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> 25% faster M4 chip: The box lists this 14-inch MacBook Pro as having an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, whereas the current model has the M3 chip with an 8-core C

> 25% faster M4 chip: The box lists this 14-inch MacBook Pro as having an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, whereas the current model has the M3 chip with an 8-core CPU. An alleged Geekbench 6 benchmark result shared by the YouTube channel behind this leak suggests that the M4 chip will be up to 25% faster than the M3 chip. Apple already introduced the M4 chip in the iPad Pro in May, and it indeed has up to a 10-core CPU and up to 25% faster performance compared to the M3 chip. > 16GB of RAM: It was previously rumored that 16GB of RAM could become the minimum for all future Macs, and the alleged packaging indeed suggests that the next 14-inch MacBook Pro would start with 16GB of RAM, unless it is somehow a built-to-order configuration that will be offered on Apple's online store. > Three Thunderbolt 4 ports: The box suggests the base 14-inch MacBook Pro will have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, up from two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the current model. > Space Black: The box suggests that Space Black would become a color option for the base 14-inch MacBook Pro, whereas it is currently exclusive to models configured with the M3 Pro or M3 Max chip. Aside, I still have an M1 Pro 16", is it worth upgrading to an M3 (or future M4)? It feels like my M1 can still do everything I need it to (coding, compiling, running emulators for mobile development), but for those that did upgrade, do you feel it was worth it, or are the gains incremental?

pr337h4m 2y ago
>16GB of RAM could become the minimum for all future Macs If true, this would be a big deal for local LLM inference.
nfriedly 2y ago
> It feels like my M1 can still do everything I need it to I think you answered your own question: No, you don't need the upgrade. (I'm in the same boat as you, for what it's worth. My wife and I both have M1 machines, and they both do what we need, so we're not upgrading.)
- darnfish 2y ago
  Still interested to know the answer to this Q tho: > for those that did upgrade, do you feel it was worth it, or are the gains incremental?
  - wwwlouishinofun 2y ago
    It may be faster when switching between multitasking. My problem is mainly that the screen of my m1 mba is too bad. It would be great if I could replace the screen module separately.
    - ezst 2y ago
      That's why my next thing is a framework laptop (I'm aware how tone-deaf it might sound in an Apple thread, but I really think Apple should be leaders on this front instead of making their devices less and less upgradeable and repairable)
      - gibolt 2y ago
        They are finally starting to move somewhat in this direction. Maybe we end up closer to that in 3-4 more generations
        ezst 2y ago
        Let's see, one can hope, but before that they have to abandon decades of a business model based on rent seeking and up-selling memory and storage at 10× the price. Wall street won't like it and only the EU can incentivize them enough.
  - jamie_ca 2y ago
    I was comparing notes with a new coworker the other week - I've got an M1 pro, he's got an M3. Running an individual test for a feature we were working on (in Rails) lines up with the 25-30% numbers quoted up thread a bit, but that's the difference between my machine taking 40sec or so vs his taking 30 or less. It's noticeable when you've got it to compare against, and I'm looking forward to work's hardware refresh cycle bumping me to M4 next year, but I still don't think I'd upgrade if it were a personal machine (and if I can get a decent discount to buy out the depreciated M1 for personal use I'm planning on that rather than looking at anything new).
    - 2y ago
- LoganDark 2y ago
  > I think you answered your own question: No, you don't need the upgrade. They asked if it would be worth it, not if they needed it.
ValentineC 2y ago
I'd upgrade not for the specs, but just for MagSafe.
- usefulcat 2y ago
  It is nice to have magsafe back. Without that I'd be paranoid that the USB sockets would wear out over time from constantly being used for charging.
  - ezst 2y ago
    Don't, in my experience (and that of everyone around me), USB-C is very sturdy. My wife had a MB Pro (last Intel, with USB-C) and recently upgraded to the latest gen with the magnetic connector. It's really annoying that we can't use it on anything but her laptop, it really feels like going backwards and as a result we don't carry it. And for what? So that it gives when you pull it gently? That's also pretty much defining USB-C on all my devices... Apple just really likes their dongles and that's all there is to it, I believe.
    - imiric 2y ago
      > in my experience (and that of everyone around me), USB-C is very sturdy That might be due to Apple's build quality, but the USB-C connector has been anything but sturdy in most machines I've used. The connection becomes wobbly after just a few months of very careful usage, and tends to cut out if the cable is pulled in a certain direction. Connecting an external disk drive is a plug-and-pray situation. I've even had the connector dislodge entirely on one machine. USB-C may have given us reversibility, but USB-A had a much sturdier connection. To say nothing of the uncertainty of which protocol is supported and which power profile will be negotiated by the combination of cable and devices. It's a UX mess.
      - fragmede 2y ago
        the fact that I can have a usb-c cable that is directional because I used a usb-a -> usb-c adapter on one end of a usb-c to usb-a cable still weirds me out. I'm not evil enough to release cables that look normal but only work on in one direction, but someone could.
adastra22 2y ago
What version of the M1? I just “upgraded” from an M1 Max to a M3 device. The single core performance is higher on paper, but I don’t really notice it. I do notice the fewer cores. If you are on a base model, it may be worth upgrading to a Pro or Max CPU.
- satvikpendem 2y ago
  M1 Pro, the 16" MacBooks (and by extension, all MacBook Pros) only have Pro or Max chips, not base.
Farbklex 2y ago
I am an android dev who works with an M1 Pro 14" on some client and private projects and I also use an M3 Pro 16" provided by one client for a specific project. I can't tell the performance apart. Everything is absolutely good enough on both machines.
gyomu 2y ago
OLED should be coming to MacBook Pros within a year or two. If your current laptop still works for your needs, I’d wait for that to upgrade.

pr337h4m 2y ago

>16GB of RAM could become the minimum for all future Macs If true, this would be a big deal for local LLM inference.

nfriedly 2y ago

> It feels like my M1 can still do everything I need it to I think you answered your own question: No, you don't need the upgrade. (I'm in the same boat as you, for what it's worth. My wife and I both have M1 machines, and they both do what we need, so we're not upgrading.)

darnfish 2y ago
Still interested to know the answer to this Q tho: > for those that did upgrade, do you feel it was worth it, or are the gains incremental?
- wwwlouishinofun 2y ago
  It may be faster when switching between multitasking. My problem is mainly that the screen of my m1 mba is too bad. It would be great if I could replace the screen module separately.
  - ezst 2y ago
    That's why my next thing is a framework laptop (I'm aware how tone-deaf it might sound in an Apple thread, but I really think Apple should be leaders on this front instead of making their devices less and less upgradeable and repairable)
    - gibolt 2y ago
      They are finally starting to move somewhat in this direction. Maybe we end up closer to that in 3-4 more generations
      - ezst 2y ago
        Let's see, one can hope, but before that they have to abandon decades of a business model based on rent seeking and up-selling memory and storage at 10× the price. Wall street won't like it and only the EU can incentivize them enough.
- jamie_ca 2y ago
  I was comparing notes with a new coworker the other week - I've got an M1 pro, he's got an M3. Running an individual test for a feature we were working on (in Rails) lines up with the 25-30% numbers quoted up thread a bit, but that's the difference between my machine taking 40sec or so vs his taking 30 or less. It's noticeable when you've got it to compare against, and I'm looking forward to work's hardware refresh cycle bumping me to M4 next year, but I still don't think I'd upgrade if it were a personal machine (and if I can get a decent discount to buy out the depreciated M1 for personal use I'm planning on that rather than looking at anything new).
  - 2y ago
LoganDark 2y ago
> I think you answered your own question: No, you don't need the upgrade. They asked if it would be worth it, not if they needed it.

ValentineC 2y ago

I'd upgrade not for the specs, but just for MagSafe.

usefulcat 2y ago
It is nice to have magsafe back. Without that I'd be paranoid that the USB sockets would wear out over time from constantly being used for charging.
- ezst 2y ago
  Don't, in my experience (and that of everyone around me), USB-C is very sturdy. My wife had a MB Pro (last Intel, with USB-C) and recently upgraded to the latest gen with the magnetic connector. It's really annoying that we can't use it on anything but her laptop, it really feels like going backwards and as a result we don't carry it. And for what? So that it gives when you pull it gently? That's also pretty much defining USB-C on all my devices... Apple just really likes their dongles and that's all there is to it, I believe.
  - imiric 2y ago
    > in my experience (and that of everyone around me), USB-C is very sturdy That might be due to Apple's build quality, but the USB-C connector has been anything but sturdy in most machines I've used. The connection becomes wobbly after just a few months of very careful usage, and tends to cut out if the cable is pulled in a certain direction. Connecting an external disk drive is a plug-and-pray situation. I've even had the connector dislodge entirely on one machine. USB-C may have given us reversibility, but USB-A had a much sturdier connection. To say nothing of the uncertainty of which protocol is supported and which power profile will be negotiated by the combination of cable and devices. It's a UX mess.
    - fragmede 2y ago
      the fact that I can have a usb-c cable that is directional because I used a usb-a -> usb-c adapter on one end of a usb-c to usb-a cable still weirds me out. I'm not evil enough to release cables that look normal but only work on in one direction, but someone could.

adastra22 2y ago

What version of the M1? I just “upgraded” from an M1 Max to a M3 device. The single core performance is higher on paper, but I don’t really notice it. I do notice the fewer cores. If you are on a base model, it may be worth upgrading to a Pro or Max CPU.

satvikpendem 2y ago
M1 Pro, the 16" MacBooks (and by extension, all MacBook Pros) only have Pro or Max chips, not base.

Farbklex 2y ago

I am an android dev who works with an M1 Pro 14" on some client and private projects and I also use an M3 Pro 16" provided by one client for a specific project. I can't tell the performance apart. Everything is absolutely good enough on both machines.

gyomu 2y ago

OLED should be coming to MacBook Pros within a year or two. If your current laptop still works for your needs, I’d wait for that to upgrade.