MacBook Pro M4 vs Mac Pro M2: which Mac is best for you?
These two "pros" are certainly not the same
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/bryan-m-wolfe · TechRadarVersus By Bryan M Wolfe published 3 May 2026
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Apple MacBook Pro (14 inch, M4) review
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip is a powerful laptop designed for professionals. It features the M4 chip for exceptional performance in tasks like video editing and graphic design. The device boasts a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology for vibrant visuals and smooth scrolling.
Pros
- M4-chip is extreem krachtig
- Scherm met nanotextuur
- Centerstage webcam
Cons
- Geen Wi-Fi 7
- Geen OLED-scherm
Mac Pro M2
The Mac Pro M2 is an older machine, but with the high-powered M2 Ultra chipset it still offers flexibility in choosing GPU, memory, and storage.
Pros
- Incredibly powerful pro-grade machine
- More customization option
- More memory and storage options
Cons
- Old machine with older internals
- Expensive
- Now discontinued
The MacBook Pro and Mac Pro are powerful machines, but they are not the same simply because they share the "Pro" designation. The MacBook Pro (2024) is available with the M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Ultra chipset. However, the newer M5-powered models are now available.
In contrast, the Mac Pro, which has not been updated since 2023, comes equipped with the M2 Ultra chip. It has since been discontinued. Despite it, if yhou can find it, it's an impressively powerful machine for creative professionals.
This comparison guide will show you where the real differences between these two machines lie.
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MacBook Pro M4 vs Mac Pro M2: Specs
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| Row 0 - Cell 0 | MacBook Pro M4 | Mac Pro M2 |
| Display | 14.2 inches or 16.2 inches | None |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR display | N/A |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (ProMotion technology) | N/A |
| Processor / Graphics | M4 (base model), M4 Pro, or M4 Max | M2 Ultra |
| Memory | 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB | Up to 192GB |
| Storage | 512GB, 1TB or 2TB | Up to 8TB |
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, headphone jack | Front: two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jack Rear: Six Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, two HDMI ports, two USB-A (USB 3) ports |
MacBook Pro M4 vs Mac Pro M2: Prices & availability
The 2024 MacBook Pro models come in two sizes: 14-inch and 16-inch, with the entry-level M4 chipset available exclusively in the 14-inch model. For the 16-inch model, you can choose between the M4 Pro or M4 Max chips.
Unified memory options range from 16GB to 128GB, and storage can go up to 8TB. The MacBook Pro is offered in silver and space black as previous versions.
Prices for these machines will start at around $2000 / £2000 for the base model. For comparison, the new M5 models direct from Apple are priced from $1699 in the US and £1699 in the UK, with costs increasing depending on size and chipset.
The Mac Pro model was designed to be highly customizable but is significantly less so than previous Intel-based models. There a few configurations around, including machines with a 60-core or a 76-core GPU, 64GB and 192GB RAM, and storage ranging from 1TB to 8TB.
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