MacBook Pro 14 M4 vs MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro
If you’ve already settled on this family, the last step is deciding between the MacBook Pro 14 M4 and the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro. Look at the scorecard and the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro stands out, ahead in 3 of 5 areas. The performance numbers explain a lot of that. Budget is a real factor too: at launch, the MacBook Pro 14 M4 undercut the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro by $900.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Performance MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro wins
- Memory & Storage MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro wins
- Battery Life & Charging MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro wins
- Ports & Connectivity Tie
- Price MacBook Pro 14 M4 wins
- Display9.4
- Performance4.3
- Memory & Storage6.2
- Battery Life & Charging7.4
- Display9.4
- Performance10.0
- Memory & Storage10.0
- Battery Life & Charging10.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has 8 GB more base memory
Put simply, the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro is far ahead here: 24 GB compared with 16 GB. More base memory lets you keep more browser tabs and big apps open without slowdowns.
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The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has 4 more CPU cores
The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro’s 14 leaves the MacBook Pro 14 M4’s 10 well behind, so if this spec matters to you, the choice is easy. More CPU cores help with heavy multitasking and work that splits well across cores, like code compiling, video export and rendering.
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The MacBook Pro 14 M4 has a 1.30 lb lighter build
Not a close call. The MacBook Pro 14 M4 lists 3.42 lb and the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro lists 4.72 lb. That’s a substantial gap. Weight is the spec you feel every day if you carry your laptop between home, office and classes.
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The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has a 2-inch larger screen
On screen size, the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro comes in at 16.2 in and the MacBook Pro 14 M4 at 14.2 in. Screen size also drives overall size and weight, so this choice shapes how portable the laptop really is.
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The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has 10 more GPU cores
Among all the differences on this page, 20 against 10 is one of the most meaningful, and it favors the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro. More GPU cores mean more graphics power for games, video editing and 3D work.
Design & Size
- MacBook Pro 14 M4 12.31 in × 8.71 in × 0.61 in
- MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro 14 in × 9.77 in × 0.66 in
Going by the official dimensions, the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro is the larger of the two. If lightness matters, note the 1.30 lb gap in favor of the MacBook Pro 14 M4. The MacBook Pro 14 M4 trims 0.05 in off the thickness of the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro.
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 12.31 in | 14 in |
| Depth | 8.71 in | 9.77 in |
| Thickness | 0.61 in (winner) | 0.66 in Thickest in class |
| Weight | 3.42 lb (winner) | 4.72 lb Heaviest in class |
Display
Too close to call
Evenly matched is the fairest summary of the display section. Either laptop will serve you equally well on display.
Screen size
MacBook Pro 14 M4: 14.2 in MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro: 16.2 in A bigger screen gives you more room for side-by-side windows and spreadsheets, while a smaller one makes the laptop easier to carry.
Performance
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro leads
This is one of the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro’s strongest areas. On performance, the MacBook Pro 14 M4 falls well short. The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro steps ahead thanks to 4 more CPU cores. For email and browsing, you won’t notice the gap; for demanding workloads, the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has more muscle. Bottom line for performance: the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has the edge.
CPU cores
MacBook Pro 14 M4: 10 MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro: 14 Core types and clock speeds differ between chips, so core count is one indicator among several.
GPU cores
MacBook Pro 14 M4: 10 MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro: 20 Creative apps that use GPU acceleration will benefit from the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro’s extra cores.
Memory & Storage
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro leads
The memory & storage comparison is one-sided. The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro leads where it counts. Point to the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro for 8 GB more base memory. Memory is often hard or impossible to upgrade later, so the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro’s higher starting amount matters for the long run. Prioritize memory & storage, and the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro is where you should land.
Base memory
MacBook Pro 14 M4: 16 GB MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro: 24 GB Pro workloads like photo and video editing or virtual machines benefit most from the extra memory.
Max storage
MacBook Pro 14 M4: 2 TB MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro: 4 TB The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro can be configured with more room, useful for video work or big game libraries.
Battery Life & Charging
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro leads
In this area the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has a lead the MacBook Pro 14 M4 can’t close. The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro makes its case with 38% more battery capacity. Capacity is one of the few battery specs that doesn’t depend on test conditions, which makes it a useful comparison. That makes the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro the natural choice for buyers focused on battery life & charging.
Battery
MacBook Pro 14 M4: 72.4 Wh MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro: 100 Wh A bigger battery usually means more hours away from an outlet, although chip efficiency plays a huge role.
Included charger
MacBook Pro 14 M4: 70 W MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro: 140 W A more powerful included charger can refill the battery faster and sustain heavy workloads while plugged in.
Ports & Connectivity
Too close to call
You can skip ahead if ports & connectivity was your deciding factor: the two are evenly matched here. For ports & connectivity, pick whichever you prefer for other reasons.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 14.2 in | 16.2 in |
| Panel type | Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) | Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 3456 x 2234 |
| Pixel density | 254 ppi | 254 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness (SDR) | 1,000 nits | 1,000 nits |
Performance
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M4 | Apple M4 Pro |
| CPU cores | 10 | 14 (winner) Most CPU cores |
| Graphics | Apple M4 GPU (10-core) | Apple M4 Pro GPU (20-core) |
| GPU cores | 10 | 20 (winner) Most GPU cores |
| Cooling | Active (fan) | Active (dual fans) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Base memory | 16 GB | 24 GB (winner) Most memory in class |
| Max memory | 32 GB | 48 GB (winner) Highest memory ceiling |
| Base storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Max storage | 2 TB | 4 TB (winner) |
Battery Life & Charging
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 72.4 Wh | 100 Wh (winner) Biggest battery in class |
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating | 24 h | 24 h |
| Included charger | 70 W | 140 W |
Ports & Connectivity
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C / Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 3 |
| Other ports | Thunderbolt 4; HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | Thunderbolt 5; HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage | 12MP Center Stage |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Operating system | macOS Sequoia | macOS Sequoia |
Design & Build
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 12.31 in | 14 in |
| Depth | 8.71 in | 9.77 in |
| Thickness | 0.61 in (winner) | 0.66 in Thickest in class |
| Weight | 3.42 lb (winner) | 4.72 lb Heaviest in class |
Price
| Spec | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $1,599 (winner) | $2,499 Priciest in class |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
A launch price gap of 56% is hard to ignore, and in this case it amounts to $900 in favor of the MacBook Pro 14 M4. Is the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro worth $900 extra? What you get for the money is 8 GB more base memory and 4 more CPU cores.
Prices shown are US launch prices as of October 2024. Retail prices change often, so it’s worth checking current offers.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the MacBook Pro 14 M4 if…
- you want the lighter laptop (3.42 lb vs 4.72 lb)
- you carry your laptop in a slim bag every day (0.61 in vs 0.66 in)
- you’d rather keep $900 in your pocket
Choose the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro if…
- you want more memory out of the box (24 GB vs 16 GB)
- you want more processing muscle (14 vs 10 cores)
- you want more graphics power (20 vs 10)
- you want the bigger battery (100 Wh vs 72.4 Wh)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the MacBook Pro 14 M4 or the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro?
For most people, the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro is the stronger choice, unless you value a 1.30 lb lighter build above everything else.
Does the MacBook Pro 14 M4 last longer on a charge than the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro?
The official battery figures don’t separate them; the MacBook Pro 14 M4 and the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro land in almost the same place.
Is the MacBook Pro 14 M4 bigger than the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro?
It’s the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro that is larger: 14 × 9.77 × 0.66 in, versus 12.31 × 8.71 × 0.61 in for the MacBook Pro 14 M4.
Which is faster, the MacBook Pro 14 M4 or the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro?
The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has the edge in performance thanks to 4 more CPU cores and 10 more GPU cores.
Which costs less, the MacBook Pro 14 M4 or the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro?
The MacBook Pro 14 M4 is the cheaper option, launching at $900 less than the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro (launch prices as of October 2024).
Is the MacBook Pro 14 M4 lighter than the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro?
Going by the official figures, the MacBook Pro 14 M4 weighs 1.30 lb less than the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro.
Executive Summary
My short version of the MacBook Pro 14 M4 versus the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro: they share a family, not a spec sheet. In daily life, I think the first difference you’d notice is 8 GB more base memory, and that goes to the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro. There’s a bonus as well: the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro has 4 more CPU cores. Still, if you care most about a 1.30 lb lighter build, the MacBook Pro 14 M4 deserves a look.
The MacBook Pro 14 M4 makes sense for anyone who values portability; the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro for anyone who values performance.
My pick: the MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro, unless you’d rather have a 1.30 lb lighter build on the MacBook Pro 14 M4.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.