro is a purist’s machine, optimised for precision rather than multi-touch flexibility. It also features possibly the most reliable and fastest registering fingerprint scanner in a notebook.
For writers, coders, and professionals who spend hours typing, the MacBook Pro’s Magic Keyboard is a revelation. Each keystroke is gratifyingly tactile, offering just the right amount of resistance and travel. Paired with Apple’s industry-leading trackpad, which is spacious, highly responsive, and supremely smooth, this MacBook Pro redefines what everyday computing can feel like. The immersive Mini LED display, with its adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, elevates even routine tasks, from document creation to casual browsing, to a visual experience par excellence.
The screen is a boon for those who require impeccable colour accuracy, making it ideal for high-stakes tasks like video editing. Watching HDR films, such as Top Gun: Maverick, on this display is a cinematic experience, with each frame rendered in exceptional clarity and vibrancy. Apple also offers a nano-texture finish for enhanced privacy and anti-glare performance, optimised for outdoor environments. The speakers are calibrated for Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio, delivering an audio experience as immersive as the visuals.
Battery life, long a MacBook Pro hallmark, has been extended further, surpassing the previous 20-hour benchmark and transforming this model into a bona fide all-day machine. The upgraded 12MP Centre Stage camera with a “desk view” mode is a sophisticated addition, perfect for virtual meetings and video calls. Moreover, the enhanced microphone array ensures pristine audio capture, invaluable for content creators who rely on high-quality sound. While many of these features debuted with the M1 MacBook Pro series, Apple has refined and perfected them, setting new standards for user experience.
At the heart of this MacBook Pro lies the M4 chip, a marvel of engineering, incorporating 16GB of RAM, a 10-core CPU (divided into four high-performance cores and six efficiency cores), and a robust 10-core GPU equipped with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, doubling the graphical performance of the M3. In lay terms, the M4 outpaces the M2 Pro’s capabilities and, in some instances, even rivals the M3 Pro and M2 Max. This MacBook Pro’s slightly thicker design houses a sophisticated cooling system that keeps it impressively quiet, even during intensive tasks like video editing or graphically demanding gaming sessions with titles such as Resident Evil Village.
Although Macs haven’t traditionally been associated with AAA gaming, Apple’s advancements in GPU technology suggest a shift on the horizon. While the software library remains somewhat limited, high-profile releases like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, slated to debut on Mac alongside PC, signal a new era. For graphic designers, musicians, and creators, this MacBook Pro is indisputably the tool of choice, with Apple’s longstanding relationship with the creative community dating back to the 1990s, solidifying its position as the ultimate platform for creative professionals.
The M4 chipset’s neural engine is a powerhouse in its own right, capable of 38 trillion operations per second — a feat that brings machine intelligence to the forefront. While this doesn’t yet rival the specialised AI functionalities found in Intel’s or Qualcomm’s flagship models, it is worth noting that this is Apple’s entry-level M-series chip for 2024, already in use in the iPad Pro. Apple’s vertically integrated ecosystem ensures that the M4’s “world’s fastest CPU core” excels at single-threaded tasks, while the integrated GPU is amongst the finest on the market. With Apple’s AI suite set to roll out in full by March, this MacBook Pro will emerge as a formidable AI system, seamlessly integrating tools like ChatGPT, creative applications, and an upgraded Siri. Additionally, with macOS Sequoia, users will soon be able to mirror their iPhones directly onto their MacBook, making productivity across devices more seamless than ever.
In conclusion, the M4 MacBook Pro, priced at Rs 189,900, may appear on the pricier side, yet for anyone upgrading from the M2 generation, it represents a prudent investment in quality, performance, and longevity. And it will likely be faster and more reliable than an Intel or AMD or Qualcomm based notebook that's similarly priced. It will have an edge in the realm of security, compatibility and software updates. Its only potential drawbacks lie in its gaming limitations, given the smaller pool of AAA titles available for Mac, and its lack of an ultra-thin design. For all other users, this MacBook Pro delivers an unmatched computing experience, blending form, function, and forward-thinking technology.
Moreover, this MacBook Pro dispels any lingering notion that Apple has slowed down its Apple Silicon innovations despite losing key M-series engineers to competitors like Qualcomm and Intel. While these rivals have made significant strides, Apple has again demonstrated its technical supremacy, delivering a notebook that reaffirms its place at the cutting edge of personal computing. We will be testing this notebook through the paces in greater detail in our review.
