M4 Max MacBook Pro: 1 Month Later!
It's been a full month since I've had the M4 Max MacBook Pro, and I can confidently say that it's the best MacBook I've ever used. From handling my everyday work tasks to tackling demanding video editing projects, this powerhouse of a laptop has proven itself time and time again.
Design and Display: Refined Perfection
Visually, the M4 Max MacBook Pro is nearly identical to its predecessors, the M1 Max and Pro versions. And honestly, I don't mind that at all. The design is sleek, sophisticated, and perfectly suited for my needs. I wouldn't want it to be any thinner, as the current form factor allows for the amazing battery life that this laptop delivers.
The display is where things get really impressive. This is still a Liquid Retina XDR display, with a 120Hz refresh rate and the ability to reach up to 1600 nits of peak brightness for HDR content. But Apple has made some notable improvements. The peak brightness for SDR content has been bumped up to 1000 nits, making it much easier to use the laptop outdoors or in brightly lit environments.
One feature I'm particularly enamored with is the nano-texture option. Normally, I'm not a fan of matte displays, as they often have a grainy, unappealing look. But this nano-texture display is different. It doesn't have that terrible grainy appearance, and the clarity is still excellent. When using the laptop outside, the nano-texture makes a world of difference, as it's far more usable than a regular non-nano-texture display.
The 14-Inch Form Factor: A Perfect Fit
I've found that the 14-inch size of this MacBook Pro is just the right fit for me. I used the 16-inch M1 Max model for a while, but I ultimately found that the larger size made the laptop feel a bit too distant from my main display, making it less comfortable for extended typing sessions. With the 14-inch version, everything feels closer and more natural, and the slightly smaller trackpad is a better fit for my hands.
The 14-inch form factor also makes the laptop more portable and easier to take with me on the go, whether it's to the office, on a trip, or just moving around the house. It's the perfect balance of power and mobility.
Ports and Connectivity: Thunderbolt 5 Arrives
The port selection on the M4 Max MacBook Pro is largely unchanged from previous models, with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MagSafe charging port, a headphone jack, and an HDMI port. The big upgrade this year, however, is the inclusion of Thunderbolt 5 on the Pro and Max versions of the CPU.
Thunderbolt 5 promises some exciting capabilities, such as doubled external SSD speeds and support for higher-resolution and higher-refresh-rate displays. I've had the chance to test one Thunderbolt 5 SSD, and while my initial impressions were a bit "meh," I'm eager to see what the future holds as more Thunderbolt 5 devices hit the market. You can check out the Thunderbolt 5 SSD I tested here.
One quirk I've encountered is that if I have a Thunderbolt or USB drive connected to the right side of the MacBook, I'm unable to connect two Thunderbolt SSDs to the left side using both ports. I can use a single Thunderbolt drive on either side without issue, but connecting a second drive on the left side seems to exceed the power capabilities of the ports. This is a bit strange, as Thunderbolt ports should be able to supply up to 15 watts of power per device, and the SSDs I'm using only top out around 8-9 watts even under heavy load.
To work around this, I'd recommend using a Thunderbolt dock like the CalDigit TS4. This versatile dock has 18 ports, including multiple Thunderbolt 4 connections, allowing you to connect all your peripherals without running into power-related issues.
Performance: A Powerhouse for Any Task
When it comes to performance, the M4 Max MacBook Pro is an absolute beast. It cuts through everyday tasks like web browsing, email, social media, and file management with ease. And when it comes to more demanding workloads, this laptop really shines.
I've put the M4 Max through a variety of benchmarks, and the results are impressive. In Geekbench, the 16-core M4 Max is about 1.7 times faster in multi-core performance compared to the M2 Max, which had 12 cores. And in single-core processing power, the M4 Max is 1.4 times faster than the M2 Max.
In the Puget Resolve benchmark, which tests video editing performance, the M4 Max was about 1.4 times faster than the M2 Max. This is the kind of workload that I put my MacBook through on a regular basis, and the M4 Max handles it with ease.
Video Editing: A Seamless Experience
Speaking of video editing, this is where the M4 Max MacBook Pro really excels. I use Final Cut Pro as my video editor of choice, and the performance is nothing short of remarkable.
I recently worked on a project comparing the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and it had multiple layers, Multicam footage, and various color and audio adjustments. Scrubbing through the timeline and hitting play was a buttery-smooth experience, with no lag or delay whatsoever.
When it comes to export speeds, the M4 Max is about 40 seconds faster than the M2 Max for a 19-minute 4K, 10-bit HEVC video export. And even the base model M4 MacBook Pro can handle this kind of video editing workload without any issues.
It's worth noting that the M2 Max I have can also work through this timeline without any problems, which just goes to show how capable these newer Apple silicon chips have become. The performance gains are impressive, but it's also reaching a point of diminishing returns for many users' everyday workflows.
Thermal Performance: Running a Bit Hot
While the M4 Max MacBook Pro is an absolute powerhouse, it does come with a trade-off: it runs a bit hotter than its M2 Max counterpart. When running intensive tasks, the keyboard can reach temperatures up to 52 degrees Celsius, compared to around 47 degrees Celsius on the M2 Max.
The fans on the M4 Max also have to work harder, frequently spinning up to over 5,000 RPM during my testing. This is noticeably louder than the 3,000-4,000 RPM range of the M2 Max. It's not as loud as some PC laptops, but it's definitely more audible than the near-silent operation of the M2 Max under normal use.
I've found that the fans on the M4 Max do run a bit more often during everyday computing tasks, hovering around 2,000-2,400 RPM. But even at these speeds, the fans are practically inaudible, and I wouldn't know they're on if I didn't have a utility monitoring them.
Audio and Camera Improvements
The speakers on the M4 Max MacBook Pro are the same six-speaker sound system found in the M2 Max and M3 Max 14-inch models. They sound fantastic, delivering rich, immersive audio that's perfect for media consumption and video calls.
One notable camera upgrade is the new ultra-wide FaceTime camera in the notch, which now supports Center Stage and Desk View modes. Center Stage is a great feature that keeps you centered in the frame during video calls, even as you move around. However, the Desk View mode, which provides a top-down view of your workspace, is not something I see myself using very often.
Pricing: A Tough Pill to Swallow
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room: the pricing. The M4 Max MacBook Pro starts at a staggering $3,199, and that's for the 14-core CPU and 32-core GPU version. If you want to upgrade the memory beyond 36GB, you'll have to go with the more expensive 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU model, which pushes the price up to $4,299 for the configuration I have.
The pricing on the SSD upgrades is also quite high. Going from 1TB to 2TB will cost you an additional $400, and jumping all the way to 4TB will set you back a whopping $1,000.
Now, I understand that this level of performance and capability doesn't come cheap, and if you have a workflow that truly requires the power of the M4 Max, then the investment may be justified. But for the majority of users, the M4 Pro or even the base M4 model will likely be more than enough to handle their everyday tasks and workloads.
Should You Buy the M4 Max MacBook Pro?
If you're a professional in fields like video editing, audio production, or 3D rendering, and you need the absolute best performance, then the M4 Max MacBook Pro could be a worthwhile investment.
If you're still using an older Intel-based MacBook and are feeling the performance pinch, upgrading to any of the M4 models will provide a significant boost in performance and capabilities.
For most users, however, the M4 Pro or even the base M4 model will likely be more than sufficient for their needs, and the savings could be better spent elsewhere.
Ultimately, the M4 Max MacBook Pro is an incredibly powerful and capable machine, but its high price tag makes it a tough sell for the average user. If you have a specific workflow that truly requires this level of performance, then it may be worth the investment. But for everyone else, the M4 Pro or base M4 models are likely the better value proposition.