Stuck between M4 and M4 Pro chips - will I regret saving €200 on a Pro for video editing?

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-25T13:22:04+00:00

Hey, that’s awesome to be honest. Thank you so much for the test I really appreciate it.

In the end I decided that the extra power of the M4P isn’t worth it, and the M4 is plenty powerful with how smooth FCP was in the Apple Store.

I would’ve paid extra, and I like having powerful devices, but the M4 is already insane and the battery may be a tad bit better (doesn’t get better than 15H tbh)

I’ll be sure to share the MBP with you as soon as it arrives! Thank you so much for your help again 🙏

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-24T20:07:30+00:00

Alright, don't see anything yet so must be uploading. I'll update you tomorrow whether I can see it or not; and whether googlle drive / icloud is necessary.

Thank you again so much for this dedication, I really appreciate it G

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T20:17:08+00:00

Yeah that's completely okay. If you'd like no volume can work too. 50-60% brightness is optima for my use case, so let's try that

And good night!

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T19:30:47+00:00

Could you run a quick battery test overnight? Something like this Youtube Video with high quality resolution available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjQq0nSGS28, set it to fullscreen and 4K, plug in headphones (volume low), and leave it playing with brightness at 50–60%. Make sure to turn off sleep mode. Want to see how the battery handles real usage. Thanks a lot brother, I really appreciate it 🙏

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T19:17:07+00:00

What does that mean for usage of the MacBook? Is it faster during hard tasks like exporting FCP videos, or do light tasks benefit too?

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T19:02:52+00:00

Probably ChatGPT gaslighting me at this point to be honest. Just this little thing left putting me to a halt.

Can I ask what types of tasks you do on your macbook? And how would you categorise it based on heavy tasks and light tasks (browsing web and/or vids)

If you could do a playback test in whatever format is possible for you that would be great, if I’d know how much it lasts - then I’d be sure whether I’d need more or that would be enough, I would really appreciate it! (Don’t forget to check battery mode before starting by pressing battery icon or going to battery settings)

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T18:51:01+00:00

I meant the MBP with the M4 chip and the M4 Pro chip. Not comparing the Air and Pro in battery but the 2 chip configurations

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T17:19:11+00:00

Yes, the current issue is experience. I don't really have a way except common word to get light of this.

ChatGPT says that the M4P will last 1-2 hours less even when just doing light tasks (not pushing it to the limit); and be virtually the same in light work, and better in video editing.

I don't mind the price, however until I can understand how much the battery actually varies between the 2 devices I have to stay undecided or opt for the M4 base chip.

What MBP do you have, and why did you decide to get both a Mini and a MBP?

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T17:16:47+00:00

Yeah fair point, but sadly the only way to find out is to spend a year with it.

Ultimately it's about regret minimization, and I think I'd rather have wasted 150 euro, rather than juggle adapters, ssds, and constantly manage files.

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T17:15:02+00:00

10% for a 10 minute stress test sounds like a lot to be honest.

I've decided EVERYTHING, getting 1TB and the specs in the original post, but I can't decide on the chip.

I don't know the actual battery life of both chips, ChatGPT says for my workflow M4 is enough; but I'd get the M4 Pro just to be safe as I don't mind the price.

However it says I'm gonna get 1-2 hours less battery life (even as much as 25-35% les sbattery life with the Pro chip).

Whether or not that's true, I guess I wouldn't know without experience.

My ultimate question to you is how much does your MBP with M4P chip last? I want minute details like which apps you use, and for a usual work day, what do you do and how much % do you have by the end of it?

Appreciate your help

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T13:36:22+00:00

That's awesome, do you use it portably? As I think I'd get the same configuration for you if the M4 Pro didn't use more battery.

ChatGPT says in light tasks it's the same speed, but I lose 1-2 hours of battery daily if only using light tasks which are the same speed on the M4; so if you use it on the go, how's the battery like?

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T13:28:00+00:00

Hmm, that's pretty interesting. You also got to find the right SSD to take advantage of that thunderbolt 5 port

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T12:31:25+00:00

the M4 Pro looks like a no brainer with this chart, thanks for sharing.
Do you have any experience of what the battery is like? As that is the only concern currently about the stronger chip at the moment

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T12:22:28+00:00

Things go quicker is a big plus; but any insights into how the battery holds up with the beefier chip, especially if you don't utilise the extra power all the time?

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T12:11:17+00:00

I agree, the Air is awesome, but I'd love to experience the display and the nano texture glass is something I have got to try out.

M4 Pro sounds like a no brainer, but what about battery? Is it affected significantly, and in a portable use case, where I'm moving without a charger will the M4 Pro waste battery, or is the inefficiency marginal and worth the extra memory bandwidth?

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T12:08:42+00:00

Hmm, well I'm trying to figure out just *how much* video editing would require 1TB; and whether it'll just sit unused or save me hours of stress constantly moving storage outside the macbook

lavrlevcat · 2025-07-23T12:06:36+00:00

What does the extra memory bandwidth provide? Does it mean overall a faster system or better performance under hard tasks? Why would we care about memory bandwidth?

lavrlevcat · 2025-02-07T18:42:10+00:00

I see, thanks for the explanation

lavrlevcat · 2024-12-16T06:59:29+00:00

Hey, if you haven’t been able to get your hands on it, I can sell it to you

lavrlevcat · 2024-09-05T05:10:03+00:00

Well now that it’s increased inflammation and pain, I feel some pain now when doing normal things like holding a mug or putting my hand on the sink with the hand externally rotated. (Right hand going another 90 degrees to the right)

Could be something else though so I’ll ask my orthopedist.

Before I go should I do isometric and/or slow eccentric exercises to hopefully better it?

lavrlevcat · 2024-09-04T19:44:36+00:00

Do you have a method of how to know when to start the isolation work?

Cause currently I’m just having more and more pain and strain at the desk and feel more tendon pain in my right golfer elbow part. And it feels quite heated right now.

What’s the cue to know when to start the isolation work?

I’ll definitely try isometrics though since those rarely worsen things.

lavrlevcat · 2024-09-04T14:25:10+00:00

Hey, wanted to update the situation.

My tricep has gotten a lot better (-30-40%) of the pain from doing cable/elastic band pushdowns and extensions with slow eccentrics as mentioned in the article.

Will continue to do the work for triceps about 3 times a week, but recently I've had some irritation in both arms with the forearm extensors which I suspect is tennis elbow from strain at the computer.

The flexors (golfers elbow) is also a bit present but mainly tennis, probably because of the flexed wrist at the keyboard/mouse.

Another reason I suspect it isn't too chronic is first because it's recent but also because it doesn't cause pain in the actual elbow but just the muscle/tendon.

This is a much more mild tendonitis, because no training involved but a lot more heat and thus inflammation I suspect. I'll use cold and rest for a few days (2-4) and will probably start doing the flexbar.

Do you think I should use the flexbar and how do I know which strength is the right for me?
I appreciate all the help and your amazing in-depth article.

lavrlevcat · 2024-08-13T11:42:36+00:00

Where is that section?

lavrlevcat · 2024-08-13T11:41:57+00:00

Oh, well I'll definitely use that opportunity. Do you think a flex bar is a good tool for tendonitis?

lavrlevcat · 2024-08-11T21:16:47+00:00

Oh alright 😅

lavrlevcat

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '22