Skip to main content

Apple silicon has made the MacBook Pro a consumer favorite

Someone using a MacBook Pro at a desk.
Chris Hagan / Digital Trends

Apple’s computer lineup has greatly benefitted from its update to the M4 chip in 2024. The brand introduced the M4 MacBook Pro and iMac lines in the last year– and research has further indicated that Apple’s decision to shift from Intel processors to proprietary silicon was a solid move. It has made consumers favor Apple laptops more. 

According to statistics from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), MacBook form factors, in either MacBook Pro or MacBook Air made up 86% of Apple’s PC market share in 2024. Consumers especially favored the M4 MacBook Pro at a rate of 53%, while 33% of MacBook Air models shipped during the year, and 14% of iMac models. These figures vary only slightly from the year prior; however, CIRP noted that Apple appears to have weathered any fluctuations that may have occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Apple Mac stats from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.
Consumer Intelligence Research Partners

Additionally, the MacBook Pro has had consistently higher shipments among the M-series devices between 2020 and 2024 but only inched above 50% shipments in 2023.  

Recommended Videos

After introducing the M-series chip in 2020, the reception to its changes has been largely strong, with boosts to performance and battery efficiency being among the top accolades of the specifications revamp, Apple Insider noted. 

Between the different models in the Mac lines, consumers have come to especially favor the MacBook Pro lineup due to the high-performance similarity to the iMac, as well as the portability aspect of the laptop form factor. The higher-price tier of the Pro line has not been a deterrent for consumers purchasing this model. Especially as sales and discounts become more prevalent with more time spent on the market, Wccftech noted. 

The M4 MacBook Pro launched in October 2024, but now its 14-inch model is discounted on Amazon by $200, selling for $1,400, the publication added. 

The M4 MacBook Air was introduced in early 2025, and while Apple claims it is the most powerful MacBook Air ever released, there are no shipment figures for the laptop. So, it remains to be seen how consumers will receive the device. However, reviews for the device have been positive. 

Fionna Agomuoh
Fionna Agomuoh is a Computing Writer at Digital Trends. She covers a range of topics in the computing space, including…
I’d love to get the Mac Studio for gaming, but one thing is holding me back
Apple Mac Studio 2025 top down view showing desktop.

These days, I often feel like I’m one of those rare breeds: a gamer who also loves Macs. My home office work is split between my M1 Mac mini and my small-form-factor Windows PC, and to be honest it’s annoying to have to switch between the two all the time.

Unfortunately, my love of gaming -- and Apple’s relative inexperience here -- means that I’ve had to stick with both macOS and Windows for some time now. Sure, I’d love to drop Windows once and for all, but it just doesn’t feel as though the Mac is quite there yet in terms of gaming performance.

Read more
The MacBook Air proves you don’t need AI to create a world class laptop
Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

Our review of the M4 MacBook Air has just dropped, and it’s fair to say it’s one of the best laptops money can buy. For the first time ever, we gave it full marks and a five-star score, with our reviewer dubbing it “as close to perfect” as any laptop they’d seen. There’s no question that it raises the bar for thin and light laptops.

You name it, the MacBook Air has it: impressive performance that belies its lightweight design, build quality that will stand the test of time, a quiet and fanless operation that ensures you can work in peace, a comfortable keyboard and expansive trackpad, and so much more.

Read more
The M5 iPad Pro launch may have less focus on feature upgrades
Watching video on M4 iPad Pro.

If you were looking to save money on an iPad Pro with an OLED display, you can go ahead and invest in the M4 iPad Pro because the M5 iPad Pro might not have any new features to set it apart from its predecessor.

Details from the research firm, Meritz Securities suggest that upgrades for the upcoming professional-tier iPad may primarily come down to the M5 chip, with Apple expected to save bigger feature overhauls for subsequent generations of the tablet series.

Read more