Chris Hagan / Digital Trends
MacBook Pros are some of thebest laptopsmoney can corrupt . With the M4 Saratoga chip now onboard , these laptop have never been so powerful , and the update bring some interesting upgrades , such as the improved 12 - megapixel webcam and bright screen . They ’re thebest MacBooksthat have ever been made , and it ’s a perfect time to pick one up found on upgrade timing .
But just because the entire MacBook Pro lineup is good now , that does n’t mean it ’s any easier to choose between the two size alternative that are available . Despite the fact that they include many of the same lineament , the 14 - inch MacBook Pro and 16 - inch MacBook Pro feel like entirely different scheme due to their contrast in size .
Chris Hagan / Digital Trends
There are a few central differences between the twoM4 MacBook Promodels that you require to know about . So , before you rush out and purchase one , it pays to know precisely what ’s different between them .
Specs
Design
If you ’ve taken a close flavor at the previous iterations of MacBooks , examining the unexampled ones wo n’t bring out much that ’s new . These laptop computer expect most monovular to the M1 model that come out in 2021 .
They also look monovular to each other . Same keyboard , rounded edges , notch show , and colour options . Silver and Space Black are the two coloring material choice now , with Space Gray having been replace across the board — even on the base M4 14 - inch model . The 16 - inch MacBook Pro does have a larger trackpad to fit the elaborate ribbon rests and keyboard deck of cards , but it ’s more for the visuals of the design than anything hardheaded .
The main deciding factor between these two devices is really about portability and screen size . Neither are asrazor - thin as the MacBook Air , but are n’t overly chunky either . The 16 - in MacBook Pro is somewhat thicker , though , and more significantly , is significantly heavier . Weighing in at 4.7 pounds , this affair is definitely heavy in the hand or in a udder . An excess 1.2 pounds does n’t vocalise like a net ton , but you ’ll definitely notice its mien .
The 14 - column inch MacBook Pro , on the other mitt , is passably portable . Despite being able-bodied to configure it up to the sameM4 Max chip , it ’s astoundingly compact — enough so that traveling with it does n’t feel like a burden . I ca n’t say the same for the 16 - in MacBook Pro .
Display
While the concealment is a key distinguishing agent between these two laptops , there ’s no divergence in quality . Both devices have the same fantastic mini - LED Liquid Retina XDR screen . They are a immense jump over the IPS screen on the MacBook Air and even have some advantages over the current craw of thebest OLED laptopsout there .
While it ’s true that the screens have a unlike closure , they equal out to the same pixel density , meaning they look evenly sharp . These are the salutary laptop displays you’re able to purchase right now , and they propose the best HDR experience you ’ll find out on a laptop too .
With this newfangled M4 coevals of MacBook Pros , you even get two improvements to the displays . First off , the screens can now be cranked up to 1,000 nit in SDR content . That ’s exceedingly bright — almost twice the max luminosity of the previous multiplication . The only caution is that these dementedly high levels of brightness can only be attain under harsh ignition , such as while mould outside on a bright day . You ca n’t manually get them to 1,000 nits , either — it has to be adjusted automatically . Still , it ’s a ready to hand feature film to have when you need it .
Secondly , these display now also have the choice for the nano - texture screen door . It ’s a $ 150 rising slope for both the 14 - in and 16 - inch models , but really change the appearance of the surface of the glass . It ’s essentially Apple ’s take on a flatness display , but this one does n’t shrink optic quality like matte I do . It ’s all of the quality and light without as much of the glare .
But like I said , these are features available on both the 14 - inch and 16 - inch . The real departure in displays between the two come down to screen real the three estates . A 14 - inch screen ( measured diagonally ) is really not one you ’ll need to do much side - by - side multitasking on . It ’s possible with certain apps or websites , but I find myself usually wreak in just a single windowpane . The 16 - in model is significantly wider , which opens up those theory a bit more .
The wider and taller cover also wee-wee for a much more easy study environment in more complicated applications with lots of menus and windows . telecasting editor come to idea first . While you’re able to sure work in Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro on the 14 - column inch poser , the 16 - inch MacBook Pro gets you closer to your work flow on a right external varan that you might be more familiar with .
Performance and configurations
The new 14 - inch and 16 - in MacBook Pros now come update with the previous M4 , M4 Pro , and M4 Max chips as of November 2024 . Across the circuit card , you ’re getting a meaningful jump up in performance over the M3 , especially in unmarried - core and GPU functioning . I tested the16 - in MacBook Pro with the M4 Proand come away very impressed .
But none of that makes a difference here because both the 14 - in and 16 - column inch models get very exchangeable performance . Historically , the 16 - inch MacBook Pro has cater slightly upright thermals and stay a chip quieter than the 14 - inch good example , which is a nice bonus . But in condition of raw performance , they ’re adequate .
The master difference between the 14 - inch and 16 - inch models come down to configurations . You ca n’t get the base M4 micro chip on the 16 - inch model — it ’s single to the 14 - inch size . There ’s also a lower - tier version of the M4 Pro that is only useable on the 14 - inch MacBook Pro that has 12 C.P.U. center and 16 GPU cores . The 16 - inch MacBook Pro depart with the M4 Pro with 20 GPU cores . This is what bring in the pricing difference come along so dramatic between these two laptop . The 14 - column inch MacBook Pro begin at $ 1,499 , while the 16 - inch MacBook Pro starts at $ 2,499 . That “ entering - level ” 16 - in MacBook Pro follow with 24 GB of RAM , while the $ 1,499 14 - inch MacBook Pro comes with 16 gigabyte .
When configure to jibe , though , Apple is charge you $ 300 extra for the divergence in screen size for the M4 Pro and $ 200 more when you liken the maxed - out configurations in both screen size .
Ports
One of the neat advantage of the MacBook Pro over the MacBook Air is interface selection . Both the 14 - inch and 16 - column inch role model come with a solid regalia of ports , including three Thunderbolt ports , HDMI 2.1 , a full - size of it Mount Rushmore State card slot , headphone jack , and a MagSafe 3 power connexion . None of that change when you compare between the two sizes of MacBook Pro .
The only difference comes down to , again , shape . The M4 Pro and M4 Max configurations come with Thunderbolt 5 , whereas the base M4 only has Thunderbolt 4 . And if you remember , there ’s no cornerstone M4 version of the 16 - in MacBook Pro .
Thunderbolt 5 brings dramatically libertine transfer swiftness and also slightly improves external presentation support . The Thunderbolt 5 ports can support three 6 KB varan ( at a 60Hz refresh rate ) . Thunderbolt 4 can still do three monitors , but if you have two 6 jet monitors , your third has to be 5K. Not a huge dispute there .
Battery life
Although all the MacBook Pros get really with child shelling life , there is a remainder in what Apple quotes depending on the fleck and size you choose . The M4 Max contour get the least amount of stamp battery life , which is no surprisal . In particular , the M4 Max 14 - column inch MacBook Pro get the least amount of any of the configurations , with Apple ’s call being 18 hours of TV streaming . That goes up to 21 hours on the 16 - in M4 Max MacBook Pro .
The M4 Pro 14 - column inch MacBook Pro sit in the midriff at 22 hours . The two longest - lasting conformation are the M4 14 - inch MacBook Pro and the M4 Pro 16 - inch MacBook Pro , which both claim to get up to 24 60 minutes of TV streaming bombardment life , which is the longest of any MacBook powerful now . I take on if Apple sold an M4 version of the 16 - inch MacBook Pro , it would be the undisputed king of battery life , but again , that does n’t subsist .
Of of course , these are all just claims made by Apple , and no one has prove the barrage fire life story of every exclusive configuration just yet . However , Apple ’s scaling in terms of barrage fire life tends to be reasonably honest , so it ’s safe to seize that the M4 14 - column inch MacBook Pro and M4 Pro 16 - inch MacBook Pros will last the longest .
Which should you buy?
Most multitude should pick out the 14 - inch MacBook Pro between the two . It ’s a unspoilt counterbalance of magnate and portability , and it ’s a morsel more affordable . If you use an external display most of the time , you wo n’t miss the extra screen real estate — but you ’ll appreciate the portability when you ’re on the go . This is where most creative pros likely fit , and the more options in terminal figure of constellation will entail you ’re less probable to overpay for performance you do n’t require .
The 16 - inch MacBook Pro is still splendid , but it ’s more of a niche gadget . It should really only be for creative professionals who intend to work primarily off this laptop computer screen , want the excess screen space , and do n’t mind having to lug it around . There ’s unquestionably a demographic out there for that , but overall , the winnings go to the 14 - inch MacBook Pro — an impressively compact laptop computer with some mad office under the hood .
