Alleged M4 MacBook Pro unboxing video

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

An alleged leak of an M4-based 14‑inch MacBook Pro has prompted scrutiny of both its authenticity and its claimed performance gains, with Geekbench numbers suggesting the largest single‑core jump since the original M1. Commenters weigh how much of the improvement comes from new ARM features and TSMC process changes, and whether such gains justify upgrading from still‑capable M1/M2 machines, especially for development and local AI workloads. The rumored move to a 10‑core CPU, a 16 GB RAM baseline, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and Space Black color is seen as meaningful but incremental, while some lament the absence of Thunderbolt 5 and debate Apple’s broader role in ARM adoption, supply‑chain security, and long‑term x86 competition.

Performance Gains M1 → M4

  • Users compute single-core Geekbench jumps: ~13% (M1→M2), ~19% (M2→M3), ~25% (M3→M4, if leak is legit).
  • Some attribute gains partly to new ARM extensions (SVE/SME) and higher clocks; others question how long frequency boosting can continue.
  • Debate over benchmarks: Geekbench seen as too short to show throttling; Cinebench and longer tests suggested as more relevant.
  • M4 iPad single-core is said to approach high-end desktop CPUs, but duration of peak performance is questioned.

Process Node & Architecture

  • Each M generation has coincided with new TSMC process (N5 → N5P → N3B → N3E).
  • N3E is described as slightly less efficient than N3B but with better yield; unclear how much that affects retail performance.
  • Some see Apple’s ARM push and AWS/Ampere/Raspberry Pi as having legitimized ARM more broadly; others emphasize pre-M1 server work.
  • Intel’s upcoming Lunar Lake (on TSMC) cited as evidence that Intel’s issues were more fab-related than ISA-related.

Upgrade Value & Real-World Reports

  • Many users with M1 Pro/Max or M1 Air report M3 as faster but not life-changing; M1 already a huge jump from Intel.
  • Common theme: if your M1 still feels sufficient, upgrade is “nice to have,” not necessary.
  • Gains from more RAM (e.g., 16→36 GB) can matter more than CPU gen for some workflows.
  • Some would upgrade mainly for features (MagSafe, better display, future OLED) rather than raw performance.

RAM, Bandwidth, and LLM / Heavy Workloads

  • Rumored 16 GB base RAM for all Macs seen as important for local LLMs.
  • Interest in max RAM (e.g., 192–256 GB) and memory bandwidth for large models and distributed systems.
  • Debate on comparing unified memory to GPU VRAM: disagreement over how to reason about bandwidth across multiple GPUs and parallelism modes.

I/O: Thunderbolt, TB5, MagSafe, USB‑C

  • Some disappointed by apparent lack of Thunderbolt 5; 40 Gbit/s seen as limiting for high-end SSDs, networking, and (hypothetical) eGPUs.
  • Others argue 40 Gbit/s is plenty for most and note real-world TB4 throughput is lower due to video reservation and protocol overhead.
  • Discussion of optical interconnects as a likely future for higher bandwidth.
  • MagSafe vs USB‑C:
    • Pro‑MagSafe: safer disconnects, preserves USB‑C ports for data, user preference.
    • Anti‑MagSafe: extra proprietary cable, USB‑C seen as sturdy enough and more universal.
    • Mixed experiences on port durability and dust/grit issues.

Core Scheduling & Docker

  • Some developers see erratic benchmark results attributed to tasks being scheduled on efficiency instead of performance cores.
  • Suggested workaround: taskpolicy to bias processes toward performance cores, though Docker integration is unclear.
  • More invasive workaround (disabling efficiency cores via custom kernel) is considered impractical on company machines.

Authenticity of the Leak & Supply Chain / Sanctions

  • Skepticism around the unboxing: box art matches earlier M3 designs, and Apple usually updates wallpapers per generation.
  • Speculation that this could be reused art, unofficial packaging, or not genuine at all; overall authenticity remains unclear.
  • Questions on how a Russian YouTuber obtained the device; some link it to Chinese manufacturing leaks and broader sanction evasion.
  • Side debate on sanctions:
    • One view: sanctions mostly hurt ordinary people, rarely elites; framed as ineffective and harmful.
    • Counterview: they do cost elites money but may still have limited geopolitical effect; cited as overused because alternatives are hard.