MBA M4 (10CPU 10GPU) Upgrade or Downgrade to MBP14 M1Pro (10CPU 14GPU)

[HelixOmnimedia]

Currently have a MacBook Pro 14" with M1 Pro (10CPU 14GPU)

I don't use it anymore for video editing - main use nowadays is basic browsing, watching media, writing, and (slowly) digitising my huge DVD/BluRay collection and I rarely use it for FaceTime calls.

Looking at the new MacBook Air M4 with 512GB so that come with (10CPU/10GPU)

Would that be considered and upgrade or downgrade?

 

[Shirasaki]

It’s an upgrade I’d argue. Yes it seems you have 4 less GPU cores but you have 10 more advanced cores compared to 14 less powerful cores. Plus M4 is more modern than M1 for obvious reasons.

 

[Honey_crisp]

"Digitizing" might be slower depending on what steps are involved. Otherwise the Air sounds like it will be more than capable for your needs.

 

[taeclee99]

The M4 will be an upgrade in single core performance, slight decrease in graphic performance due to less graphic cores. Major downgrade is the screen not being pro motion and non mini led.

 

[leifp]

With the exception of gaining mesh shading and ray tracing on the M4, the M1Pro is the superior system.

If you’re digitizing with Handbrake and have no fancy options, that’s entirely based on CPU. Since the M1Pro has 8 performance, 2 efficiency cores and the M4 has 4 performance and 6 efficiency cores the speed increase of the M4 is negated. M1Pro wins.

 

[ctjack]

Apple long time ago optimized milking money from both spectrum buyers - Pro Max phones are not overtaken 4 generations of regular iphones going forward, and M1 Pro is still better at most things (except single core). Like M1 Pro could drive 4 4k screen and Air can only do 3 at the end of the day for a reason and so many more cuts like that.

But if you didn't care about power, then Air is a better machine even within the same generation.

 

[drugdoubles]

Currently have a MacBook Pro 14" with M1 Pro (10CPU 14GPU)

I don't use it anymore for video editing - main use nowadays is basic browsing, watching media, writing, and (slowly) digitising my huge DVD/BluRay collection and I rarely use it for FaceTime calls.

Looking at the new MacBook Air M4 with 512GB so that come with (10CPU/10GPU)

Would that be considered and upgrade or downgrade?

Why do you even buy it if your current one works fine.

 

[galad]

With the exception of gaining mesh shading and ray tracing on the M4, the M1Pro is the superior system.

If you’re digitizing with Handbrake and have no fancy options, that’s entirely based on CPU. Since the M1Pro has 8 performance, 2 efficiency cores and the M4 has 4 performance and 6 efficiency cores the speed increase of the M4 is negated. M1Pro wins.

Since the M2 there are a couple of new Neon instructions that can be used to speed up video conversion for example, so I don't know if the M1 Pro will actually win or not against an M4.

 

[Otwer22]

It’s an upgrade I’d argue. Yes it seems you have 4 less GPU cores but you have 10 more advanced cores compared to 14 less powerful cores. Plus M4 is more modern than M1 for obvious reasons.

I would bet, without actually seeing numbers that the new GPU cores are so much faster than M1 that less cores doesn’t translate to slower speed. Again this is conjecture from reading not verifiable without going and comparing benchmarks.

 

[CalMin]

If you're asking about performance, then Google is your friend*:

Does the M1Pro slow down with any of your workflows? If not, then I would put money on the fact that you're not going to feel an upgrade or a downgrade apart from the physical characteristics of the device (weight, screen, form factor). Whether those are an upgrade or a downgrade is up to you.

My M1Pro and my M3 Air (both 16GB) do not feel tangibly different in use. I am sure that benchmarks and a stopwatch would prove me wrong, but in typical 'real-world' situations I just can't notice a difference.


*(Source: https://nanoreview.net/en/cpu-compare/apple-m4-vs-apple-m1-pro)

 

[DrDan99]

I just moved from a 16" MBP M1Max 64GB to a 15"MBA M4 32GB. The only thing I do that can stress a system is Photo AI super focus (severe AI photo cleanup).

This AM, after doing a 10-hours transfer to the new MBA, I picked a test photo (a real mess) and the render time on both was about 14 minutes. The MBA was actually a few seconds faster. So, in my real life, performance is a wash, the screen is fine for my needs, and my wrists are so much happier. This is all what I expected based on benchmarks I saw before buying... See CalMin's post.