Hands On/First Impressions: iMac M4 & MacBook Pro M4 Pro
Apple launched three new Macs with three versions of the Apple Silicon M4 last week (analysis here). This week I’ve been testing review units of the M4 iMac and MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. That’s not long enough for a proper review, but I have had it long enough to answer a few questions and form some first impressions.
Nano-Texture Display
Apple first launched a matte, anti-reflective nano-texture display coating as an added-cost option on its high-end monitors, then brought it to the M4 iPad Pro last year. I was able to briefly get hands on with the nano-texture iPad Pro at an Apple briefing in New York, where the finish greatly reduced glare from overhead spot lighting in the venue. If you regularly use your iPad Pro outdoors, it deserves strong consideration, but there are drawbacks as well. The coating can be easily scratched, and Apple includes a polishing cloth for wiping the display without damaging it. The problem is that an iPad is all screen, and you are touching that screen constantly by design, so the risk of scratches is fairly high.
On the M4 MacBook Pro, it’s a different story. Apple refuses to put touchscreens on Macs, so the chance of scratching it is low. At 1000 nits in SDR, the MacBook Pro’s screen is now bright enough that there’s no downside to getting the coating, and I find it much easier on the eyes with any light source – overhead lights, spot lighting, or outdoors in the sun. Your brain does filter out reflections to a certain extent, but removing them also lightens the cognitive load (I noticed this same effect on Samsung’s glare-free OLED TVs announced at CES). Apple’s nano-texture adds $150 to the price to either the 14” or 16” model, but a MacBook Pro is not a budget product. It is either an indulgence – a wonderfully overkill laptop for prosumers who want “the best” – or it’s a work tool. Either way, the premium is easy to justify.
The iMac has a bigger 24.5” screen than either MacBook Pro, so the nano-coating costs more as well ($200). It still looks wonderful even though it will only be used indoors on the iMac. For consumers seeking an all-in-one Mac and price is not the primary consideration, the nano-texture option is a solid value. However, upgrading the iMac won’t make sense for a lot of consumers. Now that Macs all come with at least 16 GB of memory, the base model iMac is extremely easy to recommend: it’s colorful, the monitor is exceptionally sharp, and the performance blows away any all-in-one Windows machine. It’s not inexpensive at $1300, but you absolutely get what you pay for. The problem is that as you bump up the specs, the iMac starts getting pricey, and you’re locked into the relatively small 24.5” form factor. The purple iMac that Apple sent me for review is kitted out with all the extras; it performs exceptionally well, but it costs over $2900, and that’s just a lot of money for a computer with just a single 24.5” display.
The new $599 base Mac mini M4 is an even bigger bargain than the base iMac M4, but it highlights a gap in Apple’s PC lineup. The gap isn’t actually a computer, it’s an Apple 27” or 32” monitor for $600 or $800 with the nano coating option to go along with one of the new Mac minis.
Performance
We first saw Apple silicon M4 in the iPad Pro last year, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise to see it tearing up the performance charts when put into Macs with a bit more thermal headroom. I’ve only just started running artificial benchmarks, but what I’ve seen so far is extraordinary. For single-core tasks – and that’s most things you do – on Geekbench it’s up to a third faster than an M3, Intel’s Core Ultra 2 Lunar Lake, and Qualcomm’s top spec Snapdragon X Elite. For multi-core, Apple isn’t as far ahead on the base M4, but you get big jumps when you move to the M4 Pro and presumably the M4 Max, which I didn’t test. GPU numbers are crazy, though that’s an area where an older M series Max with more shared RAM will outperform an M4 or M4 Pro with less. Creators should be thrilled; even on the iMac’s M4, 4K exports of my 3.5-minute iMovie first look video for social media were blazing fast, and 720p exports were done in seconds.
You’ll have to understand your workload to know whether it makes sense to upgrade from another Apple silicon Mac, but there are situations where an M-to-M upgrade can make obvious business sense for professionals, and I wasn’t expecting that.
| Geekbench 6 | Apple MacBook Air 15" M2 16GB | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Max 64GB | Apple iPad Pro M4 16GB | Apple iMac M4 32GB | Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro 48GB, battery, auto | Samsung GalaxyBook4 Edge Snapdragon X Elite X1E84100, performance profile, battery | HP EliteBook x360 1040 G11 Intel 165H Performance, Battery | Lenovo YOGA Slim 7i (Intel Core Ultra 2) Perf, Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU single-core | 2649 | 2886 | 3846 | 3806 | 3964 | 2913 | 2370 | 2733 |
| CPU multi-core | 10097 | 21106 | 14608 | 14822 | 22812 | 14145 | 12773 | 11132 |
| GPU - CL | 98800 | 36082 | 69898 | 24039 | 24617 | 23441 | ||
| GPU - metal | 28532 | 154958 | 53413 | 55018 | 112650 |
Gripes?
The base model M4 Macs are all either strong values or outright bargains. However, moving up the RAM and storage ladder is more expensive than the actual cost difference of the components. This has long been Apple’s method of creating attractive entry price points while preserving profitability, but it’s more apparent when those entry points have gone from attractive to stunning.
iMac M4 with Matias Tactile Pro mechanical keyboard. Image does not convey how loud this is.
I don’t love the flat profile of Apple’s keyboard or mouse, and since there’s no Face ID on either product, if you want to use your own mechanical keyboard you’ll either need to keep the Apple keyboard around for Touch ID or wear an Apple Watch. Speaking of mechanical keyboards, Matias sent over its Tactile Pro Keyboard that is based off the original Mac Extended keyboards from 1987. The combination of an ultramodern desktop and old school ALPS-derived mechanical switches is loud and delightful. (Link: Tactile Pro Keyboard for Mac – Matias. Techsponential does not have affiliate links.)
One more note on peripherals: Logitech’s POP MOUSE comes in colors that match the new iMac shades fairly well. The POP MOUSE isn’t Logitech’s most ergonomic mouse, but it does have two buttons and a scroll wheel for those who prefer that to Apple’s single button and touch gestures. (Link: Logitech’s POP MOUSE. Techsponential does not have affiliate links.)
Final Note
These are just first impressions. I haven’t tested the new webcams, run battery tests, tried other benchmarks or workloads, but the new Macs impress so far.
To discuss the implications of this report on your business, product, or investment strategies, contact Techsponential at avi@techsponential.com.