TheM4 chipupdate for the Mac was quite a shakeup . Apple simultaneously introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max , while also relegate RAM across the starting contour of the newMac miniandMacBook Pro . All in all , these are great change that have sweetened the batch on these new M4 products .
But all the changes in the lineup have left two Macs completely in the cold — and until they get update , you should n’t corrupt them .
Mac Studio (M2 Ultra)
The performance of the M4 Pro Mac miniskirt is kind of insane when you consider the size of this mini PC . All that operation find extra impressive because the M3 contemporaries was skipped for both theMac mini and Mac Studio , making for quite a leap in performance with the in vogue Mac miniskirt .
In fact , it ’s so big a jump that it makes the currentMac Studiokind of a nonstarter . The M4 Pro Mac mini gets very tight to outperforming the M2 Ultra Mac Studio in lots of benchmark , despite having significantly less cores . The GPU performance is probably the most exciting bit , as the 20 - core Mac mini really wash up the 40 - core Mac Studio in the Cinebench R24 GPU test . That shows you just how far Apple ’s graphics have come these past couple of years .
And while the $ 4,000 M2 Ultra Mac Studio might have a chip more thermal clearance and secure sustained performance , it ’s also twice the sizing and price . Of course , you could choose for the starting $ 2,000 M2 Max configuration , but for the same money , you’re able to get a configuration of the M4 Pro Mac miniskirt with more memory . And remember , this thing is much small — and apparentlyeven has warehousing that is n’t solder down .
I ’ve no doubt that the rumored M4 Ultra Mac Studio will be an right-down rock star , but you ’re better off sticking with the Mac mini or waiting for that upgrade modeling right now .
MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)
The decision point between the15 - inch MacBook Air and 14 - inch MacBook Prohas always been tough to decipher , but this late update has tipped the scale toward the newfangled M4 MacBook Pro . The 15 - column inch MacBook Air starts at $ 1,299 and issue forth with the M3 , 16 GB of RAM , and 256 GB of depot . That upgrade from 8 GB to 16 GB is awesome , of course — do n’t get me wrong . But the change to the M4 14 - inch MacBook pro make it overall a far more attractive offer .
And now , the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro also starts with the M4 chip , 16 GB of RAM , and 512 GB of entrepot for $ 1,599 . When you match the configuration on the MacBook Air by add up more storage , that brings the full price to $ 1,499 . So , it ’s $ 100 for the upgrade from MacBook Air to MacBook Pro . $ 100 is n’t nothing , but what you get in return is worth far more .
The newfangled MacBook Pro acquire you higher-ranking performance , a far better display , more ports , and a heavy upgrade to the webcam .
There ’s really only two reasons to buy the 15 - in M3 MacBook Air right now . First , the cheaper start form of $ 1,299 remain attractive . Despite the fact that it ’s not a better overall value , if you ’re just look for get down a more affordable Mac , the power to start at 256 GB of storage gives it an advantage .
Secondly , the 15 - inch M3 MacBook Air is , admittedly , both unaccented and thinner than the MacBook Pro . It ’s only 0.43 inches stocky and 3.3 pounds , compared to the 0.61 - inch thickness of the MacBook Pro . The 0.3 - Lebanese pound weighting divergence probably is n’t overly obtrusive , but there ’s no question that the MacBook Air is more portable . But really , if you ’re after a portable laptop computer , you ’re honest off going for the smaller 13 - column inch MacBook Air anyways , which is priced lower and much easier to jaunt with .
The other more obvious reason to not by the M3 MacBook Air right now , however , is that an M4 update is rumored to come before long . It may only be a twosome of month before those laptops get upgraded to the M4 , which could contribute other improvements as well . So , for now , buy the M4 MacBook Pro or wait out the holiday season for the M4 .
