TechRadar Verdict
The MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 is a pro-grade portable that impresses in every area.
It’s a pleasure to use, and rises to meet virtually any challenge.
For starters, you have the ports.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
You also gain the SD card slot, an instant bonus for photo and video professionals.
The biggest difference between Air and Pro might be the display.
With the MacBook Pro 14-inch M4, Apple has created a pro-grade portable that impresses in every respect.
All these new Macs are running variations of Apple’s M4 silicon.
Nothing feels like, or works like, it was left to chance.
That hinge is as sure as it gets, offering the perfect blend of tension and smooth movement.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
At 3.4lbs / 1.55kg.
the MacBook Pro 14 M4 is not the lightest laptop or even the lightest MacBook.
Apple hasn’t adjusted the ports since the M2 MacBook Pro, which is fine with me.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
We still have the HDMI-out port if you want to extend your display to a giant, high-resolution screen.
If you need Thunderbolt 5’s 120Gb/s throughput speeds you’ll want to upgrade to an M4 Pro chip.
It includes the arrow keys and a full line of function keys.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
On the right side of that is the Touch ID power and sleep button.
Below the keyboard is the massive, nearly 6-inch diagonal, and very responsive Forcetouch trackpad.
They provide fantastic sound, especially when playing spatial audio (tryTerritoryon Netflix).
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The system features a pair of four-inch vents, one on each side.
You usually won’t hear the fan until you play AAA games or run benchmarks.
But let’s start with what’s the same.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The resolution is still nearly4Kat 3096 x 1964 pixels.
I attribute this, however, only in part to the heightened SDR nit capabilities.
My screen came with the optional nano-texture coating.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
It costs an extra $150 / 150 / AU$230, but it’s transformative technology.
No more desk and overhead lamp bulbs peaking into the frame.
No more window light killing your gaming groove.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
I honestly wonder why all laptops, Macs and otherwise, do not come with this texture.
It’s a game-changer.
The 14.2-inch screen is big enough for lots of side-by-side app work.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
It’s the perfect canvas for photo editing inAdobeLightroom and video work in FinalCut Pro.
Center Stage did not work for me inGoogleMeet, where I conduct most of my video meetings.
The base M4 inside my test unit has similar but not equal specs.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Apple is now backing all of its new Macs with at least 16GB of RAM.
Geekbench 6.3 numbers measurably exceed those of the M3 in my MacBook Air.
To my eyes, there was no tearing or dropped frames.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Numbers only tell you so much, and what matters most is real-world experience.
I did do a fair amount of gaming on this MacBook Pro.
As I noted above, the nano-texture screen makes games look amazing.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
It was one of the rare times I found the limits of Apple silicon.
Editing raw photos in Adobe Lightroom is a breeze.
Connectivity is mostly what you would expect, with support for Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E.
The nano texture helps make the screen viewable in direct sunlight.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
There are now Highlights inSafarithat can take a 3,000-word-plusNew Yorkerarticle and boil it down to a one-paragraph summary.
I worry that loses the nuance of such a piece, but if you’re in a hurry…
There’s also iPhone Mirroring, which lets you access and control your iPhone from the MacBook Pro.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
What’s even wilder is how I can control the phone from the desktop system.
In Notes, I asked the Writing Tools to rewrite my lengthy meeting notes.
This could be very useful.
Almost twins. The MacBook Pro 14 M4 is on the left, the MaxBook Pro 14 (2023) in on the right.
This is not all of Apple Intelligence.
First, I was excited to see Clean Up now inside of the Photos app.
The answer I got from ChatGPT through Siri was solid.
The new Center Stage Camera
Naturally, that’s if you do nothing but stream seasons 1 through 3 ofStranger Things.
That’s a bit less than the 50% I was expecting.
To fully recharge, it took more than an hour.
The FPS ranged from low 40s to mid 60s on Shadow of the Tomb Raider(Image credit: Future)
I’ve had incredible battery experiences with the MacBook Air and its M3 chip.
That’s impressive, and a big win for Pro fans.
Should you buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 (2024)?
(Image credit: Future)
You need a touch screenNo MacBook offers it.
Try an iPad or a Surface Pro.
However, its also prone to overheating, and the touch bar is annoyingly inaccessible.
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
I set it up as a work system, and as one for production and play.
I used it indoors and outdoors.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed November 2024
I played games and dited RAW photos on the MacBook Pro.(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
The one time the M4 couldn’t handle the task: four 4K 120fps streams playing back through FinalCut Pro. It had no trouble with four 4K 30fps streams.
This is quite the long-form article boil-down.(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
iPhone mirroring is impressive.
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M4 (2024) in studio
