The MacBook Pro 14-inch with Apple M4 chip is the best laptop available in 2025 for creative professionals. Performance, battery life, and display quality are all class-leading.
Performance
The M4 chip handles demanding workloads without effort. In our testing: 4K video editing in Final Cut Pro ran smoothly, large Xcode projects compiled quickly, and running a virtual machine alongside other applications caused no slowdown. Multi-core benchmark scores are 20 to 30 percent ahead of the M3.
Display
The 3024x1964 Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion (up to 120Hz) is the best laptop display we have tested. Colors are accurate, peak brightness reaches 1600 nits in HDR content, and mini-LED backlighting produces genuine black levels. After a week with this screen, returning to a standard laptop display is difficult.
Battery Life
Apple claims 22 hours. In our mixed-use testing — writing, web browsing, video calls, and light video editing — we consistently achieved 17 to 19 hours. For most users plugging in is optional during a standard working day.
Ports and Connectivity
Three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, an SD card reader, a headphone jack, and MagSafe charging. This is the port selection laptops should have.
Final Verdict
Starting at $1,999 the MacBook Pro M4 is expensive. For video editors, developers, designers, and power users who demand the best performance and battery life available, it delivers an experience no other laptop matches.
Pros
- ✓ M4 performance is class-leading
- ✓ 17 to 19 hours real-world battery
- ✓ Liquid Retina XDR display sets the standard
- ✓ Runs cool and quiet under sustained load
- ✓ Excellent port selection including HDMI and SD
Cons
- ✗ Starts at $1,999
- ✗ macOS not suitable for everyone
- ✗ Heavier than MacBook Air at 1.55kg