It used to be that if you were doing more than just a little casual 3D you were doing it on a Windows or a Linux machine. Partly because more power was available and in a more configurable way and also down to the fact that not much 3D software ran on a Mac.
Even more recent generations of the Mac weren’t seen as suitable options for high-end 3D work, even with tools like Maya now supporting them but things have definitely changed. The move away from Intel chips to Apple silicon has meant that serious work can now be done on a Mac, great news for creatives who have traditionally been Mac users for image editing, digital painting and design work, where Macs have been a firm favourite.
So how do the latest MacBook Pros hold up? Some generations have either seen small incremental speed boosts, while others have been a little more imaginative, for better or worse (I’m looking at you, touch strip). Wishing the range there are numerous options too so it may be wise to look in the middle ground, which is why I have been spending my time using Blender, Cinema 4D and Maya to put the M4 Pro through its paces.
I’ve been a 3D artist since the G3 days, so feel pretty confident in judging how a computer caters to the needs of a working pro. With that in mind lets take a look at the 2024 M4 Pro (which I’ll refer to as the MBP from now on).
Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro: Key specifications
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CPU:
14 cores
Graphics:
20 cores
Memory:
48GB
Screen size:
16″
Resolution:
3456 x 2234
Storage:
2TB
Connectivity:
Wi-fi6E
Dimensions:
35.57cm x 24.81cm x 1.68cm
Weight:
2.14kg
Design & build
Whether or not you are a Mac fan you can’t deny that Apple‘s industrial design and build quality is top tier. Bar a few less than exemplary keyboards most of what Apple produces is of a very high standard and the 2024 MacBook Pro is indicative of this. The now familiar unibody design retains the last generation’s less-rounded case, which I prefer. It feels chunky and robust but still slim enough to pack and travel with. I’ve previously only bought the silver Macs but I’m a convert to the space black, although I do miss the old illuminated lid logos.
Ports are always going to be a challenge on a laptop but there’s a decent array here. MagSafe power 3.5mm audio and two USB-C on the left, both of which support Thunderbolt 5 (and 4), and another Thunderbolt 5 port, HDMI and SDXC on the right. Considering how cheap SD card readers are and the fact that many cameras can transfer wirelessly I still appreciate the inclusion of the card slot and use it regularly.
Interacting with the MacBook Pro M4 Pro feels good. Everything from the hinge to the large trackpad feels quality. The keyboard is good too, for a laptop, with the function row sharing duties with controls for daily tasks like volume and brightness adjustment, Siri and media controls. Top right is the power button which also serves as a fingerprint reader.
High quality build and materials are everywhere, from the body to the ports (Image credit: Rob Redman)
Although the MacBook Pro M4 Pro ships with a 140-watt charger I mostly use my Ugreen dock, which offers fast charging while giving me a bunch more ports. That said, charging doesn’t need to happen that often as the battery life is fantastic. I can easily sit in a cafe or on the sofa, working away for hours. I’ve done a full workday, including some rendering in Redshift, all while listening to music and connected to wi-fi, without worrying about my battery level.
Features
Features on modern computers are so closely linked to the operating system that it can be difficult to quantify, as new ones get added and others may be removed but I think it’s fair to say the MacBook Pro is well-featured. It has a good set of ports, a fabulous screen and a lovely trackpad. Talking of which I wish the default was a tap instead of a click but that’s an easy change.
What’s more important to consider here is that a MacBook Pro isn’t exactly a candidate for future upgrading, so think carefully about the specs you want before you buy but also be aware you will pay over the odds for things like storage and RAM hikes, which have typically been pretty steep. Play the game of maxing out everything on the Apple Store site and witness the eye-watering cost. But, if 3D and visual effects are your living, that investment may well be worth it, as you could save yourself from downtime waiting for renders to complete. Less of a problem these days with real-time options but still a consideration.
My MacBook Pro M4 Pro has 2TB of internal storage. You could probably get away with less and use an external option here. In fact I use a Sandisk Pro Blade for both media storage and backups, as I work with a lot of RAW video files. For me, the 2TB is really a safety net and well worth having. Your mileage may vary.
RAM is another area where you will pay for an increase but could see the benefits, especially over time, as software becomes more demanding. 16GB may see you through daily computing tasks but for heavy 3D work go for as much as you can afford. Mine has 48GB.
An element of the MacBook Pro that always surprises me is quite how good the audio quality is. We all know the displays are excellent. The contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 is superb, the colours are accurate and the pixel pitch, refresh rate and so make for a fantastic experience but that’s solidly backed up by really good speakers.
One of the nicer laptop keyboards to be found. (Image credit: Rob Redman)
Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro: Performance
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Benchmark scores
Cinebench 2024
Row 0 – Cell 1
Row 0 – Cell 2
CPU single
177
Row 1 – Cell 2
CPU multi
1729
Row 2 – Cell 2
GPU
9140
Row 3 – Cell 2
Geekbench 6
Row 4 – Cell 1
Row 4 – Cell 2
CPU single
3969
Row 5 – Cell 2
CPU multi
22905
Row 6 – Cell 2
I’ll get this out of the way now. Excluding the fact that I can swap out and upgrade components of my workstation PC, the MBP is my favourite computer for any task, from daily office duties, writing, to video editing and 3D production work.
No, I can’t swap out the GPU but the cost of the MacBook Pro M4 Pro is half that of my Threadripper 64-core RTX 4090 machine and the difference in performance isn’t enough to counter that. Plus I get to take it with me anywhere I want, ideal for meeting a client or making quick changes on location. If I need to be with a client for part of a job I can do so easily, not worrying about plugins, or licensing issues.
The benchmarks above highlight quite how good the MBP is for the modern 3D artist. I’m predominantly a Cinema 4D user so the Cinebench score is an important one for me and it’s plain that the MacBook Pro is a very capable machine. So much so that I’ve barely touched my Windows machine since taking delivery of the Mac. It’s not just about the rendering speeds either but the fluidity of navigating, the ease of working with the OS, the refresh rate of the screen and so on.
When compared to previous models, this M4 Pro is significantly faster than even the M1 Ultra, which is itself a pretty powerful machine.
Regarding that I’m using a 4K monitor and a 4K Wacom Cintiq, both fed by the MacBook Pro via my dock and the refresh rate is always excellent.
I had slight problems with my previous MacBook Pro (a 2020 model) where navigating in 3D space could stutter or lag, but this M4 Pro model is silky smooth and nothing seems to catch it out, even if my IPR is running while I move the camera. Simple things like dragging and dropping materials, which can be a little laggy on some systems, are perfectly smooth. This may sound like a small detail, and it is, but I have applied a material or a modifier before and the performance has meant that it was applied to the wrong object. None of that here.
Plus, rendering is fast. We always want more but when I think back even three or four years, I’m very impressed by the speed achieved here, especially considering it’s being done on a machine less than an inch thick. I don’t know how the wizards at Apple have done it but I’m sold.
One thing to note is that some machines, more noticeable on a laptop for obvious reasons, is heat. All computing generates heat but nothing quite so much as a long render, or simulation. The M4 Pro does do so but I never found it uncomfortably warm if working on my lap, unlike previous generations that you could also cook an egg on. Not only does it make things more bearable physically but I wonder if that will increase the lifespan of other components, including things like the screen which could take a hit if closed while still hot.
It’s fast and slick and not too much of a fingerprint magnet either. (Image credit: Rob Redman)
Price
Prices range from the reasonable to the astronomical when it comes to Apple. You can get an M4 Pro for £2,499, or you can go for the Max specs for up to £7,349, a large investment, and at that point I do wonder if the benefits of mobility really pay off.
Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro: Who is it for?
For many this could be as much a choice over operating system as the hardware. Some people just don’t feel at home in all systems. Now the power is available to suit the software of choice, meaning the 3D artists, who are also Mac fans, have a good reason to celebrate.
This particular model strikes the balance of cost vs performance just right.
Buy it if…
You prefer MacOS to the alternatives
You need a high power machine for 3D or video work
