M4 vs. M3 MacBook Pro

All the changes under the hood.

Author

Leander Kahney
November 06, 2024

In partnership with

Is there any finer computer out there than the MacBook Pro?

The industrial design is top-notch, the guts are incredible, and you have a pro-level screen to work on wherever you go.

Can it be improved? Oh heck yeah, especially when Apple updates the inner workings.

Apple just upgraded the guts of the MacBook Pro with M4 chips, which are taking performance to new heights. But that’s not all: There are changes to the screen, the ports, the cameras and more.

Here are all the changes with the new MacBook Pros, as compared to the previous generation.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • Android’s had it for years, but “how long to charge” is finally coming to iPhone.

  • If you don’t know these hidden Mac keyboard shortcuts, you should learn them today.

  • B&H Photo is having an early holiday sale with more than 100 Apple deals.

  • If you use a high-end iPad, it likely can support an external monitor. However, setting the arrangement correctly isn’t super-obvious. Here’s how it’s done.

  • Elgato’s Stream Deck is a very versatile device. Find out how one YouTuber uses it for many aspects of their workflow.

  • The results of yesterday’s poll about your favorite Apple platform were not what I was expecting at all — just like the U.S. presidential election! See below for yesterday’s results and a follow-up.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

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M4 vs. M3 MacBook Pro comparison: What's different?

Wondering what improvements the M4 MacBook Pro family packs over their M3 predecessors? Find out in this comparison.

Hidden Mac keyboard shortcuts you might not know

Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to speed things up when you’re using a Mac. Here's a Mac keyboard shortcut guide to help you out.

Your iPhone could soon show how long it takes to charge

Apple could introduce a new feature in iOS 18.2 that will allow your iPhone to display the estimated remaining time for a full charge.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Nab more than 100 great Apple deals in this early holiday sale

Halloween's barely over and already the Apple holiday deals are rolling at B&H Photo.

How to arrange an external screen in iPadOS

Learn how to tell iPadOS how your iPad display and external monitor are arranged when you use a second screen with your tablet.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Get AI-powered PDF editing and storage for life at a major discount

Tired of scrolling through pages of content to find the info you need? Try AI PDF editor Afirstsoft PDF. It will save you time and effort.

Punch up your pix with this powerful Mac photo editor

Make even mundane photos look amazing with AI-powered photo editor Luminar Neo. This lifetime bundle also includes pro filters and training.

How to plan multistop routes in Apple Maps

You can use Apple Maps to plan multiple stops along the same route. You can add three, four or even 16 stops to a journey if you want.

Today in Apple history: iTunes sales hit astonishing new heights

On November 6, 2003, Apple set a new record for digital music sales: 1.5 million downloads in one week, thanks to iTunes on Windows.

Video editor streamlines workflow with Elgato Stream Deck [Setups]

In today's MacBook Pro setup, Elgato Stream Deck helps streamline a YouTuber's workflow, launching apps and more.

Tweets of the day

Wallpaper of the day

One more thing ...

❝

So that’s our approach. Very simple, and we’re really shooting for Museum of Modern Art quality. The way we’re running the company, the product design, the advertising, it all comes down to this: Let’s make it simple. Really simple.

— Steve Jobs, 1983.

Today’s poll

What's your favorite current Mac?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Results from yesterday’s poll: What's your favorite Apple platform?

Best reader comments

Subscribe to The Weekender — Get the week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.

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