MBP 16" M4 Pro vs Max

[sparkie7]

I am considering two options...

1. M4 Max / 16-core CPU / 40-core GPU / 16-core Neural Engine / 64GB RAM / 1TB SSD / Nano-texture display

vs.

2. M4 Pro / 14-core CPU / 20-core GPU / 16-core Neural Engine / 48 RAM / 1TB SSD / Nano-texture display

I was initially thinking going the Max option, but thinking the Pro may be sufficient and save $1600. I do keep my laptops for a long time, like 5-7 years, but will a few seconds-minutes of faster speed with the Max really worth the extra $$? I mean, these M4's are pretty powerful even at the Pro spec.

Were you in the same situation.. Thoughts?

 

[Ardmanz]

Exactly the same position.

I went for option 2 and saved my money. I mainly use my Mac for pro audio so the extra graphics cores weren't really needed. I'll never know whether the 2 extra cores on the Max will have made a difference.

 

[sparkie7]

I think the biggest difference between the two is the GPU cores, with the Max at Twice the GPU. And if I could match the RAM up to 64GB with the Pro – I would. But Apple doesn't let you; you can only up to 64GB if you go up to a Max chip

 

[UnifiedMelody]

Depends on what you're doing. M4 Pro seems to be the obvious choice for most people unless you're doing something graphically intense or video wise [that does take advantage of 2x encoders]
- max tech did do a comparison between these two and he was kind of shocked lol how close the M4 Pro is to the M4 Max in most [but not all] tasks even if its within some seconds.

wish apple let the M4 Pro MBP do 64GB easily... just like it did on the Mac Mini but alas no, its just a little bump up

 

[sparkie7]

Mostly Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, acrobat, - RAW processing, hi-res photo editing, complex multilayer vector files in Illustrator, multi page documents in Indesign. Open with mac mail, chrome, brave, word, excel, some utilities. Have made my Mac Studio M1 Ultra with 64GB swap..

No 3D rendering or video editing as yet, but would like a machine that’s capable of doing this should I need/want to learn…

 

[UnifiedMelody]

Mostly Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, acrobat, - RAW processing, hi-res photo editing, complex multilayer vector files in Illustrator, multi page documents in Indesign.

No 3D rendering or video editing as yet, but would like a machine that’s capable of doing this should I need/want to learn…

Yeah I'm in the same boat. Add everything you have minus [plus Lightroom and DaVinci Resolve]
- Indesign, Illustrator. [are the minuses from my workflow]

Sound like your workflow including everything above will benefit more from the Max. [im going for m4 max also despite still pro photo, i do some video and i noticed the diff from my friends M3 Max]
Especially when you mentioned multilayer vector files which is a gpu intensive task... not cpu related.

 

[sparkie7]

I used to use Lightroom years back, might give it another go with my workflow. DaVinci Resolve looks interesting.

I figure I will do video work inevitably, even if some titles and motion graphics. Which would entail some level of 3D and animations..

Right, I keep forgetting Illustrator files can get very complex fast, with visualising. And multilayer photoshop files for hi-res artwork can get huge are GPU intensive too.

All the YouTube reviews mostly concentrate on video editing; and not on other GPU intensive workflows such as vector graphics, illustrations, hi-res visualising, image & graphics intensive multi page documents, and multi hi-res multi file/graphic/photo retouching and editing..


Sounds like you could be right about going for the M4 Max. I just don't want to give Apple more money than I need to! lol

 

[ric_d]

I am considering two options...

1. M4 Max / 16-core CPU / 40-core GPU / 16-core Neural Engine / 64GB RAM / 1TB SSD / Nano-texture display

vs.

2. M4 Pro / 14-core CPU / 20-core GPU / 16-core Neural Engine / 48 RAM / 1TB SSD / Nano-texture display

I was initially thinking going the Max option, but thinking the Pro may be sufficient and save $1600. I do keep my laptops for a long time, like 5-7 years, but will a few seconds-minutes of faster speed with the Max really worth the extra $$? I mean, these M4's are pretty powerful even at the Pro spec.

Were you in the same situation.. Thoughts?

I recently went through the same decision process and chose option 2. Since I was replacing a mid-2015 MacBook Pro 15, everything is amazingly faster. The nano-texture display is incredible.

 

[throAU]

I went 14" max for the 64GB RAM, and if I was going to be spending that much, wanted the high end GPU for 3d stuff too.

 

[sparkie7]

I recently went through the same decision process and chose option 2. Since I was replacing a mid-2015 MacBook Pro 15, everything is amazingly faster. The nano-texture display is incredible.

Yeah I’m replacing my crap-awful 2017 MacBook Pro 15 Touchbar. I think the M4 16” is close to my classic MBP 17’s (except the size) with the MagSafe back, nano texture (equiv. anti-glare), removal of touchbar, etc

 

[sparkie7]

I went 14" max for the 64GB RAM, and if I was going to be spending that much, wanted the high end GPU for 3d stuff too.

Those are solid reasons. Nice machine

 

[TechZeke]

Given the substantial performance increase of M4 and the fact that you're unsure if you even need the extra GPU power - I'd go with M4 Pro. Considering you're coming from a 2017 Intel MacBook, even a base M4 would be huge upgrade over what you have now, let alone an M4 Pro or Max chip. If there was even a chance you would be doing something to strain an M4 Pro chip, you would've bought M4 Max already and this thread wouldn't even exist.

With that said, if you have the money to burn and just want it just because - go for the M4 Max. I use my 16" M3 Pro as a glorified SafariBook, so you won't get any judgement from me.

 

[throAU]

Those are solid reasons. Nice machine

Cheers!

What are you planning to do with the machine? If you're coming from intel ... man you're in for a treat. The big big step is to M series at all, in general use my M1 Pro was still quick, just back in 2021 I specced it with 16 GB of RAM and GPUs have moved on considerably now (and I can expense a machine every 3 yr).

I honestly think so long as you get enough RAM you'd be fine with an M4 pro or even non-pro M4 (given how well they perform vs. the m1 generation and that my M1 Pro was still quick!). Unless you have high end GPU needs you could save even more money and instead of upgrading in year 5-7, use the money saved to upgrade to baseline M6 or M7 which will be a way better machine than today's M4 pro or Max. Seriously, the only reasons I upgraded from M1 Pro to this M4 max was: 3 years old, GF can have old machine, I can expense new machine, and 64GB + 40 core GPU = I replace my desktop with it as well, so although this machine is expensive it is less than the total of laptop + desktop.

My general advice to people is to buy the tier of machine you can afford to replace within 3-4 years. This will keep you current, under warranty/AppleCare (in case something in life goes sideways or apple puts out a dud model like the butterfly machines) and overall you'll end up spending probably half as much money approximately twice as often and still get reasonable re-sale on your old machines. So works out cheaper to have (on average over time) as nicer, more current, supported machine. And if the machine dies out of warranty - you've budgeted for its replacement.

Just as always, Apple's pricing means that once you start climbing the spec ladder for memory, it makes sense to step up the tree in CPU/SOC as well (otherwise you end up just paying almost as much as you would for a much better CPU and GPU by over-building a lower tier model). Indeed - with M series you kinda HAVE to go up in SOC spec beyond certain memory capacities.

As per above, unless you need high end GPU (high end video work, 3d, gaming, etc.) it's mostly just a question of your RAM capacity requirements. They're all fast in general desktop workloads, seriously; RAM is most likely going to be the biggest limiting factor with regard to what you can actually DO with the machine (at any speed).

 

[3SQ Machine]

Some good deals on M3 Maxes right now, and the 40-core GPU version will beat the pants of the M4 Pro in GPU and get "close enough" in CPU. Plus, you get Max benefits of double encoders. Of course, if heart set on nano-texture or some other M4-specific feature, just stick with M4. Might be worth a look on those current clearance deals at big boxes like BestBuy or MicroCenter before making the final call.

 

[sparkie7]

Given the substantial performance increase of M4 and the fact that you're unsure if you even need the extra GPU power - I'd go with M4 Pro. Considering you're coming from a 2017 Intel MacBook, even a base M4 would be huge upgrade over what you have now, let alone an M4 Pro or Max chip. If there was even a chance you would be doing something to strain an M4 Pro chip, you would've bought M4 Max already and this thread wouldn't even exist.

With that said, if you have the money to burn and just want it just because - go for the M4 Max. I use my 16" M3 Pro as a glorified SafariBook, so you won't get any judgement from me.

The 2017 MBP 15" Touchbar is the worst MBP I've owned and I've had several MBP 15's and 17's, and still own them. One of my 17's is used as a classic Arcade machine of sorts..

I do have a Mac Studio M1 Ultra. Just been waiting and waiting for the right MBP release to upgrade and I seems like the M4 MBP 16" is it.

 

[sparkie7]

My general advice to people is to buy the tier of machine you can afford to replace within 3-4 years. This will keep you current, under warranty/AppleCare (in case something in life goes sideways or apple puts out a dud model like the butterfly machines) and overall you'll end up spending probably half as much money approximately twice as often and still get reasonable re-sale on your old machines.

As per above, unless you need high end GPU (high end video work, 3d, gaming, etc.) it's mostly just a question of your RAM capacity requirements. They're all fast in general desktop workloads, seriously; RAM is most likely going to be the biggest limiting factor with regard to what you can actually DO with the machine (at any speed).

I have never sold any of my Apple laptops that I have owned, so resale value factor probably doesn't come into it.

Agree, the internal RAM you're stuck with. My minimum is 64GB. Ideally 128GB but too expensive IMO with Apple prices

 

[sparkie7]

Some good deals on M3 Maxes right now, and the 40-core GPU version will beat the pants of the M4 Pro in GPU and get "close enough" in CPU. Plus, you get Max benefits of double encoders. Of course, if heart set on nano-texture or some other M4-specific feature, just stick with M4. Might be worth a look on those current clearance deals at big boxes like BestBuy or MicroCenter before making the final call.

Good option to consider the M3 laptops. But I definitely want the nano-texture option, and will want a custom keyboard too, so that means the M4, and ordering from Apple's website direct as a BTO..

 

[awsom82]

base M4, it will lasts same 7 years.

 

[sparkie7]

base M4, it will lasts same 7 years.

You must mean 14" base (non-Pro). As no base M4 for the 16's

 

[bniu]

I had something similar, went with the Max.

Why? Well, I kinda went with my ego there, More Power is More Better!

 

[sparkie7]

I had something similar, went with the Max.

Why? Well, I kinda went with my ego there, More Power is More Better!

LOL at least you're honest! and why not spoil yourself!!

 

[throAU]

LOL at least you're honest! and why not spoil yourself!!

Same here somewhat. It does get to the point where you're spending "a significant" amount of money and at that point its a case of "I don't want to spend THIS much and end up regretting not getting the max".


At some point the jump from pro to max becomes some relatively small percentage of the total BOM and the risk of not doing it outweighs the "marginal" savings.


Plus MOARPOWERMOREBETTER!

 

[sparkie7]

Same here somewhat. It does get to the point where you're spending "a significant" amount of money and at that point its a case of "I don't want to spend THIS much and end up regretting not getting the max".


At some point the jump from pro to max becomes some relatively small percentage of the total BOM and the risk of not doing it outweighs the "marginal" savings.


Plus MOARPOWERMOREBETTER!

It’s no small sum when it’s 6-9K outlay. That’s a lot of base max mini M4’s. And a premium for portability with a screen and keyboard..

 

[throAU]

It’s no small sum when it’s 6-9K outlay. That’s a lot of base max mini M4’s. And a premium for portability with a screen and keyboard..

sure, but Mac minis won't get the job done, where "the job" is a portable do anything machine between home and work as well as remote work when I need to visit remote sites.

doesn't matter how many of them I buy.

 

[sparkie7]

sure, but Mac minis won't get the job done, where "the job" is a portable do anything machine between home and work as well as remote work when I need to visit remote sites.

doesn't matter how many of them I buy.

I was seriously going to buy a Mac mini M4 as a stop-gap till next years MBP 16" M5 Max. As I have a 30" Cinema display at the office which I can plug into. But I just wouldn't use it as much as a MBP in terms of an all-in-one package – with screen, keyboard and mouse. And when travelling, nothing will beat it