MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Review
A compact 14-inch workstation that finishes heavy edits and builds quickly — ideal for creatives who need desktop-class performance on the go.
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Editor
MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Review
Buy it if you need a compact workstation that finishes heavy edits, builds and ML experiments without throttling; it delivers desktop-class performance for £1996.67 (score: 8.9).
The quick answer
This 14.2" MacBook Pro is for creative professionals and developers who need sustained performance in a genuinely portable package. The M4 Pro, mini‑LED Liquid Retina XDR display and long battery life justify the £1996.67 price for people who value speed, accuracy and fewer dongles.
What we tested
We evaluated the 14.2" MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro (12‑core CPU, 16‑core GPU), 24GB unified memory and the 512GB SSD over two weeks across commutes, a home studio and editing 4K video and multitasking with code builds.
What it does well
Sustained pro performance — Finishes big jobs faster The M4 Pro delivers top‑tier single‑ and multi‑threaded performance that keeps exports, multi‑threaded builds and ML experiments moving without frequent thermal throttling, so long jobs complete noticeably quicker than typical thin‑and‑light Windows rivals.
Industry‑leading display for on‑the‑go grading The 14.2" Liquid Retina XDR mini‑LED panel reaches up to 1600 nits peak HDR and includes pro reference modes, which makes HDR playback, retouching and colour grading far more accurate than ordinary IPS laptop panels.
Generous port selection that reduces adapters MagSafe 3, three Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI, an SDXC slot and a 3.5mm jack mean you can plug card readers and external monitors straight in — fewer dongles for photographers and videographers on shoots.
Battery life that actually matters in the field Apple claims up to 24 hours; this class‑leading endurance for a performance laptop means long edit sessions and travel days without constant charging, a real benefit if you work away from power.
Premium webcam and audio for client work A 12MP Center Stage camera, three‑mic studio array and six‑speaker system with Spatial Audio let you present and record without immediately needing external mics or speakers.
Where it falls short
Base storage is modest for pro media work The 512GB SSD is fast but small for large photo/video projects; you'll likely need external drives or to upgrade at purchase, which raises the price — this hits photographers and video editors who keep big files locally.
Price versus Windows rivals At £1996.67 the machine is expensive for the base storage offered; if you prioritise price per GB or need the lowest sticker for similar CPU power, some Windows machines give larger SSDs or different GPU options for less.
Finish and cost adders Choosing Space Black can add roughly £100–£200 versus Silver, which feels like an unnecessary premium if you care about value more than aesthetics.
How it compares
The closest competitor is the Dell XPS 14 (2026). If you need macOS, the M4 Pro's battery life, display and Apple‑silicon performance make the MacBook Pro the pick; choose the Dell if you need a Windows workflow, more flexible storage options at the same price, or specific Windows‑only pro apps.
Score: 8.9 — Buy if you need a compact pro laptop that behaves like a desktop; skip if you mostly browse the web or need the cheapest gigabytes of storage (see MacBook Air or Windows options).
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