Apple unveils new MacBook Pro models with M4 chips

Apple’s announcement week concludes with the release of new versions of its most popular laptop, the MacBook Pro. Following the recent launch of the new iMac with the M4 processor and the compact Mac mini, Apple wraps up the week by unveiling updated 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, now powered by the company’s new M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips.

The new M4 Max chip offers unprecedented performance with a 16-core CPU (12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) and a 40-core GPU, compared to the M4 Pro’s 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores, and the standard M4's 8 or 10 CPU cores paired with a 10-core GPU. The M4 Max also supports up to 128GB of RAM with a 30% increase in memory bandwidth compared to the M3 Max.

In addition to the new chips, the MacBook Pro models now include three Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports, similar to the new Mac mini. Thunderbolt 5 ports support data transfer speeds of up to 80 Gbps, and even up to 120 Gbps with the Bandwidth Boost feature—a significant improvement over the 40 Gbps speeds of Thunderbolt 3 and 4. This upgrade enables better support for external graphics cards and AI processors.

Apple hasn’t made major design changes, aside from adding a Space Black color option for the 14-inch model. However, the internal upgrades will be significant for MacBook Pro users with older M1 or Intel models. Like the new iMac and Mac mini, Apple has also increased the base RAM to 16GB for the 14-inch model, starting at $1,599.

Additional upgrades include brighter displays (up to 1,000 nits in SDR brightness), an optional nano-texture display to reduce reflections, and enhanced Center Stage webcams with a 12-megapixel sensor.

The new MacBook Pros are available for pre-order starting today and will arrive in stores on November 8 (excluding Israel for now). Prices for the 14-inch MacBook Pro start at $1,599 for the M4 model and $1,999 for the M4 Pro model. The 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499.