M4 or M4 pro MacBook pro 14 for Adobe Lightroom classic?

[Tjmckay4]

I'll be getting a M4/M4 pro Macbook pro in the coming days, upgrading/switching from a 1TB M3 pro (11/14) MBP. I salary package my laptops every year to make it more effective.

I'm torn on whether to get the 1TB M4 MBP, which I can get tomorrow, or the 512GB/1TB base M4 pro MBP. There is a 2 week wait on the 1TB M4 pro.

I'll be using the MBP for browsing, productivity software, watching YouTube videos, etc. The most I'll be pushing it would be for using Adobe Lightroom Classic, importing/generating previews/browsing images/mild editing, and maybe light 4K video editing in either iMovie or Premiere pro.

Based on my usage case, would the M4 MBP suffice? Would the single fan come on all the time? I've rarely heard the fans on my M3 pro.

 

[Kotsos81]

If you have a 12 core M3 Pro, there is no reason to go to M4. II has the usual 15% generational single-core boost but it is slightly slower in multicore. It is not an upgrade. M4 pro base 12 core will add to the 15% single-core boost a 30% mulicore boost. It makes more sense.

 

[Tjmckay4]

If you have a 12 core M3 Pro, there is no reason to go to M4. II has the usual 15% generational single-core boost but it is slightly slower in multicore. It is not an upgrade. M4 pro base 12 core will add to the 15% single-core boost a 30% mulicore boost. It makes more sense.

Thanks mate. Yep, I'd agree with you regarding that it's not an upgrade more like a switch. Like I said, I changeover my laptops every year using Salary packaging (ie. paying less tax therefore reduced out of pocket laptop cost.

I'm mainly wondering whether the M4 would do the job for my use case(s) without the fan starting up all the time.

 

[raythompsontn]

The M4 would do the job nicely, as would the M4 Pro. With the M4 Pro you get Thunderbolt 5 which is faster than Thunderbolt 5 which may be important if you store your files externally.

Personally I use the M4 Pro for Lightroom. I also used Lightroom on the M2 Air. Both worked about the same as far as my memory is concerned. Yes, the M4 Pro is faster, but not enough to be a real factor in the workload. If'n I was you I would opt for increased internal storage. 24 Gig of memory works very well in the M4 but with thousands of images space can get a little cramped with smaller SSD sizes. Wait the week and get the larger storage in my opinion.

The fans do run on imports of three or four thousand images. But it is not loud and I have to hold me ears close to hear the fans. The M4 Pro has two fans so they run slower than a single fan. Exporting images has not pegged the CPU, only the import when thumbnails are being created.

 

[dave070]

The M4 would do the job nicely, as would the M4 Pro. With the M4 Pro you get Thunderbolt 5 which is faster than Thunderbolt 5 which may be important if you store your files externally.

Personally I use the M4 Pro for Lightroom. I also used Lightroom on the M2 Air. Both worked about the same as far as my memory is concerned. Yes, the M4 Pro is faster, but not enough to be a real factor in the workload. If'n I was you I would opt for increased internal storage. 24 Gig of memory works very well in the M4 but with thousands of images space can get a little cramped with smaller SSD sizes. Wait the week and get the larger storage in my opinion.

The fans do run on imports of three or four thousand images. But it is not loud and I have to hold me ears close to hear the fans. The M4 Pro has two fans so they run slower than a single fan. Exporting images has not pegged the CPU, only the import when thumbnails are being created.

Would the M4 Air be acceptable for travel Lightroom use? I basically use it to check photos on trips but don't do much editing until I'm home on my Mac Studio. I know the screen isn't as good on the Air. But I like the 15" size and that it's thinner.

 

[raythompsontn]

Would the M4 Air be acceptable for travel Lightroom use?

Absolutely. It will work like a champ. I used to use a M2 Air and do exactly what you are doing. I was shooting sports pictures of football. I would take almost 2K images per game. I would process those images on the M2 Air on the long return bus trip.

In fact the M4 Air will be acceptable for significant Lightroom and Photoshop use. The M series of processors are quite impressive for such tasks.

 

[ashman70]

Going from the M3pro to the base M4 is a step down in graphics performance, you might be better off waiting for the M5 next year.