The M4 MacBook Pro lineup went through a major revamp in terms of pricing and specifications in Q4 2024, and from the look of the latest statistics, the move paid off big time for Apple. New data reveals that the newer models accounted for more than 50 percent of all Mac shipments for the year. In fact, the exact figures indicate that these portable machines have garnered an 86 percent market share for the 12 months, with the desktop counterparts making up a small portion of those shipments.
M-series MacBook models deliver the same performance as Apple’s iMac lineup, with the flexibility of being carried around and lasting for hours on a single charge
The shift from Intel processors to Apple’s in-house M-series has quickly changed the buyer’s perception of MacBooks, with Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) reporting that this product category has dominated Apple’s notebook sales. Additional information posted by AppleInsider reveals that the MacBook Pro range made up 53 percent of total shipments for 2024, with the MacBook Air series accounting for 33 percent. Despite the latter being the more affordable option, the ‘Pro’ models have accumulated more popularity.
The reason behind this change could be due to the multiple configuration options available, along with the crisp mini-LED screen coupled with ProMotion support, upgrades that are lacking in the MacBook Air family. Additionally, MacBook Pro units ship with active coolers, and the inclusion of a fan allows the machine to deliver better sustained performance when under immense load. As for the desktops, which mainly comprise iMacs, there are fewer shipments on this end because these ‘All In One’ models feature the same SoC as Apple’s portable Macs, offering the same performance, but they can only be used in one place.
The only benefit these desktops provide is more screen real estate, which can also be experienced with MacBook models by purchasing an external monitor. Even right now, the base 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro remains discounted on Amazon by $200, with the 16GB unified RAM, 512GB storage, along with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU going for $1,399. The more powerful M4 Pro configurations have also received substantial price cuts, which could be the reason that is driving demand for them. As for the M4 MacBook Air, the 13-inch and 15-inch just recently arrived, so it will take a while to reflect their numbers in future quarters.
For now, you can get the 13-inch base model for as low as $949.99, and you will get a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of unified RAM, and 256GB of internal storage as part of the package. Of course, as most of you know, Apple may have nailed the pricing on these versions, but it still receives the ‘greed’ label for charging a hefty premium for RAM and storage upgrades. Unfortunately, that is something you will have to live with for now unless the company decides to revise this strategy.
News Source: CIRP
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