Which New M4 Mac Should You Get?
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Apple has finally launched its new M4 Mac lineup. While a handful of Macs still need an upgrade, we have three — or four, depending on how you look at it — different M4-powered Macs that you can already get your hands on.
Apple launched an updated 24-inch iMac, a new M4 MacBook Pro lineup, and a tinier-than-ever M4 Mac mini.
All of these models got a massive upgrade on the inside. While the outside looks the same for all the new M4 Macs except for the smaller Mac mini, it’s still a much-needed change for those of us looking for an upgrade.
But that raises the question: Which new M4 Mac is best for you? Should you go for Apple’s most expensive laptop, or are any desktop options a good alternative? Keep reading to find out.
What the M4 MacBook Pro Has to Offer
Apple hasn’t made any design changes to its MacBooks this year. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models look and feel the same as they have since their 2021 redesign, and that’s because they’re the same computer as the last models — on the outside, at least.
On the outside, you’ll find the same 14- and 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and the same keyboard with Touch ID at the top and the Trackpad at the bottom. The Space Black that debuted with last year’s M3 MacBook Pro is still here, but there aren’t any other new colors.
When it comes to ports, each Mac has the same three Thunderbolt ports on the sides, although it’s worth mentioning that you’ll get fifth-generation Thunderbolt ports if you choose an M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook. The base M4 model now has Thunderbolt 4 ports, which are a minor bump over last year’s Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports.
This is to say that you shouldn’t expect any changes on the outside. If you’re looking to upgrade your MacBook Pro, hoping to get that “new computer” feel, this probably isn’t for you. The only external change is the option to get Apple’s new nano-texture glass on the display. That’s a $150 upgrade that could be worth it if you prefer the matte look or often work in bright environments with lots of glare.
Things are also pretty similar on the inside despite the new chip, although there are some key upgrades worth paying attention to. The base M4 14-inch MacBook Pro now starts at 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage for the same $1,599 price as last year’s 8 GB and 256 GB M3 model. You can also still upgrade it if you want more RAM, storage, or the M4 Pro or Max chips, with the most expensive model starting at $3,199.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro’s base model is relatively better. It starts with 24 GB of RAM and comes with the M4 Pro chip by default, although it still keeps the same 512 GB of storage. You can upgrade this MacBook to the M4 Max chip, starting at 48 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, but that will cost you $3,999. Further upgrades are available, and if you want to go to the absolutely top-of-the-line, a maxed-out 16-inch MacBook Pro with the most powerful M4 Max chip, 128 GB of RAM, and an 8 TB SSD sells for $7,349.
Needless to say, these are the most expensive MacBooks available, but they’re also the most powerful Macs available if you’re willing to pay for them.
Everything New With the iMac
Like the Macbook Pros, the iMac didn’t get many changes this year, and it might even be the worst M4 Mac you can get. Of course, it will all depend on your needs.
The new iMac is identical in design to the previous two models. The biggest difference is in the color options. While all the colors remain the same, the shade of each is slightly different.
In our opinion, that’s not enough to make it feel like a brand new iMac, but it’s still the only Mac that comes in so many different colors, including blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green, and silver.
The new iMac features a substantial 24-inch 4.5K retina display, one of Apple’s best screens, and it’s now available with nano-texture glass. It also comes with four USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. There’s no option to upgrade to Thunderbolt 5 since those are only available with the M4 Pro/Max chips. Still, that should be more than enough for most people.
The base M4 iMac, which starts at $1,299, has 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. It also comes with a Magic Keyboard but no Touch ID. If you want Touch ID, you’ll have to buy the keyboard separately or move up to the next iMac that starts at $1,499.
On the other hand, you can upgrade the Mac to 24 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage, which costs $1,899. However, this more expensive model still comes with the base M4 chip, which means that even if you have the money for it, you won’t be able to add an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip to your new iMac.
What’s New With the M4 Mac mini?
Surprisingly, the Mac mini probably features the most significant redesign of any Apple product this year, which is a bit disappointing, mainly because it just got a whole lot smaller.
Of course, we’re not saying Apple’s smaller Mac mini was a bad choice. The smaller size makes the Mac mini an incredible device. Not only does it almost fit entirely in your hand, but it’s still as powerful as any other desktop computer. Apple managed to make the Mac mini a couple of inches smaller across the board and even lighter than before, which is something no one was really asking for, but it’s still a nice upgrade.
On the front of the Mac mini, you get 2 USB-C ports — not Thunderbolt — and the headphone jack, which has moved to the front. On the back, the Mac mini features three USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, or Thunderbolt 5 if you opt for the M4 Pro model, plus the power connector and an HDMI 2.1 port.
Unfortunately, unlike the previous model, you don’t get any USB-A ports, so you’ll need to upgrade any old accessories you have or buy the necessary adapters or hubs.
On the inside, the base Mac mini comes with 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and the M4 processor. It starts at $599, which is one of the best deals you can get.
Of course, you can upgrade it. The most expensive Mac mini costs $1,399 and comes with 24 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and the considerably more powerful M4 Pro chip.
Of course, while the cost of the Mac mini seems like a great deal, you also need to consider that you’ll only get the Mac mini. That means you have to buy the display, mouse, and keyboard separately.
Depending on what you get and where you get it, a new Mac mini could cost around $800 to $1,000 by the time you’re done.
Which New M4 Mac Should You Get?
Whether it’s because of the design change or because of the bang you get for your buck, the Mac mini is the clear winner this year.
Not only do you get one of the smallest and most powerful computers in the world, but you can buy it for less than the price of a new iPhone 16. If you already have all the accessories you need, like a mouse, keyboard, and display, this is probably the best M4 Mac you can get this year.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something that can work as both a desktop and a laptop, the M4 MacBook Pros are a no-brainer. While power users and professionals will want to look into the 16-inch model, most people only need the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
The smaller MacBook Pro offers everything most people need to get the job done and then some. It’s also way lighter and easier to carry around than the 16-inch model, especially for extended periods.
Last but not least, the new M4 iMac. Unfortunately, this year’s iMac isn’t the significant upgrade most people hoped for. You get a new M4 chip, but you can’t upgrade it to the more powerful M4 Pro or M4 Max, and it looks and feels like the last two models.
Of course, the iMac does have some benefits. If you want a desktop that you can plug in and start using, the iMac is the best option. With the Mac mini and the MacBook Pros, you’ll need to buy extra accessories if you want to use them as desktops.
But with the iMac, all you need to do is open the box, plug everything in — which will only take a few minutes — and you’re good to go. Plus, it’s the only new M4 Mac that comes in different colors that will appeal to many folks.
There Are No Wrong Choices
The best part about the new Macs is that no matter which one you pick, you’ll still get a fantastic Mac that will meet all your needs.
Whether you want to use it for work, editing photos and videos, or just browsing the web and doing your homework, all of these Macs are more than capable of handling any task you need.
