MacBook Pro M4: Apple Includes Surprise Feature Boosts For Entry-Level MacBook Pro

The new MacBook Pro models for 2024 have just been unveiled. They include models with M4 Pro and the newest M4 Max processors on board. But Apple has done something that hadn’t been predicted: it’s boosted the capabilities of the entry-level MacBook Pro with M4 processor—without inflating the price.

For many users, the new, speedier M4 processor will be enough. But until now, choosing the entry-level chip meant making certain compromises. Here’s where things have changed.

MacBook Pro M4: Space Black Or Silver

First up, there’s the color. Until now, if you wanted the sultry Space Black finish on the MacBook Pro, and it really does look tremendous, you needed to chip up, as they say, to the more advanced processors. This year, Space Black is available as an option on every MacBook Pro.

Before, if you had the faster chip, two other features were also upgraded: minimum RAM and connectivity. Both of these now come to the most affordable MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pro M4: Extra Memory

The RAM increase is less of a surprise as the new Mac mini, just announced, saw an increase of minimum RAM to 16GB across the board.

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MacBook Pro M4: Better Connected

But the connectivity upgrade is neat. Where previously there were two USB-C sockets on the left edge of the entry-level MacBook Pro, now there’s one on the right edge as well, matching the number of sockets on the pricier Pro models.

As anyone will know who has found their cable won’t quite stretch to the left edge in some situations, this is highly convenient.

Apple still has extra benefits for you if you choose the faster M4 Pro or M4 Max chips: those laptops come with Thunderbolt 5 sockets, whereas it’s Thunderbolt 4 on the entry-level.

There’s also the option to choose a nano-texture display option. This is not cheap (on the iMac it’s an extra $180, for instance) but it’s available on every MacBook Pro. On the iMac it’s only for those with the pricier processor.

The new MacBook Pro has an improved front-facing camera, a 12MP Center Stage sensor, and this has been included on every MacBook Pro, too.

A theme is emerging here: this year’s iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus were much closer to the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max than has been the case in previous years.

By bringing key features to every model of MacBook Pro M4, Apple is making its products better value, while still retaining extra-premium capabilities for those wanting to spend more. Pricing starts, as it did for last year’s models, at $1,599.