MacBook Pro 14” M4 review: Apple at the top of its game

Seduced by the latest Mac mini M4, we were eager to know if the MacBook Pro 14” would be able to provoke the same emotions in our geek hearts. Because on paper, this new model does not seem to bring any major new features. And yet…

Apple corrects what was missing in the previous generation. The base configuration directly integrates 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, a Thunderbolt port has been added and a new webcam promises to finally meet the demands of professional users.
What is it concretely? To find out, we used the MacBook Pro daily. Discover our complete test.

What we liked about the MacBook Pro 14” M4

Exemplary design and finishes

It’s a MacBook Pro. This is how we could summarize the design of this 2024 version. Apart from the new space black color (very sensitive to fingerprints), the MBP does not change one iota. Its dimensions and weight do not change (31.36 x 22.12 x 1.55 cm for 1.55 kg), neither do its keyboard and trackpad, nor do its screen contours (alas).

The main novelty lies in the integration of a third Thunderbolt 4 port on the right side, largely absent from the previous generation. It is located between the SD card port and the HDMI port. On the other side, the MagSafe port keeps company with two other Thunderbolt 4s and the 3.5mm jack. The M4 Pro and Max versions are entitled to Thunderbolt 5 ports, notably allowing faster transfers.

This new MacBook Pro M4 can now connect simultaneously to two external displays with 4K definition at 144 Hz via HDMI or one external 6K display at 60 Hz via Thunderbolt 4 (two 6K displays via Thunderbolt 5).

For the rest, it’s the same, and we won’t complain. The MacBook Pro 14” M4 remains a sufficiently compact and light machine for mobile use without sacrificing performance and battery life. Classic but timeless.

The nano-textured mini-LED screen

Apple uses the same screen technology as the previous generation, i.e. Liquid XDR Retina. Behind this marketing name hides a 14.2” IPS panel (definition of 2024 x 1964 pixels) equipped with mini-LED backlighting. It comes with technology Promotion allowing you to vary the refresh rate from 24 to 120 Hz.

Since nothing changes, the image quality remains comparable to that of the previous generation. In a nutshell, the MacBook Pro M4 screen is sublime. If it tends very slightly towards blue, its contrast is almost infinite (thanks to the mini-LED) and its colors bring it closer to an OLED screen.

Nothing changes, but we won’t complain, the MacBook Pro screen has been a benchmark for several years now.

Apple still offers a welcome novelty, offered as an option at 170 euros. For the first time, MacBook Pro screen may be covered with nano-textured coatingthe same as that of the latest iPad Pros.

This coating aims to reduce the amount of reflections on the screen. A big plus for mobile users. Our test version was equipped with it, so we pushed the envelope a little by using the MacBook Pro M4 in very bright environments. Next to it, an M3 model without coating allowed us to check if this option was more gimmicky than anything else.

Result: it is a real success. According to our colleagues from Digital, reflectance goes from 25% to 9%never before seen on a laptop.

Let image professionals rest assured, the coating does not affect the colorimetry in any way. It is therefore entirely possible to work on your projects on the move with unparalleled comfort while respecting color fidelity requirements.

The new webcam, finally!

Better late than never! The MacBook Pro finally includes a webcam worthy of the name. Apple has chosen a 12 megapixel camera with Full HD definition. Not too soon! The image quality is clearly superior to what we knew until now. It took time for Apple to finally satisfy users increasing the number of videoconferences.

This new camera is accompanied by two software optimizations inaugurated on iPad. Automatic framing keeps the user always in the center of the screen. If he moves, the camera follows him.

With Desk View, it is possible to present products or documents placed on the desk without deformation. The result is very convincing.

Top performance and autonomy

Apple continues its quest for power and endurance with the new M4 chips. Our test model has the same configuration as the Mac mini tested just after its release, namely:

• an M4 chip (10 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores)
• 16 GB of RAM
• 512 GB of storage

In a few figures, The MacBook Pro M4 is 30% more efficient than the MacBook Air M3 15” that we use every day. Concretely, an export on Final Cut Pro and photo editing on Lightroom are respectively 40% and 30% faster. Even if it is not designed for gaming (the fault of a catalog that is still too thin), in-game performance improvements are of the order of 20%. All without making the slightest noise.

Indeed, the MacBook Pro M4 operates in cathedral silence. There are few uses for which fans are heard. This only happened to us after a multi-hour gaming session with one of the few AAA games available on the Mac App Store (resident Evil).

The M4 chip therefore destroys everything in its path. No laptop of the same range is up to the task. Machines equipped with the latest competing processors are far from reaching the performance of the MacBook Pro M4. Only an Asus gaming laptop equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 chip (sold much more expensive) can compete.

Even more impressive: Apple manages to provide this level of performance without sacrificing autonomy, quite the contrary. With nearly 26 hours of battery life in general use (2 hours more than the 24 hours promised by Apple), the MacBook Pro 14” M4 breaks all records. You can therefore take it for a two-day trip without taking your charger. Comfort that no other laptop offers. The best competing model available tops out at 20 hours of battery life. Impressive !

What we liked least about the MacBook Pro 14” M4

The price of options

Apple continues with its ugly pricing habits by offering options at high prices. If the basic version of the MacBook Pro M4 offers very attractive value for money (1,899 euros), each additional option will cost you the sale of a vital organ.

M4 Pro or Max, RAM, storage, nano-textured screen… the slightest technical improvement will cost you a small fortune, taking you into a tornado of compulsive upscaling. Caution: you probably don’t need all of these options, the basic version being sufficiently armed to meet the needs of 90% of users.

This vigilance is all the more necessary as the addition of options can quickly lead you to reconsider your choice. In fact, optimization can quickly make you catch up with the price of a higher model, making the quality-price ratio more attractive. More than ever, objective identification of your needs is therefore essential.

Our opinion on the MacBook Pro 14” M4

Already very attractive in its M3 version, the MacBook Pro 14” gains power and autonomy in this new M4 generation. Behind its classic design, the standard model now includes 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage as well as a third Thunderbolt port. So many little adjustments that delight us.

If it does not revolutionize the range, the MacBook Pro 14” M4 has reached a maturity which makes it a must-have on the market. Its new nano-textured screen provides welcome additional comfort. Frankly, apart from the options charged at full price and the absence of Apple Intelligence until April 2025, we do not see what we could criticize about this MacBook Pro 14” M4. A masterclass.