MacBook Pro M4: Leak hints at changes to base model
Apple has not yet officially unveiled the MacBook Pro M4. Nevertheless, there is a first unboxing video. This raises questions at – and fuels hopes.
Pictured here: MacBook Pro M3 and M3 Max – Black is currently only available for the more expensive models.
(Image: Mac & i)
A new MacBook Pro is just around the corner: Apple is expected to relaunch the professional laptop series with M4 chips around the end of October. In addition to the basic M4 already known from the iPad Pro 2024, the more powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max variants are also likely to make their debut if Apple follows its usual game plan. Major changes to the design of the MacBook Pro are unlikely; Apple completely relaunched the model series in 2021 in a 14" and 16" version and has since offered it again with a reliable keyboard and more interfaces.
Unusual MacBook Pro leak
Several weeks ahead of the expected launch on November 1, a Russian YouTube channel has now published a first unboxing video that allegedly shows the entry-level version of the MacBook Pro M4 with a 14" display. Such an early leak of the hardware, including the sales packaging, is unusual and the origin of the device remains unclear. At the same time, the first Geekbench benchmarks of the hardware with the M4 chip were published, which at least appear plausible. They are similar to the values already delivered by the current iPad Pro and promise a further increase in performance of around 25 percent for the CPU and GPU compared to the M3.
Individual elements of the video raise doubts: Namely, the packaging shows the same background as last year's model. It also mentions "Apple ID", which Apple has just renamed "Apple Account". If the details turn out to be true, Apple would in any case dispel key criticisms of the new base model of the MacBook Pro M3 introduced last fall. According to the device packaging held up to the camera, the M4 MacBook Pro comes with 16 GB of RAM instead of just 8 GB. However, it remains to be seen whether this is the cheapest entry-level version.
Video: More Thunderbolt ports, better monitor support
Instead of being limited to two Thunderbolt 3 ports (USB-C), the new MacBook Pro has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, even in the basic version. Just like the more expensive versions, it would then have USB-C ports on both sides instead of just one, which would make charging more flexible, for example.
With Thunderbolt 4, it must also support the operation of at least two external 4K displays. The basic version of the M3 predecessor only supported a single external display at launch. Apple only added support for the operation of two external monitors (up to 5K at 60 Hertz) months later with a software update. However, this is only possible if the MacBook Pro is closed for this purpose. According to the unboxing, the base model is also available in "Space Black" for the first time; Apple previously reserved this color variant for the more expensive models with M3 Pro and M3 Max as an option.
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