Apple M4 MacBook Pro 14 review finds 22-hour battery, US base model at $1,999 shipping July 20
Apple announced the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip will start at $1,999 in the U.S. and begin shipping on July 20. Independent tests confirmed the laptop’s battery life exceeded Apple’s official claims, with some benchmarks recording up to 28 hours of video playback and over 18 hours of web browsing.
Independent tests have confirmed that the 14-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M4 chip surpasses the company’s official battery life claims. While Apple advertises up to 24 hours of Apple TV app movie playback and 16 hours of wireless web browsing for the 2024 M4 model, Tom’s Guide and Laptop Mag both measured over 18 hours of web browsing at 150 nits brightness, closely matching or exceeding Apple’s 16-hour claim for wireless web use.
PCMag’s video playback benchmark recorded an unprecedented 28 hours and 33 minutes of continuous video, breaking their previous lab records.
Real-world usage tests also indicate strong endurance. An ITPro review ran a looped video at 170 cd/m² brightness in airplane mode, with the MacBook Pro lasting beyond 20 hours and retaining 4% battery at test end. A YouTube “day in the life” test reported continuous mixed-task use from around 11 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. with battery remaining, consistent with Apple’s 16 to 24-hour usage range. Another reviewer on YouTube estimated about 14 hours of practical mixed-use battery life, including creative workloads, while noting 9 to 10 hours of battery life during heavier tasks such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop. Comparisons with the prior M3 MacBook Pro showed the M4 model lasting several hours longer under load, indicating improved efficiency.
The base configuration of the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 includes a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, paired with 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB solid-state drive, according to multiple reviews. PCMag states the entry-level model starts at $1,599 in the U.S., while Laptop Mag lists the starting price similarly and notes their review unit featured a 1TB SSD at $1,949. ITPro’s tested configuration also had 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, reflecting a mid-tier option. The M4 chip is described as “industry-leading” for creators and power users, with PCMag highlighting its performance advantage over high-end Intel laptops and its “seemingly endless battery life.” Laptop Mag reported a Geekbench 6.3 multi-core score of 15,114 for the base M4 model, demonstrating strong performance in a thin-and-light chassis.
In terms of design and features, the 14-inch MacBook Pro retains the Liquid Retina XDR display with HDR support and 120 Hz ProMotion technology. Reviewers noted an increase in SDR brightness for improved indoor visibility. Tom’s Guide highlighted an optional nano-texture glass display that reduces glare, enhancing usability in bright environments during extended battery-powered use. PCMag pointed out that the M4 model now offers three Thunderbolt ports instead of two, improving connectivity options for peripherals and external displays. The device supports powering two external displays simultaneously, a feature welcomed by mobile professionals, according to Tom’s Guide. The overall design closely resembles the 2023 model but introduces a new Space Black finish.
Comparative testing shows that the M4 MacBook Pro offers modest battery life improvements over its M3 predecessor in light workloads such as repeated video playback at 200 nits, with gains ranging from one to over two hours, according to BestLaptop.deals. However, across mixed workloads, the two models are generally within the margin of error for battery life. ITPro noted that among all laptops tested in 2023 and 2024, none matched the M4 MacBook Pro 14’s battery endurance. PCMag’s lab results reinforce the M4 14-inch model’s status as a battery-life leader, citing the 28-hour-plus video playback test as a new benchmark.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 serves as the entry point in Apple’s 2024 MacBook Pro lineup, positioned below the higher-end M4 Pro and M4 Max 14- and 16-inch variants, according to PCMag and Tom’s Guide. Reviews consistently describe the device as a portable content-creation powerhouse with class-leading battery life, rather than an entry-level consumer laptop. The device begins shipping July 20, with pricing starting at $1,999 for the U.S. base model, as Apple announced.
