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Updated on 30 April 2025
30 April 2025
9 mins read
Haziq
Tech Expert for Back Market UK, Ireland & Australia
The MacBook Pro M4 has officially entered the chat, and it's here to remind Windows PCs who's boss. With the new model, Apple builds on its previous M-series chips, delivering a professional-grade portable computer that enhances performance, efficiency and value across the board. It's noticeably faster, offers clever Apple Intelligence features, promises 24 hours of battery life and includes an optional nano-texture display for a glare-free experience. In this article, we review the MacBook Pro M4, covering everything you need to know about its design, performance, features and specs.
4.5/5: the MacBook Pro M4 is the complete package
When considering getting a new laptop or upgrading your old one, you want reliable insights to make the best decision. At Back Market, we aim to provide reliable and affordable tech, which is why we've made this review for you. This MacBook Pro M4 review is based on thorough research, expert analysis and comparisons with previous models to give you a clear picture of its performance and features. With tech journalism and engineering backgrounds, we've gathered information from real-world usage scenarios, industry benchmarks and trusted sources to provide an honest and well-rounded perspective. Here's everything you need to know before getting the MacBook Pro M4.
The MacBook Pro M4 is the base-level Pro laptop in Apple's lineup. It offers more power than the MacBook Air and more ports if you're willing to upgrade to the M4 Pro or M4 Max. The performance of the M4 is better than that of most Windows laptops, and you get a sharper 12MP webcam, helpful Apple Intelligence and all-day battery life. A game-changer for the MacBook Pro M4 is the nano-texture display, which provides a glare-free experience when working outdoors. The MacBook Pro M4 is the perfect laptop for creative pros and power users looking for a high-performance, portable laptop with exceptional battery life. Here's a breakdown of its specifications:
Chip: Apple M4
CPU: 10-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores
GPU: 10-core GPU
Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR
Panel technology: ProMotion
Display resolution: 3024 x 1964 pixels
Screen refresh rate: 120 Hz
Memory: 16 GB configurable to 24 or 35 GB
Storage: 512 GB SSD configurable to 1 or 2 TB
Operating system: macOS 15.1 Sequoia
Ports: 3 x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, 3.5 mm headphone
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3
Webcam: 12MP Center Stage
Dimensions: 313 x 221 x 16 mm
Weight: 1.55 kg
Under the hood, the MacBook Pro M4 features Apple's latest M4 chip, first seen in the iPad Pro M4. The base model gets the 10-core version of the M4 chip and 16 GB of RAM, a welcome upgrade. According to Apple, the M4 is 25% faster than the outgoing M3 chip and 1.8 times faster than the original M1 chip, making it impressively fast. The MacBook Pro M4 is noticeably quicker when conducting everyday tasks and should provide more than enough power for most use cases. However, if you want to author code, render 3D objects or crunch numbers, you can upgrade to the high-performance M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, better suited for handling performance-heavy tasks.
The MacBook Pro M4 offers class-leading battery life, with Apple claiming it can last up to 24 hours when streaming video and up to 16 hours for casual browsing. Battery life has been impressive on Mac laptops ever since the M1 was released in 2020. The MacBook Pro M4 is very efficient, and unless you're doing something taxing, the battery barely seems to drain at all. It also offers excellent standby battery life, draining about 1% overnight while closed.
The MacBook Pro M4 is close to being the perfect laptop. It impresses in every area, is a joy to use and rises to meet virtually any challenge. It joins Apple's list of excellent portables and is one of the best laptops you can buy.
Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
---|---|
Class-leading M4 performance | The keyboard and trackpad remain unchanged |
Unmatched battery life | No Wi-Fi 7 |
Stunning display with HDR | |
12MP Center Stage camera | |
Anti-glare nano-texture display | |
Versatile port selection |
If you want to buy a budget-friendly MacBook Pro M4, you can do this in several ways. One option is buying in February, when a new model drops, as prices for the previous generation devices usually drop when a new version is released. You can also wait for major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday or utilise the bundle discounts that some retailers offer when you bundle accessories with the device bought. All these are good ways to save when shopping for a MacBook Pro M4, but the best way to save is by shopping on Back Market.
At Back Market, we deal in Verified Refurbished tech that offers premium quality at only a fraction of the price of new. Our prices are low every day of the year, and you don't have to wait for sales events or new releases to get the device you want. Here's what one of our satisfied customers had to say about us:
"I received my MacBook Pro quickly and in excellent condition, as promised in the description. The MagSafe adapter looks new, and also the battery only had 1 cycle. I've been working with my MacBook Pro for some days and it runs perfectly. I could easily transfer a Time Machine backup and restore my old workflow. I'm very satisfied with this product and the service of Back Market. For me, it's totally worth it to look for a refurbished MacBook, and again, Back Market delivered. The customer service is outstanding. I'd definitely recommend anyone looking for high-quality refurbished (Apple) products to visit Back Market. Saludos."
Kim ho L. – Purchased on February 10, 2025
Some wait for price drops, and others chase deals, but with Back Market, you get top-quality devices all year round.
At Back Market, we sell Verified Refurbished tech. What does that mean, exactly? Verified Refurbished devices are pre-owned devices that have been inspected, tested and restored to complete working condition by industry professionals. Before we offer any product for sale, it goes through quality checks and repairs to ensure it functions like new, and it comes with a 1-year warranty for your protection. Experts verify all our products, meaning you get high-quality devices at only a fraction of the price. Moreover, buying refurbished devices positively impacts the environment, reducing e-waste and carbon emissions. It is a smart, sustainable choice that saves you money while also helping the planet. But don't take it from us; take it from this Reddit user who had a positive experience shopping at Back Market.
"I bought an M1 MBP last summer from Back Market and couldn't be happier. It said it was in good condition and looked flawless to me. I was able to get more than I needed since the price was considerably cheaper than Apple refurbished. Went and ordered an Apple Watch after the good experience with them. The only downside is that their inventory is small and items can get sold out pretty quickly, and if you need the latest and greatest, it won't work too well for you. Overall, used them, have used them again, and probably will again if the need arises."
Do you have old tech that's gathering dust? Take advantage of Back Market's trade-in program and give your devices a second life. Our trade-in program lets you sell your old devices for a fair price and earn cash for your gadgets or make upgrading more affordable by putting your trade-in value towards your next device. You get all these benefits in addition to saving the planet by keeping tech out of landfills. The process is simple and involves only three steps. Start by taking an online assessment and getting a quote from one of our refurbishers. Ship the device to us for free; once verified, you get paid. Here are some of the latest trade-in values for a MacBook Pro M3:
Model | Trade-in value |
---|---|
MacBook Pro 14" (Late 2023) - Apple M3 - 8 GB - 512 GB - 10-core GPU | £1,159.00* |
MacBook Pro 14" (Late 2023) - Apple M3 Pro - 18 GB - 1,000 GB - 14-core GPU - QWERTY | £1,488.00 * |
MacBook Pro 16" (Late 2023) - Apple M3 Max - 36 GB - 1,000 GB - 30-core GPU - QWERTY | £1,909.00 * |
MacBook Pro 16" (Late 2023) - Apple M3 Pro - 36 GB - 1,000 GB - 18-core GPU - QWERTY | £2,499.00 * |
MacBook Pro 16" (Late 2023) - Apple M2 Pro - 32 GB - 2,000 GB - 19-core GPU - QWERTY | £1,799.00 * |
*Trade-in value taken at the date of publication – these are subject to change.
The MacBook Pro M4 was released in October 2024. It is available with a 14-inch or a 16-inch display, with either the M4, M4 Pro or M4 Max chip. You can also get it with the 512 GB or 1 TB SSD, with your storage option influencing the price. A new entry-level MacBook Pro M4 costs £1,600, with the most expensive model costing £3,200. However, you can buy verified refurbished MacBook Pro M4s on Back Market for a lower price. Here are some of the available devices:
Model | Back Market price | New price |
---|---|---|
14-inch MacBook Pro M4 - 10-core - 16 GB RAM - SSD 1000 GB | £1,499.00 * | £1,799.00 |
16-inch MacBook Pro M4 - 20-core - 24 GB RAM - SSD 512 GB | £2,499.00 * | £2,649.00 |
*Back Market prices taken at the date of publication – these are subject to change.
Once again, we emphasise that the MacBook Pro M4 is the complete package. While it may not look drastically different from the M3, it delivers impressive performance with all-day battery life and the power of Apple Intelligence, making it a top-choice laptop. The 14-inch model offers the best screen size and portability mix, complemented by Apple's class-leading keyboard, trackpad and display. Notable upgrades include the 12MP Center Stage webcam, an extra USB-C port, 16 GB of RAM and, of course, the M4 chip. The MacBook Pro M4 remains a premium laptop with a premium price tag, but you can get it for far less on Back Market.
When not fighting the good fight for environmental sustainability, Haziq loves making reviews of everything and anything tech-related.