MacworldWondering which type of MacBook to buy? This buying guide will help you decide which Apple laptop is best for you.Apple makes two types of laptops, the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. Within those two categories of Mac is a wide range of capabilities, the gap between the entry-level MacBook Air and the high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro is vast, but even within the MacBook Pro category you will find huge differences. We have more information on the differences between the MacBook Air and Pro in another article.While there are eight MacBook Air models and nine MacBook Pro models sold as standard configurations, in reality, there are multiple combinations if you factor in all the build-to-order options that you can add such as extra RAM, more storage, or a faster processor, with which you can build an even more powerful Mac, should you need to. Choosing which MacBook to buy can be a tough decision, fortunately, we are here to help.If youre not sure yet if you want a laptop or desktop Mac, you should also read our Mac buying guide, which covers both MacBooks and Apples desktop Macs. We also compare all the MacBook Pro models here: Which MacBook Pro? We also offer advice about how much storage, RAM and cores in How much MacBook do you really need?There are various sections in this article. If you arent sure which Mac laptop you want then read on, if you have a vague idea but are choosing between two similar models, or if your needs are more professional than personal, then you might find the models further down this article more relevant. In that case, we suggest that you jump to the section about the MacBook that is most relevant to your needs. See the Table of Contents above. MacBook release datesOne consideration to make when shopping for a MacBook is how recently Apple updated the laptop and whether it is likely to be updating it again. Here is a quick look at when the laptops Apple sells were released.13-inch MacBook Air (M2): July 202214-inch MacBook Pro (M4, M4 Pro & M4 Max): November 202416-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro & M4 Max): November 202413-inch MacBook Air (M3): March 202415-inch MacBook Air (M3): March 2024What happened to the 13-inch MacBook Pro?Before we begin,lets address one model you might be wondering about. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is no longer sold by Apple, but it will no doubt be available from resellers and Apples refurbished store for a while. There were two standard 13-inch MacBook Pro to consider. The only real difference is storage:Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 256GB/16GB RAM)M2, 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage: Was $1,299 / 1,349M2, 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage: Was $1,499 / 1,549The 13-inch MacBook Pro was replaced by the base M-series 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is the cheapest MacBook Pro but costs more than the 13-inch model. It does have a far superior screen, better battery life and many other benefits that we will discuss below.The 13-inch MacBook Pro had a few advantages over the MacBook Air. For one it had a fan for cooling for anyone who would be pushing the machine to any extent. The other advantage of the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the Touch Bar, which is something that some people enjoyed, while others didnt.MacBook Air RAM upgradeOne thing we should call out about the MacBook Air is that on October 30, 2024, Apple upgraded the MacBook Air to come standard with 16GB of RAM, like the new M4 MacBook Pros. The company didnt raise the prices, they added more RAM and kept the prices the same. This includes the $999 M2 MacBook Air. The additional RAM will help the Air run more efficiently.MacBook buyers guide Well start by running through the different MacBooks Apple sells, giving an overview of the pros and cons of each model, and reasons why each might be ideally suited to your needs. Youll also be able to see the best prices right now, so that you dont spend more than you need to. We will also look at different components and features for each model, so you can make an informed decision about how much RAM, which chip, how big the SSD should be and the best price, so you dont spend more than necessary. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024/M2, 2022)The MacBook Air is the cheapest way to get a Mac laptop. Starting at $999/999, there are five standard MacBook Air models to consider: one 13-inch model with an M2 chip, three 13-inch models with an M3 chip, and three 15-inch MacBook Airs with an M3 chip. As of October 28, 2024, all MacBook Air models have 16GB of unified memory, just like the MacBook Pro. Its easy to think that the cheapest Mac laptop will be the one that has the best value, but thats not necessarily the case. The M2 MacBook Air (see our M2 MacBook Air review) is the cheapest Mac laptop you can buy right now, but for another $100/100 you can get the newest machine with an M3 chip. Both models offer the same 8GB RAM as standard. With both models, you get Apples newest Air design and the 13.6-inch screen, 500 nits, and Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver color choices. One difference is in the storage: in the newer M3 MacBook Air, the 256GB SSD is made up of two 128GB NAND chips, rather than a single 256GB chip as in the M2 and older models. This means the storage in the M3 can be faster because the two drives can process data simultaneously.There are several performance differences between the M3 Air and the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro. Besides the Pro having a faster CPU, the Pros chip has a 10-core GPU standard compared to 8-core GPU in the Air, but the lack of a fan in the MacBook Air may mean it slows down to avoid overheating when performing more strenuous tasks. The 14-inch MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has active cooling, so it doesnt need to slow down to stop overheating in processor-intensive applications. Its probably the key difference between these Mac laptops and the reason why the Pro is better suited to more demanding applications.Another benefit of the 14-inch MacBook Pro over the Air is longer battery life. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 offers up to 22 hours compared to 18 hours for the 13-inch MacBook Air.However, the MacBook Air is a good choice, especially now that the entry-level MacBook Pro costs $1,599/1,599. For $999/999, the M2 Air is a fantastic budget option with many of the same features as the M3 model. And for just $100/100 more, the M3 models bring even more performance.Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024)When Apple first introduced the 15-inch MacBook Air in July 2023 it answered a need for anyone who wanted a larger screen without having to pay hundreds more for a 14-inch MacBook Pro. The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air starts at $1,299/1,299. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599/1,599, which is still much more expensive than the Air. But even compared to a cheaper Pro, the 15-inch Air is still a fantastic option for buyers looking for a large-screen laptop for less. As of October 28, 2024, all MacBook Air models have 16GB of unified memory, just like the MacBook Pro. If the choice is between the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, other than the bigger screen there are a few other differences to consider. Most notably, the larger model has better audio with a six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers. Also, the entry-level 13-inch M3 MacBook Air for $1,099/1,099 offers an eight-core GPU, while the entry-level 15-inch Air, which is $200/200 more at $1,299/1,299, offers a 10-core GPU. To get the same GPU option in the 13-inch Air youd need to pay an extra $100/100. The price gap is so small that we think its worth getting the 15-inch model unless you really want a smaller screen.Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)Best Prices Today: 0.01 at idealo1899 at Alternate1899 at Apple1.899,00 at amazon.deApple discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Pro and replaced it in the lineup with a base M-series version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro (you cant get the base M-series chip in the 16-inch MacBook Pro). This move brings many benefits: the 14-inch MacBooks HDR ProMotion display is significantly better than the 13-inch models was. It also offers twice the storage, HDMI, SDXC slot, better battery life, and a newer design. Mind you, the 14-inch model, while starting at the lower price of $1,599/1,699 is quite a bit higher than the $1,299/1,349 price that the 13-inch model sold for.The higher starting price for the M4 MacBook Pro also means the difference between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro is wider than it was. Apple did sell two almost identically specd machines for a very similar price, but now the 14-inch MacBook Pro ($1,599/1,599) costs an astonishing $600/600 more than the entry-level 13-inch M2 MacBook Air ($999/999) and $500/500 more than the M3 MacBook Air ($1,099/1,099). So if budget is what is important to you, save your money and buy a MacBook Air.If the choice is between a 15-inch MacBook Air with 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD and 10-core GPU ($1,699/1,699) and the 14-inch MacBook Pro with 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD and 10-core GPU ($1,599/1,599), it looks like the MacBook Air could be the best option in terms of price, but the Air uses an older M3, while the Pro has the new M4 and better performance. Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024)Best Prices Today: 0.01 at idealo2399 at Alternate2399 at Computeruniverse2.399,00 at amazon.deAt the same time that it introduced the M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, Apple also introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max. Both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro can be bought with various configurations of those two chips.For those deciding between the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch model the best place to start is to compare like-for-like. The 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU M4 Pro with 24GB unified memory and 1TB SSD 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $2,399/2,399 compared to the almost identically specd 16-inch model with 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU M4 Pro with 24GB unified memory and 512GB SSD for $2,499/2,499. So you are paying $100/100 more to get a larger screen, but also forfeiting half the SSD. If you want an equivalent 1TB SSD in the 16-inch thats an extra $200/200.On the other hand, if you are considering spending more to get the M4 Pro rather than the M4 in a MacBook Pro, the price difference is much greater. The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD costs $1,599/1,699, while the 14-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro with 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, and 512GB SSD costs $400/400 more at $1,999/1,999. The jump from M4 to M4 Pro is an expensive one, but you are getting a lot for your money: more memory, more cores, essentially a more powerful machine in every way. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro)The entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro essentially offers the same specs (14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 24GB memory) as the top-of-the-range 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro for just 100/$100 more, $2,399/2,499 vs $2,499/2,599 which to be fair doesnt seem like a bad deal given the larger screen and increased battery life.The other big difference though is that the 14-inch MacBook in question comes with a 1TB SSD, while the 16-inch model only offers 512GB. If you really want that 1TB SSD in the 16-inch MacBook Pro it will cost you an extra 200/$200. So thats really a difference of 300/$300 if you want the bigger screen and battery. Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024)Back to the 14-inch modelwhat if you want an even more powerful machine? The M3 Max chip will offer that and more to you, but there is a high price to pay with the difference between the standard M4 Pro and M4 Max models being $800/800.If you want more memory then the M4 Max is the way to go though. This is not just because the M4 Max can support 36GB, 48GB, 64GB and 128GB unified memory, while the M4 Pro only offers 24GB or 48GB. However, the M4 Max with a 14-core CPU and 32-core GPU is available only with 36GB of unified memory and has no memory upgrade options. You have to get the M4 Max with a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and standard 48GB unified memory (an additional $300/300) in order to upgrade to 64GB or 128GB of memory.Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max, 2024)The story is much the same if you are considering the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The leap from M4 Pro to M4 Max if you look at the standard options is $600/600, If you need the M4 Max Apple is making the upgrade worthwhile, but its still a high price to pay. The high-end 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro comes with 48GB of RAM and has not RAM upgrades available. YOu have to upgrade to an M4 MAx to get more RAM.Best MacBook 2024: VerdictThe choice is pretty clear in terms of what you get for your money:Buying an entry-level M2 MacBook Air for $999/999 will get you an excellent Mac laptop for less than a grand, but it only costs $100/100 more to get an M3 MacBook Air with a newer chip.The 15-inch MacBook Air shook up the range when it arrived in July 2023. With it, Apple lowered the price of getting a larger screen on a Mac laptop. Even with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, the 15-inch MacBook Air is still an attractive proposition, but remember that the 14-inch MacBook Pro has a newer M4 chip.The price of the M4 Pro and Max MacBook Pro models is high, but these models offer the kind of specs professional users, especially creatives, need, including support for more RAM, and more CPU and GPU cores. If you can afford to stretch to the M4 Max you will get the ultimate Mac without a doubt, but you need to be willing to make a significant investment.The choice between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro is all down to the screen size. The 16-inch models are more expensive, but once you spec them out in such a way to be comparable the price difference is minor. The bigger difference is between the Pro and Max processors. Other than speed, MacBooks with Max processors can connect up to four external displays (three over Thunderbolt and one over HDMI), while the Pro models allow two displays. The M3 MacBook Air models allow two external displays when the lid is closed and a single display when its open. The MacBook Pro M3 supports just a single external display, but there is a software update coming that will fix that, and there are workarounds.For the latest MacBook Pro discounts, including discontinued models, check out our round-up of the Best MacBook Pro deals.

MacworldWondering what the name of the latest macOS version is? Want to know what the next version of macOS will be called? Curious about the versions of Mac OS X that came before? Here well fill you in on the names of the different versions of the Mac operating system in order: from the newest macOS to the first version of Mac OS X and the codenames that Apple used for them. Well also show you how you can check which version of macOS you are running and find out what the latest version of macOS is.The latest version of macOS is called macOS Sequoia after Sequoia National Park located in Californias Sierra Nevada mountain range. That version of macOS launched to the general public in September 2024, following a macOS beta program that is still underway as Apple develops more new features.The previous version of macOS was Sonoma, also known as macOS 14. Sonoma arrived in September 2023.If you are looking for help installing Sequoia read: How to update macOS and Fixes for Macs that wont update.What operating system does the Mac use? All Macs run macOS, previously known as Mac OS X, and have done so since the introduction of the first version of Mac OS X in 2001. Before that, Macs ran Mac OS 9 which came out in October 1999 and received updates until December 2001. Mac OS X was based on technology from NeXT Computer, which was another company founded by Steve Jobs. Jobs brought the technology back to Apple with him when he was reinstated as Apple CEO. The operating system is Unix-based. macOS Version HistoryMac OS X was launched more than two decades ago on March 24, 2001. Theres been a lot of change over those two decades: good and bad. From the problems with the first edition (it was slow and didnt run important apps like Microsoft Word) Mac OS X has evolved through various iterations and various designs to what we know today. Weve seen tight integration with iOS devices, the incorporation of the cloud, and the arrival of excellent and helpful features including integrated Time Machine backups, Quick Look which lets you see a preview of a document without opening the application, and innovations like Expose and Spaces and Desktop Stacks to help you work more efficiently.For an overview of the features of the various versions of the Mac operating system, showing how it has developed over time, take a look at our video above. If you want to know the names Apple assigned to Mac OS X over the years, and the codenames that were used internally, read on.List of macOS version names and latest versions Heres an overview of every version of macOS and Mac OS X Apple has released. Youll find a complete list of the latest release of each version of OS X and macOS, along version code names, along with internal code names (if available):OS X 10 beta: Kodiak September 13, 2000OS X 10.0: Cheetah March 14, 2001 (Latest: 10.0.4)OS X 10.1: Puma September 15, 2001 (Latest: 10.1.5)OS X 10.2: Jaguar August 14, 2002 (Latest: 10.2.8)OS X 10.3 Panther (Pinot) October 24, 2003 (Latest: 10.3.9)OS X 10.4 Tiger (Merlot) April 29, 2005 (Latest: 10.4.11)OS X 10.4.4 Tiger (Chardonnay) January 10, 2006 (for Intel Macs) (Latest: 10.4.11)OS X 10.5 Leopard (Chablis) October 26, 2007 (Latest: 10.5.8)OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard August 28, 2009 (Latest: 10.6.8)OS X 10.7 Lion (Barolo) July 20, 2011 (Latest: 10.7.5)OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion (Zinfandel) July 25, 2012 (Latest: 10.8.5)OS X 10.9 Mavericks (Cabernet) October 22, 2013 (Latest: 10.9.5)OS X 10.10: Yosemite (Syrah) October 16, 2014 (Latest: 10.10.5)OS X 10.11: El Capitan (Gala) September 30, 2015 (Latest: 10.11.6)macOS 10.12: Sierra (Fuji) September 20, 2016 (Latest: 10.12.6)macOS 10.13: High Sierra (Lobo) September 25, 2017 (Latest: 10.13.6)macOS 10.14: Mojave (Liberty) September 24, 2018 (Latest: 10.14.6, July 2021)macOS 10.15: Catalina (Jazz) October 7, 2019 (Latest: 10.15.7, Security Update 2022-005, July 2022)macOS 11: Big Sur (GoldenGate) November 12, 2020 (Latest: 11.7.10, September 11, 2023)macOS 12: Monterey (Star) October 25, 2021 (Latest: 12.7.6, July 29, 2024)macOS 13: Ventura (Rome) October 24, 2022 (Latest: 13.7.1, October 28, 2024)macOS 14: Sonoma (Sunburst) September 26, 2023 (Latest: 14.7.1, October 28, 2024)macOS 15: Sequoia (Glow) September 18, 2024 (Latest: 15.1, October 28, 2024)We have a full list of which Macs run which versions of macOS here.You can install a beta version of Sequoia and test new features that havent yet launched. If you want to install the latest beta of macOS read about joining Apples beta program.macOS Sequoia isnt even released yet and Apple is already working on macOS 16, which is codenamed Cheer, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg in his June 30, 2024 newsletter. FoundryMac OS X and macOS namesAs you can see from the list above, with the exception of the first OS X beta, all versions of the Mac operating system from 2001 to 2012 were named after big cats, from Cheetah to Panther to the final release, Mountain Lion. But while the public-facing builds were named after big cats, internally, they were named after wines (aside from OS X 10.6 which had no codename).Even after Apple switched public-facing code names to places in California back in 2013, it carried on naming them after wines internally until 2014. In 2015, Apple decided to change the theme of internal code names from wines to types of apples. Original.In 2016, Apple took the plunge to unify the branding of its operating systems by rebranding Mac OS X to macOS, which sits nicely alongside iOS, tvOS, and watchOS and paved the way for macOS 11, the successor to Mac OS X, which arrived twenty years after the first beta of Mac OS X.Which versions of macOS are still updated?Apple still supplies regular features and security updates to the most recent version of macOS. Right now this is Sequoia, also known as macOS 15.The previous two versions of macOS also receive security updates and bug fixes. If you are running macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 13 Ventura you will still get security updates. Since the arrival of Sequoia, Apple no longer supports macOS 12 Monterey which arrived in 2021 (and with the arrival of Sonoma in 2023 it stopped support for macOS Big Sur, which arrived in 2020). See: How long do Macs and MacBooks last?Apple also issues updates to its Safari web browser. The latest version of Safari for Mac is Safari 18 (as of September 2024) and it requires Ventura, Sonoma or Sequoia.FoundryHow to tell which macOS version you are runningYou can tell which version of macOS you are running by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left and choosing About This Mac. It will clearly show which version of macOS you are running along with the most recent version that your Mac has installedIts easy to find out which version of macOS is running on a Mac.FoundryHow to install the latest version of macOSIf you want to update your Mac to a newer version of macOS the method will be determined by the version of macOS you are running.Very old versions of Mac OS X came on a disk and any security updates came via Software Update. Since the arrival of the Mac App Store in 2011 (as an update to Snow Leopard) versions of Mac OS X and macOS have been available to download via the Mac App Store.However, that changed with Mojave, which arrived in 2018. Now operating system updates come in via Software Updates which is either located in System Settings > General > Software Update or in System Preferences > Software Update (pre-Ventura). One of the benefits of this is that your Mac can be set to automatically download the latest updates and install them, keeping your Mac up-to-date with minimum effort on your part. Incidentally, you can still find the macOS software on the Mac App Store.Some Macs will be set to update macOS automatically. If you want your Mac to update automatically follow these steps:In Ventura or later: Open System Settings.Click on General. Click on Software Update.Click on the i beside Automatic Updates and make sure that Check for updates, Download new updates when available, and Install macOS updates are selected. This way your Mac will automatically update to the latest version. If you would prefer not to have your Mac do this automatically you can deselect these options. In Monterey, Big Sur, Mojave, or Catalina:Open System Preferences.Click on Software Update.Check the box beside Automatically keep my Mac up to date (or Download new updates when available).Now select the box Install macOS updates.In High Sierra or earlier:Open System Preferences.Click on App Store.Check the box beside Automatically check for updates it should have a tick in it as should the four options below thatNow deselect the box beside Download newly available updates in the background.Read all about how to update your Mac here.We also have a list of every version of iOS where you can see the latest versions and how long Apple supports iPhones for.

MacworldThe biggest shopping day of the year is Black Friday, which falls on Friday, November 29, 2024. Well be updating this article with details of Apples 2024 Black Friday sale as soon as they are officially announced.We find the best deals are from resellers rather than Apple itself, and we track them all so we can help you find the best deals on Apple products including the Apple Watch, MacBooks, iPhones, AirPods, and iPads. You can peruse our individual round-ups of the best deals for Black Friday to find a bargain. We also monitor deals all year round, showcasing the best Apple deals every month.But what of Apple? Will Apple hold a Black Friday sale? We wish it would but, unfortunately, Apples Black Friday deal is usually a giveaway of gift cards with certain purchases made during the Black Friday period. To give you an idea of what to expect, more details on previous Apple Black Friday events can be found below.Black Friday 2023: The best Apple deals in the U.S.Since you would be paying full price at the Apple Store, albeit with a voucher incentive in some cases, here are the best Apple deals we found at other retailers back in November 2023:Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M1 (256GB): $749 ($250 off, MSRP $999)Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M2 (10-core GPU, 256GB): $1,049 ($250 off, MSRP $1,299)Amazon, 14-inch, M3 Pro, 11-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 512GB SSD: $1,799 ($200 off, MSRP: $1,999)Amazon, Mac mini (M2, 256GB): $499 ($100 off, MSRP $599)Amazon, AirPods Pro (2nd-gen, USB-C case): $190 ($59 off, MSRP $249)Amazon, AirPods (2nd gen): $80 ($49 off, MSRP $129)Amazon, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS): $329 ($70 off, MSRP $399)Amazon, Apple Watch SE (2nd gen, 40mm): $179 ($70 off, MSRP $249)Amazon, iPad (9th-gen, 64GB): $230 ($99 off, MSRP $329)Amazon, iPad (10th-gen, 64GB): $349 ($100 off, MSRP $449)Black Friday 2023: The best Apple deals in the U.K.KRCS, 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU), 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD: 1,529.10 (169.90 off, MSRP 1,699) KRCS, 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU), 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD: 2,339.10 (259.90 off, MSRP 2,599)Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M2 (512GB) 1,399 (200 off, MSRP 1,599)KRCS: M2 Pro Mac mini, 512GB: 1,259 (140 off MRSP 1,399)Amazon, AirPods Pro (2nd gen), USB-C: 199 (30 off, MSRP 229). You can also find the same deal at Currys, John Lewis and VeryAmazon, iPad Air, 64GB, WiFi: 579 (90 off, RRP 669)Amazon: 12.9in iPad Pro, M2, 512GB, Wi-Fi for 1,479.99 (119 off, RRP 1,599)Argos, Apple Watch Ultra 1: 599 (200 less than Ultra 2)Does Apple do Black Friday?Historically, Apple has given customers Apple Gift Cards with the purchase of eligible Apple products. While the qualifying products and voucher amounts change every year, this is Apples only deal. Apple doesnt discount its own products for Black Friday or Cyber Monday.Details of Apples Black Friday Shopping Event will be found on Apples website when available.What was Apples Black Friday deal in 2023?$25/20 Apple Gift Card: iPhone SE, AirPods (2nd-gen), AirPods (3rd-gen), Beats Flex, Apple Pencil (2nd-gen), Smart Keyboard Folio, Apple TV$50/40 Apple Gift Card: Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 9, HomePod, Beats Studio Pro, Beats Solo3 Wireless, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds +, Beats Studio Buds, Magic Keyboard, Magic Keyboard Folio, iPhone 13, AirPods Pro (2nd-gen)$75/60 Apple Gift Card: iPhone 14, AirPods Max$100/80 Apple Gift Card: iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad 10th gen, iPad Pro, Mac mini$150/120 Apple Gift Card: 13-inch MacBook Air (M1)$175/140 Apple Gift Card: 13-inch MacBook Air (M2)$200/160 Apple Gift Card: 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac miniBecause the iPhone 15, M3 iMac, and M3-series MacBook Pro were all recent introductions Apple wasnt offering any vouchers with those purchases. But the company was offering gift cards with Apple Watch 9 purchases for the first time.FoundryHow good was Apples 2023 Black Friday deal?The 2023 deal didnt look as good as that of 2022 when Apple offered up to $250/250 in Apple Gift Cards with the MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch. In 2023 the biggest voucher was $200/200 for the 15-inch MacBook Air not with the MacBook Pro or iMac. But we were pleased to see the new Apple Watch Series 9 included in 2023, along with the iPad Pro, 10th gen iPad, HomePod, Apple TV, and the 15-inch MacBook Air.20232022iPhone 14$75n/aiPhone 13$50$50iPhone SE$25$50iPad Pro$50n/aiPad Air$75$50iPad mini $50$50iPad (10th gen.)$50n/aiPad (9th gen.)n/a$3015-inch MacBookAir with M2chip$200n/a13-inch MacBookAir with M2chip$175$15013-inch MacBookAir with M1chip$150$150Mac mini$100$100MacBook Pro 14-inch & 16-inchn/a$250MacBook Pro 13-inchn/a$200iMac 24-inchn/a$150Apple Watch Series 9 $50n/aApple Watch SE$50$50AirPods (2ndgeneration) $25$25AirPods (3rdgeneration)$25$25AirPods Pro (2ndgeneration)$50$50AirPods Max$75$75ApplePencil (2ndgeneration) $25 $25 HomePod$50n/aApple TV 4K$25 n/a2022s deal actually went a little further than Apples 2021s Black Friday offer. Although that depends on your perspective you could also think that the Apples Black Friday shopping event was worse in 2022.In 2021 the biggest Apple Gift Card on offer was for $200/160, which was the saving offered with the sale of the 27-inch iMac (which was discontinued in 2022). While the discounts on offer were generally a bit better than 2021, Apple didnt match the offers from other resellers such as Amazon.Black Friday 2024: Best deals for Apple productsCheck out these roundups for the best Apple deals:Best Black Friday 2024 Apple dealsBest Black Friday 2024 MacBook dealsBest Black Friday 2024 Mac DealsBest Black Friday 2024 AirPods dealsBest Black Friday 2024 Apple Watch dealsBest Black Friday 2024 iPad dealsBest Black Friday 2024 iPhone dealsBest Black Friday 2024 Mac monitor dealsBest Black Friday 2024 SSD and external hard drive dealsBest Black Friday 2024 Apple accessory dealsBlack Friday 2024: When do the sales begin?Black Friday officially begins at 12.01am on the day after Thanksgiving, which in 2024 will be Friday, November 29. However, many sales begin well before that, in 2023 we saw deals starting at the beginning of November. The main event runs through the weekend and concludes on Cyber Monday which is December 2 in 2024.Black Friday 2024: Where to get the best dealsSpotting a good Black Friday deal takes a bit of work but well be doing most of it for you. Throughout Black Friday weekend, well be posting deal roundups and calling out specific sales that are worth checking out. Stay tuned to Macworld as we call out the bestand worstdeals all throughout the weekend. These are the retailers that are most likely to have the best prices:Stay tuned to Macworld throughout November to find the best deals as they arrive. But if youre looking for a specific color or capacity, you can check out the following retailers. In the U.S., here are the best stores to shop for Black Friday deals:AppleAmazonBest BuyCostcoTargetWalmartIf youre based in the U.K., youll find deals at the following shops:AppleAO.comAmazonArgosCarphone WarehouseCurryseBuyerJohn LewisKRCSLaptops DirectVeryBlack Friday: Should I wait for Cyber Monday to purchase?While its always possible that a better deal is waiting around the corner, if you see a good deal, dont wait. While Cyber Monday promises impressive deals, prices are usually lowest on Black Friday. Plus theres always the risk that the Apple device you want sells out and you miss out on the great deal everyone else got.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsExcellent performanceThunderbolt 5 is a boon for professionals12MP CenterStage FaceTime cameraNano-texture glass display optionConsWi-Fi 7 wouldve been nice to future-proof it a littleOur Verdict The M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro is a powerful workstation and Apple makes the package even better with Thunderbolt 5, the 12MP Center Stage camera, and the Nano-texture glass display option. Its a loaded laptop for the most demanding users.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayIf youre someone whos shopping for a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M-series Pro chip, you aint messin around. If you want the most processing muscle, you really want an M4 Max chip, but if a $3,499 laptop is out of your budget, the M4 Pro models have what it takes to conquer your processing demands.The 16-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro was a really good laptop. This new M4 Pro version is even better, thanks in part to the non-chip upgrades. To solidify its workstation status, Apple implemented a Thunderbolt 5 upgrade in Pro and Max models. Theres also a spiffy new built-in camera and a display option that makes things easier on your eyes. This review is structured based on how the major updates will influence your buying decision. In this case, the M4 Pro chip will be the most important factor, so we evaluate its performance first, followed by Thunderbolt 5, the screen and camera, and then other factors. You can use the Table of Contents links at the top of this article to skip around. But before all that, here are the details on our review unit.16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro: SpecificationsThe M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro in this review has the same the same CPU, GPU, and RAM as the $2,899/2,899 standard configuration, but the SSD is a 2TB upgrade ($600/600) and it has the Nano-texture glass ($150/150). Here are the specifications of the laptop in this review:CPU: M4 Pro with 14 cores (10 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 16-core Neural EngineGPU: 20 coresMemory: 48GB unified memory (273GBps memory bandwidth)Storage: 2TB SSDDisplay: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR; 3456-by-2234 native resolution at 254 pixels per inch; 1000 nits sustained XDR brightness, 1600 nits peak (HDR content only); 1000 nits SDR brightness; 1 billion colors; P3 color gamut; True Tone; Nano-texture glassPorts: 3 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C; MagSafe 3; SDXC Card slot; HDMI; 3.5mm audioNetworking: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3Input devices: Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; Magic TrackpadWeight: 4.7 pounds (2.14 kg)Dimensions: 0.66 x 14.01 x 9.77 inches (1.68 x 35.57 x 24.81 cm)Price (as tested): $3,649/3.64916-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro: PerformanceThe standard configuration of the M4 Pro has two more CPU and GPU cores than the M3 Pro it replaces. Apple added more unified memory in the standard configurations, too, which is a result of Apple bumping the starting level of all Macs with the based M4 chip to 16GB. The M4 Pro now starts at 24GB of RAM, up from 18GB in the M3 Pro.Geekbench 6.3 CPU benchmarksResults are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Geekbench 6.3 gauges overall performance, and the M4 Pro matches the M3 Max in the Multi-Core test. If youre wondering what kind of boost you get if you upgrade from an M4 to an M4 Pro, its 52 percentthats worth the money if youre doing a lot of processor-heavy tasks. All of the M4 chips offer a small boost over the M3 series in Single-Core performance.Cinebench 2024Results are expressed as Cinebench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.In Cinebench 2024 we again see the M4 Pro matching the M3 Max in the CPU Multi-Core test. The M3 Maxs GPU result blows past the M4 Pro, but thats to be expected since the M3 Max has twice as many GPU cores.Handbrake 1.8.2 video encodeResults are times in seconds. Lower times/shorter bars are faster.A third benchmark where the M4 Pro CPU performance is equal to that of the M3 Max. And once again, this benchmark provides good insight into what youre getting if you are trying to figure out if you should get an M4 or M4 Pro.iMovie 4K video exportResults are times in seconds. Lower times/shorter bars are faster.The M4 Pro offers a 22 percent better performance over the M3 Pro in our iMovie 4K video export test to a ProRes file. This test takes advantage of the built-in video codecs in the chip.Blackmagic Disk TestResults are megabytes per second. Higher rates/longer bars are faster.The results of this SSD test with the M4 Pro are some of the fastest weve seen. The difference between the M4 (1TD SSD) and the M4 Pro (2TB SSD) looks dramatic.Geekbench 6 ComputeResults are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.The M4 Pro has twice as many GPU cores as the M4, and thats pretty much reflected in our Geekbench 6 Compute Metal scores, which tests graphics performance.Videogame benchmarksResults are frames per second. Higher rates/longer bars are faster.Rise of the Tomb Raider and Civilization VI are older games written for Intel and not optimized for Apples Metal graphics API. New to our testing suite are Borderlands 3 and Total War: Warhammer III. We see the M4 Pro flexing its GPU muscle here over the M4.The M4 14-inch MacBook Pro (top) has Thunderbolt 4 ports. The M4 Pro and M4 Max models, including the 16-inch MacBook Pro (bottom), are Thunderbolt 5.Foundry16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro: Ports and connectivityThis is a big deal: the M4 Pro and M4 Max have Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, which offers 80Gbps bandwidth, twice that of Thunderbolt 4 on the M3 series and M4 MacBook Pro, and at least 140 watts of power with a max of 240 watts (version 4 is 100/140). To take full advantage of Thunderbolt 5, you need to use Thunderbolt 5 cables, because other cables may not be able to handle the increased bandwidth. Apple sells a one-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable for $69/69, which sounds expensive (and it is), but it has a reputation for making high-quality Thunderbolt cables.Thunderbolt 5 also supports more external displays. Heres what you can connect with the laptop display still in use (the external display support is the same as the M4 chip):Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, orOne external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI, orOne external display at 8K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI, orOne external display at 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI.The other ports are MagSafe 3, HDMI, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an SDXC Card slot. Wireless connectivity is done with Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3. Apple offers Wi-Fi 7 in the iPhone 16 lineups, but the company decided not to use it in the higher-end MacBook Pros. It wouldve been nice if they did.The Nano-texture display option is an additional $150 but it cuts down reflections and glare.Foundry16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro: Display and cameraNote: the changes to the display and camera are across the whole MacBook Pro lineup, so what I write here echoes what I wrote about the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro.Apple now offers a Nano-texture glass option for the display for an additional $150. It provides a matte finish that does a very good job of cutting down reflections and glare. The compromise that comes with the Nano-texture glass is that colors are less vibrant, and blacks arent as deep are they are with a glossy screen. If you find glossy screens bothersome, then the option is for you.Sitting atop it is a new 12MP CenterStage camera. The 1080p FaceTime camera it replaced was another one of those things that didnt seem befitting for a pro laptop, and its finally gone. Center Stage keeps you in the center of the frame, and the Desk View feature provides a perspective of your workspace. In all, the new camera is a better tool for video conferencing.16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro: Battery lifeThe 16-inch MacBook Pro has a 100-watt-hour battery, practically the same as the 99.6-watt-hour battery in last years 16-inch model. Apple states, Up to 24 hours video streaming and Up to 17 hours wireless web for battery life.Our battery test involves playing a video saved to the SSD in a continuous loop until the battery runs out, with the display set to 150 nits. The battery finally ran out after 26 hours, which surpassed any of Apples ratings. You wont worry about battery life when using this laptop unless youre doing CPU- and GPU-intensive tasks without the power adapter.16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro: Apple IntelligenceOne of the major selling points of the new MacBook Pro is Apple Intelligence, the AI-based features being rolled out starting with macOS Sequoia 15.1. However, while Apple says the MacBook Pro is built for Apple intelligence like the rest of the M4 Macs, the first batch of M4 Macs coming off the line wont actually have Sequoia 15.1, so if youre among the early customers you may need to update macOS by running System Update in System Settings.The Apple Intelligence features are spread out over time. The first set is in 15.1 and a second set is coming in 15.2, probably in December. Apple will develop more features as time goes by. Learn more about the Apple Intelligence rollout.Geekbench AI 1.0Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Geekbench AI measures the performance of the chips Neural Engine. Its a new benchmark so our dataset for comparison is limited. Be sure to check out our impressions on the first set of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1the insights in that article carry over to macOS Sequoia 15.1.Should you buy the M4 Pro MacBook Pro?Since 16-inch, M4 Pro (and M4 Max) MacBook Pros are big investments theres a tendency to hold on to them longer than an M4 MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air. If you bought an M3 Pro MacBook Pro (or maybe even an M2 Pro), youre probably good with waiting until the next cycle, which will carry over the changes here and add some new goodies. The M4 Pro offers the typical boost that comes with a new chip, which may not be enough to justify the cost on its own.However, the new Thunderbolt 5 implementation is a landmark upgrade that will add new efficiency to workflows of massive data transfers. You need the appropriate cables and devices to take advantage of the throughput, but perhaps for you, thats just the cost of doing business and Thunderbolt 5 is enough to make you get an M4 Pro or Max MacBook Pro.The MacBook Pro is offered in Space Black (pictured) or Silver.FoundryFor users still on an Intel MacBook Pro, I have to ask, again, what are you waiting for? That Intel workstation is wasting your time. You can be zooming along with a modern Mac. I mean, if you have something that you absolutely need and it works on Intel only, I encourage you to find an alternative solution that will allow you to take advantage of Apple silicon. Its time to make the change.Overall, the M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro is a powerful workstation and Apple makes the package even better with Thunderbolt 5, the 12MP Center Stage camera, and the Nano-texture glass display option. Its a loaded laptop for the most demanding users.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingPros16GB unified memory is now the standard baseline12MP Center Stage camera upgradeThree Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports instead of twoNano-texture glass display optionConsSpace Gray no longer an optionM4 SSD performance pales in comparison to M4 ProOur Verdict Apple has released a laptop that addresses the issues with the confounding 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro, and updated its chip, as well. The result is not just that the M4 MacBook Pro has a clear identity, but it also represents a tremendous value.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayBest Prices Today: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4)RetailerPrice0.01View Deal1899View Deal1899View Deal1899View Deal1899View Deal1.685,37 View Deal1.899,00 View Deal1.899,00 View Deal1.899,00 View Deal1.899,00 View Deal1.910,73 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketApples approach to its most affordable MacBook Pro has been a little perplexing during the early part of the Apple silicon era. There were theM1andM213-inch MacBook Pro, good laptops but with dated designs that seemed odd compared to the pricier and prettier 14and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Then Apple dropped it when the M3 came, but its 14-inch replacement had glaring compromises.It seemed like Apple had a different idea than customers of the role of the most affordable MacBook Pro in the laptop lineup. Apple seemed to think of the entry-level MacBook Pro as a tweener machine, a bridge from the MacBook Air. Customers, however, see that its a MacBook Pro and expect a pro-level laptop with few (or no) glaring compromises.The changes to the $1,599 MacBook Pro make it a true pro laptop.FoundryThat brings us to the M4 14-inch MacBook Pro. With it, Apple has released a laptop that addresses the issues with the confounding 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro, and updated its chip, as well. The result is not just that the M4 MacBook Pro has a clear identity, but it also represents a tremendous value.This review is structured based on how the major updates will influence your buying decision. Here, the M4 chip is the primary factor, so we cover it first. Then we cover the ports, then the screen and camera, and then other factors. Use the Table of Contents links at the top of this article to skip around. Before all of that, here are the details on our review unit.14-inch M4 MacBook Pro: Our models specificationsThis review looks at the M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is Apples most affordable model in the MacBook Pro lineup. Our review unit has the same CPU, GPU, and RAM as the base standard configuration, but the SSD is a 1TB upgrade, which is an additional $200/200, and it has the Nano-texture glass ($150/150). Here are the specifications of the laptop in this review:CPU: M4 with 10 cores (4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores), 16-core Neural EngineGPU: 10 coresMemory: 16GB unified memory (120GBps memory bandwidth)Storage: 1TB SSDDisplay: 14.2-inch LiquidRetina XDR; 3024-by-1964 native resolution at 254 pixels per inch; 1000 nits sustained XDR brightness, 1600 nits peak (HDR content only); 1000 nits SDR brightness; 1 billion colors; P3 color gamut; True Tone; Nano-texture glassPorts: 3 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C; MagSafe 3; SDXC Card slot; HDMI; 3.5mm audioNetworking: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3Input devices: Magic Keyboard with Touch ID; Magic TrackpadWeight:3.4 pounds (1.55 kg)Dimensions: 0.61 x 12.31 x 8.71 inches (1.55 x 31.26 x 22.12 cm)Price (as tested): $1,949/1,94914-inch M4 MacBook Pro: PerformanceThe major problem with the M3 MacBook Pro was that its unified memory started at 8GB. Thats usable but for a Pro laptop its not enough for high-end tasks, and an upgrade to 16GB costs a pricey $200/200. Last year, Apple defended its stance against customer outcry and it seemed like the company wasnt going to budge. But at some point (perhaps tied to Apple Intelligence?) the company made the right decision to set 16GB as the new RAM baseline in all Macswhat makes the change even sweeter is prices werent affected at all.What 16GB means is that the M4 MacBook Pro runs more efficiently. While youre not going to see dramatic boosts, itll feel a lot smoother when youre using an app thats not optimized properly, have a lot of apps open at the same time, and/or have a dozen browser tabs of Macworld.com open at the same time.Besides having more base RAM than the M3, the M4 has a 10-core CPU (4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores) and a 10-core GPU. Learn more about the M4. Overall, the M4 offers the typical boost weve seen from the old chip series to the new one, but since Apple didnt increase the price with the RAM boost, the overall value is much better.Geekbench 6.3 CPU benchmarksResults are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Geekbench 6.3 gauges overall performance, and the M4 was 23 percent faster than the M3 in the Multi-Core test. The boost over the M2 and M1 is more significant at 53 percent and 79 percent, respectively. The M1 and M2 laptops also have the old design with fewer ports so youll get a combination of a modern look and a performance upgrade.Cinebench 2024Results are expressed as Cinebench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.The M4s 8 percent GPU boost in Cinebench 2024 isnt much faster than the M3. Curiously, the M4 iMac that we reviewed with the same M4 chip tallied a GPU score that was 10 percent faster than the M4 MacBook Pro. Perhaps the MacBook Pros M4 needs to do some throttling to maintain a proper temperature in its much tighter quarters than the iMac, though the fans were not noticeable during the GPU test.The fans did kick in loudly during the CPU tests, though. The laptop didnt get noticeably hot to the touch, but I dont recall triggering the fans in any other M-series laptop review.Handbrake 1.8.2 video encodeResults are times in seconds. Lower times/shorter bars are faster.More incremental improvements from the M3 to the M4 when converting the 4KTears of Steelvideo to a 1080p H.265 file. The improvement of the M4 over the M2 and M1 is much more impressive.iMovie 4K video exportResults are times in seconds. Lower times/shorter bars are faster.Over time, Apple has improved the video encoders that are built into the M-series chips, and it shows in our iMovie results when exporting a 4K ProRes video file. For example, the M4 offers an improvement thats over 200 percent over the M1.Blackmagic Disk TestResults are megabytes per second. Higher rates/longer bars are faster.The SSD performance has been flat over the past couple of generations. Ive had a few readers ask me if the issues with the SSD performance are still present. First, those problems involved the 256GB SSD and the MacBook Pro starts at 512GB. Second, the issue was with the M1 and M2; with the M3, Apple addressed the issue so its unlikely itll be a problem with the M4.However, theres a noticeable difference between the M4 and M4 Pro SSDs. Our results show that the M4 Pro SSD is about twice as fast as the M4 SSD. Historically, the M Pro SSD has been much faster than the base M chips SSD and that still holds up here. You can read our review of the 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro to learn more. Geekbench 6 ComputeResults are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Heres another incremental boost, this time in the Geekbench 6 Compute benchmark. This test gauges GPU performance. We tend to lend more credence to the Metal benchmark since thats Apples API, but a lot of games use OpenCL.Videogame benchmarksResults are frames per second. Higher rates/longer bars are faster.We added Borderlands 3 and Total War: Warhammer III benchmarks, but since theyre new additions, our data set is only for the M4 and M3 chips. Rise of the Tomb RaiderandCivilization VI are older games written for Intel and not optimized for Apples Metal graphics API. But it is impressive that the M4 performance has doubled that of the M1 in many instances.The Thunderbolt port between the SDXC Card slot and HDMI is a new addition to the $1,599 MacBook Pro, bringing the total number of Thunderbolt ports to three.Foundry14-inch M4 MacBook Pro: Ports and connectivityAnother major change is that the M4 MacBook Pro now has three Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, one more than the M3 MacBook Pro. Having only two of these ports on a MacBook Prothe same as the MacBook Airalong with 8GB of RAM felt like a way to force shoppers into buying a more expensive model. But the base MacBook Pro is now set up like its pricier brethrenat least on the surface.Underneath, the M4 MacBook Pros Thunderbolt is the version 4 variety, but the M4 Pro and M4 Max models have Thunderbolt 5, which is the latest version. Version 5 offers 80Gbps bandwidth, twice that of Thunderbolt 4, and at least 140 watts of power with a max of 240 watts (version 4 is 100/140). Thunderbolt 5 also supports more external displays.Speaking of external displays, the M4 MacBook Pro supports (while the built-in display is running, no clamshell mode going on here):Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, orOne external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI, orOne external display at 8K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI, orOne external display at 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI.The other ports are a MagSafe 3 port, HDMI, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an SDXC Card slot. Wireless connectivity is done with Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3.Yes, thats a Space Black M4 MacBook Pro you see there. Space Black is now available but Space Gray is no longer an option. The other option is Silver.Foundry14-inch M4 MacBook Pro: Display and cameraApple did not change the MacBook Pros display, which is fine, but the company now offers a Nano-texture glass option for $150. It provides a matte finish that does a very good job of cutting down reflections and glare. The compromise that comes with the Nano-texture glass is that colors are less vibrant, and blacks arent as deep are they are with a glossy screen. If you find glossy screens bothersome, then the option is for you.Sitting atop it is a new 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. The 1080p FaceTime camera it replaced was another one of those things that didnt seem befitting for a pro laptop, and its finally gone. Center Stage keeps you in the center of the frame, and the Desk View feature provides a perspective of your workspace. In all, the new camera is a better tool for video conferencing.14-inch M4 MacBook Pro: Battery lifeThe battery in the M4 MacBook Pro is bigger at 72.4-watt hours; the M3 MacBook Pro had a 70-watt-hour battery. The M3 model had Up to 22 hours AppleTV app movie playback and Up to 15 hours wireless web while the M4 model is stated as 24 and 16 hours respectively.Our battery test involves playing a video saved to the SSD in a continuous loop until the battery runs out, with the display set to 150 nits (a smidge more than halfway past the brightness indicator). Apples laptop battery life has been exceptional ever since the M1 and its just more of the same here. The M4 MacBook Pro lasted about 20 hours in our test, but more importantly, I used the laptop without plugging it in to do my daily work (image editing, some easy video and podcast editing, and lots and lots of writing) and I could go a day without worrying about needing to plug in.14-inch M4 MacBook Pro: Apple IntelligenceA review of the M4 MacBook Pro wouldnt be complete without mentioning Apple Intelligence, the AI-based features being rolled out starting with macOS Sequoia 15.1. However, the first batch of M4 Macs coming off the line wont have Sequoia 15.1, so if youre among the early customers you may need to update macOS by running System Update in System Settings.The Apple Intelligence features are spread out over time. The first set is in 15.1 and a second set is coming in 15.2, probably in December. Apple will develop more features as time goes by.Geekbench AI 1.0Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Geekbench AI measures the performance of the chips Neural Engine. Its a new benchmark so our dataset for comparison is limited. Be sure to check out our impressions on the first set of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1the insights in that article carry over to macOS Sequoia 15.1.Should you buy the M4 MacBook Pro?The changes that Apple made to the $1,599/1,599 M4 MacBook Pro not only made it a clear pro laptop (finally), but it also created a package bursting with value. It no longer feels like a compromised laptop, and you get a lot of performance and features for the price. If you consider yourself a pro userbut not really a pros pro, per sethe M4 MacBook Pro has a lot to offer.

MacworldThe new M4 Mac mini is mini. Its way more mini than the old mini, which wasnt a very big desktop computer at all. At just 55 inches square and 2 inches tall, its less than a quarter the volume of the Mac Studio, which is also a small desktop computer, and only 1.33 inches bigger than the Apple TV 4K in length and width and not even an inch taller.But what does that really mean? How does that size compare to other everyday objects? Perhaps these photos will provide a better point of reference for just how mini Apples new Mac mini really is.FoundryHeres something you may have already: A Magic Trackpad. Its footprint actually exceeds that of the new Mac mini. Its thinner, of course, but just know that a Magic Trackpad takes up more room on your desk than a Mac mini.FoundryEven placed diagonally, the iPhone 16 Pro Max extends well beyond the boundaries of the new Mac mini.FoundryIs it bigger than a couple of decks of standard playing cards? Yes, of course, its not that tiny. But its not as much bigger as youd expect.FoundryDo you love coffee? Me, too. But I bet youre not used to your coffee mug dwarfing your desktop computer.FoundryEven a PS5 DualSense controller is bulkier than the Mac mini.FoundryHeres a great way to visualize the Mac mini: stack two standard household smoke detectors on top of each other. Thats almost exactly how big this little computer is.FoundryI dont know about you, but I certainly dont have any other desktop computers small enough to easily wear my sunglasses.Apple Mac mini (M4)Best Prices Today:0.01 at idealo | 689 at Alternate | 699 at Computeruniverse

Theres no question that robotics is transforming our world. Thanks to computerized machines, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, supply chains, retail, automotive, construction, and other industries are seeing rapidly increasing efficiencies and new capabilities.One challenge with bringing new robots online is that its hard, expensive, and time-consuming to train them for the task at hand. Once youve trained them, you have to retrain them with every minor tweak to the system. Robots are capable, but highly inflexible.Some of the training is handled by software coding. Other methods use imitation learning, where a person teleoperates a robot (which, during training, essentially functions as a puppet) to kickstart data for robot movement.Both approaches are time-consuming and expensive.Compounding the difficulty is a lack of standards. Each robot manufacturer uses its own specialized programming language. The interfaces used for teaching robots, especially teach pendants, tend to lack the modern attributes of the major, non-proprietary software development environments. (A teach pendant is a handheld control device that enables operators to program and control robots, enabling precise manipulation of the robots movements and functions.)The lack of standards adds both complexity and costs for obvious reasons. Robot programming courses can cost thousands of dollars, and companies often need to train many employees on several robotics programming platforms.Because of a lack of standards, because robots are inflexible once trained, and because robot skill development is manual and task-by-task, it is complex, time-intensive, and costly.MIT to the rescue?To solve the enormous problems of robot training, MIT researchers are developing a radical, brilliant new method calledHeterogeneous Pretrained Transformers, or HPTs.The concept is based roughly on the same concept oflarge language models(LLMs) now driving the generative AI boom.LLMs use vast neural networks with billions of parameters to process and generate text based on patterns learned from massive training datasets.HPTs work by using a transformer model to process diverse robotic data from multiple sources and modalities. To that data, the model adds and aligns vision and robot-movement inputs in the form of tokens. And all this is processed by an actual LLM. The larger the transformer, the better the robots performance.While LLMs and HPTs are very different for starters, every physical robot is mechanically unique and very different from other robots they both involve vast training datasets from many sources.In the case of HPTs, researchers added data from real physical robots and simulation environments and multi-modal data (from vision sensors, robotic arm position encoders, and others). The researchers created a massive dataset for pretraining, including 52 datasets with more than 200,000 robot trajectories.As a result, HPTs need far fewer task-specific data. And this is early days for the method. As with LLMs, its reasonable to expect massive advances in capability with additional data and optimization.Researchers found that the HPT method outperformed training from scratch by more than 20% in both simulations and real-world experiments.Limitations to HPT robot trainingWhile HPTs show promise, theyre still limited and need development.Just as even more advanced LLM-based chatbots can hallucinate and tend to be polluted with bad data, HPTs need a mechanism for filtering out bad data from the datasets. Nobody wants a powerful industrial robot hallucinating and freaking out on the factory floor.While LLMs and HPTs are similar in concept, LLMs are far more advanced because the available datasets are massively higher. To industrialize the method, the models would need massive quantities of probably simulated data to add to the real-world data.As it was during the early days of LLMs, HPT research at MIT is currently averaging below 90% success rates.According to the researchers, future research should explore several key directions to overcome the limitations of HPT.To unlock further potential in robotic learning, training objectives beyond supervised learning, such as self-supervised or unsupervised learning, should be investigated.It is important to grow the datasets with diverse, high-quality data. This could include teleoperation data, simulations, human videos, and deployed robot data. Researchers need to learn the optimal blend of data types for higher HPT success rates.Researchers and later industry will need to create standardized virtual testing grounds to facilitate the comparison of different robot models. (These wouldlikely come from Nvidia.)Researchers also need to test robots on more complex, real-world tasks. This could involve robots using both hands (bimanual) or moving around (mobile) to complete longer, more intricate jobs. Think of it as giving robots more demanding, more realistic challenges to solve.Scientists are also looking into how the amount of data, the size of the robots brain (model), and its performance are connected. Understanding this relationship could help us build better robots more efficiently.Another exciting area is teaching robots to understand different types of information. This could include 3D maps of their surroundings, touch sensors, and even data from human actions. By combining all these different inputs, robots could learn to understand their environment more like humans do.All these research ideas aim to create smarter, more versatile robots that can handle a wider range of tasks in the real world. Its about overcoming the current limitations of robot learning systems and pushing the boundaries of what robots can do.According toan MIT article on the research, In the future, the researchers want to study how data diversity could boost the performance of HPT. They also want to enhance HPT so it can process unlabeled data like GPT-4 and other large language models.The ultimate goal is a universal robot brain that could be downloaded and used without additional training. In essence, HPTs would enable robots to perform far closer to how people act. Specifically, a new, un-trained employee hired to work on an assembly line already knows how to pick things up, walk around, manipulate objects, and identify widgets by sight. They then start out haltingly, gaining confidence with additional skills acquired through practice. MIT researchers see HTP-trained robots as operating the same way.This raises obvious concerns about replacing human workers with robots, but thats a subject for another column.In the meantime, I think MIT researchers are onto something here: a new technology that could and probably will radically accelerate the industrial robotics revolution.

Does anyone else out there remember Xserve?Discontinued in 2010, this was an Apple server that saw adoption as asupercomputer cluster, and found another use within movie industry workflows as a RAID system. Fans might be interested to know that anXserve cluster at Virginia Techranked No. 7 on the Top 500 list of supercomputers in 2004, topping out at 12.25 teraflops of performance. (That, incidentally, is about the performance of an iPhone 12, or an M1-based Mac.)Holding it wrongApple discontinued the Xserve with a famously terse Steve Jobs email apparentlyclaiminghardly anyone was buying it.Today, with what is arguably the worlds most performant low-power computer chips rolling off production lines, the Apple Silicon opportunity means the company is returning to the server market; itstasking Foxconn with making M4-powered servers to run Apple Intelligence as that service gets rolled out globally over the coming year.Apple Intelligence servers are currently powered by the M2 Ultra chip, but Apple intends to upgrade these toM4 chips next year. It is alleged that the choice of Taiwan is deliberate, as the company hopes to gain some input from engineers who have worked on Nvidia servers, though as Apple Intelligence is an internal Apple project theres no conflict of interest in that proposal at least, not yet.After all, Apple is not competing in the server market simply by making servers for its own AI, though its M4 Ultra chip might even outperform Nvidias mighty RTX 4090 processor,reports claim. So perhaps theres a pathway there.Apple now makes serversApple uses these servers for Apple Intelligence functions that require more power than the Apple device used to request the task. When those tasks are uploaded to the cloud, they are given to Apples own super-private servers or (optionally) outsourced to OpenAI.To protect the flow of data, the companys Private Cloud Compute is a server-based Apple Intelligence rig that lets Mac, iPhone, and iPad users exploit Apples own AI in the cloud. Whats important about the service is that it maintains the high privacy and security we already expect from Apple. That means Apple wont get to see or keep your data and will not know what youve requested. Private Cloud Compute allows Apple Intelligence to process complex user requests with groundbreaking privacy,said Craig Federighi, Apples senior vice president of software engineering.The idea is that you can use these LLM tools with peace of mind the kind any rational person will require when handling their own information. Iveargued beforethat this is what every cloud-based AI serviceshould strive to deliver, though I dont think they will; too many business models are based around capturing, exploiting, and even selling information about their users. Thats why some companiesban staff from using AI.Perhaps it could sell or rent these servers?The one thing Apple Intelligence has that perhaps isnt being fully explained is that Apple alsooffers developers APIsso they can weave the generative AI technology into their products. Right now, that means introducing Apple Intelligence features within them, but given the importance of AI to developers, and the desire among some of them to make smart tools that can be used privately for specific use cases, at what point might Apple offer Private Cloud Compute as a service to provide trusted computing? Perhaps that is why it is putting the systemthrough such rigorous security review?There has to be an opportunity. There will be some companies who want to make their own AI solutions, but demand the kind of hardcore security Private Cloud Compute provides. Given that Apple has tasked Foxconn with making servers to support that service, at what point will provision of the servers, along with the bare bones, highly secure, software they run, become a business opportunity? Theres a business case, and given Apple is already leading the industry in just how willing it is to open these boxes up for security review, it feels like a potential direction if theres any money in it.And there clearly is quite a lot, in fact.As everything becomes AI, wheres the money?Recognition of the value and need for AI servers is, in part, what has driven Nvidias market cap to intermittently overtake that of Apple this year. The need for servers to provide support for AI is a growth opportunity for all in the space except perhaps for Intel and AMD, who are watching as ARMs reference designsdefine expectationsfor processor performance.Whether it wants to be or not, Apple is in the server business, and now that it is, it makes sense for the company to generate more revenue from it. After all, who else promises the kind of rock-solid platform-focused security? Who else can provide such fast chips at such low energy requirements? The only snag in this particular ointment is that Apple Intelligence is not inherently cross-platform, though this hasnt really got in the way of the companys success for the last couple of decades.Please follow me onLinkedIn,Mastodon, or join me in theAppleHolics bar & grillgroup on MeWe.

In an internal meeting, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy responded to recent criticism from many employees about the companys new plan for a full return to the office in January. The mandate means that as the beginning of the new year, almost all employees will have to be in the office five days a week.Jassy said the aim is not to force any resignations among staffers or to satisfy decision-makers in cities, which were among the allegations made by angry employees,Reutersreports.Employees have also objected that return-to-work plan is stricter than arrangements at other large tech companies and that it will make work less efficient due to commuting times. Jassy previously said his goal is to increase efficiency at work and promote collaboration and innovation.

AMD has launched its first open-source large language models (LLMs) under the OLMo brand, aiming to strengthen its position in the competitive AI landscape led by giants like Nvidia, Intel, and Qualcomm.AMD OLMo is a series of 1-billion parameter large language models trained from scratch using trillions of tokens on a cluster of AMD Instinct MI250 GPUs. They are designed to excel in reasoning, instruction-following, and chat while embracing an open-source ethos that allows developers access to data, weights, training recipes, and code.Continuing AMD tradition of open-sourcing models and code to help the community advance together, we are excited to release our first series of fully open 1 billion parameter language models, AMD OLMo, AMD said in a statement.AMDs open-source approach positions OLMo as an accessible and scalable option for companies seeking alternatives in AI technology. The model can be deployed in data centers or on AMD Ryzen AI PCs equipped with neural processing units (NPUs), allowing developers to leverage advanced AI directly on personal devices, the statement added.AMD is following Nvidias lead by expanding into the large language model (LLM) space alongside its well-established strength in computing hardware a direction that Intel and Qualcomm have not yet fully embraced, said Abhigyan Malik, practice director at Everest Group. By fostering an open ecosystem, AMD enables developers to innovate and build diverse applications through a network effect.According to Malik, this strategy amplifies AMDs core value proposition, particularly in driving demand for its underlying hardware, including AMD Instinct MI250 GPUs and Ryzen CPUs, where AMD seeks to create lasting market impact.Extensive training and fine-tuningThe OLMo series follows a detailed three-phase training and fine-tuning process, according to AMD.Initially, OLMo 1B was pre-trained on a subset of the Dolma v1.7 dataset using a transformer model focused on next-token prediction. This helped the model grasp general language patterns. In its second phase, the OLMo 1B was supervised and fine-tuned (SFT) on multiple datasets to refine its capabilities in science, coding, and mathematics.The final model, OLMo 1B SFT DPO, was optimized with Direct Preference Optimization (DPO) based on human feedback, resulting in a model that effectively aligns its responses with typical user expectations.Competitive performance and benchmark successIn internal benchmarks, AMDs OLMo models performed well against similarly sized open-source models, such as TinyLlama-1.1B and OpenELM-1_1B, in multi-task and general reasoning tests, the company claimed. Specifically, its performance increased by over 15% on tasks in GSM8k, a substantial gain attributed to AMDs multi-phase supervised fine-tuning and Direct Preference Optimization (DPO). In multi-turn chat tests, AMD claimed, OLMo showed a 3.41% edge in AlpacaEval 2 Win Rate and a 0.97% gain in MT-Bench over its closest open-source competitors.However, when looking at the broader LLM landscape, Nvidias GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip and H100 GPU remain leaders in LLM processing, particularly for large, multi-faceted AI workloads. Nvidias focus on innovations like C2C link, which accelerates data transfer between its CPU and GPU, gives it an edge, providing a speed advantage for high-demand inference tasks such as recommendation systems.Intel, while slightly behind in peak speed, leverages its Habana Gaudi2 accelerator for cost-effective yet robust performance, with future upgrades planned for increased precision. Meanwhile, Qualcomms Cloud AI100 emphasizes power efficiency, meeting the needs of organizations seeking high AI performance without the extensive energy demands associated with Nvidias high-end systems.AMDs OLMo models also showed strong performance on responsible AI benchmarks, such as ToxiGen (for toxic language detection), crows_pairs (bias assessment), and TruthfulQA-mc2 (accuracy). These scores reflect AMDs commitment to ethical AI, an essential focus as AI integration scales across industries.AMDs position in the AI marketWith its first open-source LLM series, AMD is positioned to make significant inroads in the AI industry, offering a compelling balance of capability, openness, and versatility to compete in a market currently led by Nvidia, Intel, and Qualcomm.However, AMDs ability to close the gap will depend on how well its open-source initiative and hardware enhancements keep pace with rivals advances in performance, efficiency, and specialized AI capabilities.AMDs entry into the open-source LLM space strengthens the ecosystem, potentially lowering the operational costs associated with adopting generative AI, said Suseel Menon, practice director at Everest Group.AMDs move into LLMs places it against established players like Nvidia, Intel, and Qualcomm, who have gained market prominence with their proprietary models.This move also puts pressure on proprietary LLMs to continually innovate and justify their pricing structures, Menon added.Analysts believe AMDs unique open-source strategy and accessibility aim to attract enterprises and developers looking for flexible, affordable AI solutions without proprietary constraints. For large enterprises with long-term data privacy concerns, AMDs open-source model offers a compelling alternative as they navigate AI integration, Menon added. By building a cohesive, full-stack AI offering that spans hardware, LLMs, and ecosystem tools, AMD is positioning itself with a distinct competitive edge among leading silicon vendors.