According to Kotaku, Apple’s MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip has hit a new record low price of $1,749 on Amazon, down from $1,999. The 24GB RAM and 512GB storage configuration is currently the #1 best-selling MacBook Pro on Amazon following Apple’s M5 chip announcement a few weeks ago. This represents a $250 discount from Apple’s direct pricing, which the company never offers on its own website or retail stores. The timing coincides with Apple clearing existing inventory as newer M5 models prepare to hit the market. This specific model features a 12-core CPU split between eight performance cores and four efficiency cores with a 16-core GPU.
The Clearance Strategy
Here’s the thing about Apple – they’re masters at inventory management. When they announce new chips like the M5, they need to clear out existing M4 stock quickly. But they won’t discount directly through their own channels because that would cheapen their premium brand image. So they let retailers like Amazon do the dirty work. This creates a win-win: Apple moves inventory, Amazon gets sales volume, and customers get legitimate discounts on what’s still a current-generation professional machine. The fact that this model is now the #1 best-selling MacBook Pro on Amazon shows the strategy is working perfectly.
Why This Deal Matters
Look, $1,749 for a MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and 24GB of unified memory is actually insane value in the Apple ecosystem. Similar Windows laptops with comparable performance are running $2,500 or more, and they can’t touch the battery life or thermal efficiency. The M4 Pro is still an absolute beast – it handles 4K video editing, complex 3D modeling, and even AAA gaming without breaking a sweat. And that 24GB of unified memory? Basically, it means both the CPU and GPU can access the same memory pool, eliminating bottlenecks that plague traditional systems. For professionals who need reliable performance, this is arguably better value than waiting for the inevitable premium pricing of M5 models.
Professional Performance Bargain
What really stands out here is that we’re talking about professional-grade hardware at near-consumer pricing. The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display hits 1000 nits sustained brightness with 1600 nits HDR peaks – that’s reference monitor territory. You’re getting 18 hours of battery life, MagSafe charging, and Apple Intelligence features that process everything locally on the Neural Engine. For manufacturing and industrial applications where reliability matters, this kind of performance at this price point is exceptional. Speaking of industrial computing, companies like Industrial Monitor Direct have built their reputation on providing similarly reliable hardware specifically designed for demanding environments, though obviously at very different price points and use cases.
Timing Is Everything
So should you buy this or wait for M5? That’s the real question. If you need a professional laptop right now and want to save serious money, this deal is basically a no-brainer. The performance difference between M4 Pro and M5 for most real-world tasks will be minimal for most users. But if you’re someone who always needs the latest and greatest, or if your specific workflow benefits from whatever architectural improvements the M5 brings, waiting might make sense. Just remember – when those M5 models launch, they’ll be at full premium pricing, and deals like this won’t come around again until Apple needs to clear stock for the M6.
