Apple’s M4 Pro, announced in October 2024, combines up to a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU with support for up to 64 GB of unified memory and Thunderbolt 5. The full 64 GB configuration is available on the 2024 Mac mini; the 14-inch 2024 MacBook Pro with M4 Pro tops out at 48 GB. These are Apple-published specifications and performance claims, not independent benchmark results.
What the M4 Pro offers
M4 Pro is an Apple silicon generation announced in October 2024. Apple lists configurations with up to 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores. The exact core counts vary by computer configuration: the 2024 Mac mini, for example, was offered with a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU or configurable to a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU.
Apple says M4 Pro supports up to 64 GB of unified memory and provides 273 GB/s of memory bandwidth. In its 2024 announcement, Apple described that bandwidth as a 75 percent increase over M3 Pro. Unified memory is shared by the CPU and GPU; the maximum capacity you can order depends on the specific Mac, not just the chip.
How much faster is M4 Pro?
Apple’s comparisons describe potential gains against named systems and workloads, rather than a guaranteed speedup in every app. In its announcement, Apple characterized M4 Pro as up to 1.9 times faster than M1 Pro for CPU performance and up to 2.1 times faster than the “latest AI PC chip” it compared against. For GPU performance, Apple claimed twice the performance of M4 and up to 2.4 times that of its cited AI PC chip. The announcement’s footnotes define the test systems and conditions; these are vendor claims, not independent lab measurements.
#1 Best Overall
- SUPERCHARGED BY M4 PRO OR M4 MAX — The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro or M4 Max chip gives you outrageous performance in a powerhouse laptop built for Apple Intelligence.* With all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- CHAMPION CHIPS — The M4 Pro chip blazes through demanding tasks like compiling millions of lines of code. M4 Max can handle the most challenging workflows, like rendering intricate 3D content.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE—Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data—not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
Apple also gave Mac mini workload examples: spreadsheet calculations in Excel were claimed to be up to 4x faster than on an Intel Core i7 Mac mini, while Blender 3D renders were claimed to be up to 2.9x faster than on an M2 Pro Mac mini. Those figures apply to Apple’s specified comparisons and workloads, not to every spreadsheet, render, or M4 Pro computer. Apple’s M4 Pro and M4 Max announcement provides the comparison details and footnotes.
Which M4 Pro Macs support 64 GB?
The 2024 Mac mini is the clearest match for the full memory ceiling. Apple lists M4 Pro options with a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, or a configurable 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU. Its memory starts at 24 GB and can be configured to 48 GB or 64 GB. The M4 Pro Mac mini also starts with a 512 GB SSD, with larger storage capacities configurable. Apple lists support for up to three displays. See Apple’s Mac mini (2024) technical specifications for configuration details.
Rank #2
- SUPERCHARGED BY M5 — The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. Featuring all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro is a portable alternative, but its maximum memory is 48 GB—not 64 GB. Apple lists a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion up to 120 Hz for this model. Apple also lists up to 22 hours of video streaming for the M4 Pro version, under its stated test conditions. These specifications apply to the specified 14-inch 2024 model, not automatically to other MacBook Pro sizes or generations. Details are on Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro (2024) technical specifications.
| 2024 M4 Pro Mac | CPU and GPU options | Maximum unified memory | Form factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac mini | 12-core CPU/16-core GPU; configurable to 14-core CPU/20-core GPU | 64 GB | Desktop; requires a separate display, keyboard, and mouse |
| 14-inch MacBook Pro | M4 Pro configurations; see Apple’s model specifications | 48 GB | Portable computer with built-in 14.2-inch display |
What Thunderbolt 5 means in practice
M4 Pro supports Thunderbolt 5. Apple said the 2024 Mac mini can deliver data transfer speeds of up to 120 Gb/s, describing that as more than twice Thunderbolt 4 throughput. This is Apple’s stated maximum; it does not promise that an attached drive or other accessory will sustain that rate. Real-world transfer performance depends on the connected device, its own capabilities, the connection, and the workload. Check the specifications of both the Mac and each accessory before relying on a particular speed or feature.
Rank #3
- SUPERCHARGED BY M4 PRO OR M4 MAX — The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro or M4 Max chip gives you outrageous performance in a powerhouse laptop built for Apple Intelligence.* With all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- CHAMPION CHIPS — The M4 Pro chip blazes through demanding tasks like compiling millions of lines of code. M4 Max can handle the most challenging workflows, like rendering intricate 3D content.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE—Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data—not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
Is M4 Pro the latest Apple generation?
No. M4 Pro belongs to Apple’s 2024 generation. Apple’s current MacBook Pro specifications show newer M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations, and Apple announced a Mac mini featuring M6 and M5 Pro in August 2026. Those announcements establish newer generations, but do not by themselves establish how a newer chip compares in real-world performance for a particular workload. Check Apple’s current MacBook Pro specifications and August 2026 Mac mini announcement for current model information. Availability and pricing for a 2024 M4 Pro Mac can change, so verify the exact configuration before buying.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- SUPERCHARGED BY M5 — The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. Featuring all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
How to choose between the two M4 Pro Macs
- Choose Mac mini if you need the 64 GB option. Apple’s 2024 configuration list offers that ceiling, along with Thunderbolt 5 support.
- Choose the 14-inch MacBook Pro for portability and a built-in display. Its M4 Pro memory ceiling is 48 GB, so it does not provide the Mac mini’s 64 GB configuration.
- Match the configuration to your workload. Consider CPU and GPU core counts, memory capacity, and whether your apps benefit from the resources you plan to pay for; Apple’s maximums do not predict performance in every task.
- Check the whole connection chain. Thunderbolt 5 support on the Mac alone cannot establish an accessory’s sustained transfer speed or feature support.
- Compare against current Macs before purchasing. M4 Pro is a 2024 generation, and the newer product announcements do not establish current prices, availability, or which model offers better value for your needs.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
