MacBook Pro M4 Australia's Difference in Relative Pricing to USA & Canada

[Melbourne Park]

Here are some relative prices (note that these are Apple prices and the Australian Prices include a Sales Tax of 10%, I do not know if the USA and Canadian prices include any extra taxes)

The configuration used is 48 GB RAM and 1 TB internal storage, Nano option is not included. Presumed similar chargers for these 14" & 16"

My summary is:
The 16" 20 GPU core is better value in Australia relative to other M4 MacBook Pros
In Australia if one wants a 40 Core GPU then there is a saving in going with the 14" as there is a hit almost worth the Nano upgrade when buying the 16".

Australia:

14" Apple M4 Pro chip with 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 4599
14" Apple M4 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 5749 +1,150 +25%
16" Apple M4 Pro chip with 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 4899
16" Apple M4 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 6499 +1,600 +33%

16" Adds $Au300 extra in 20 Core GPU version
16" Adds $Au450 extra in 20 Core GPU version

Canada
14" Apple M4 Pro chip with 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 3749
14" Apple M4 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 4974 +1225 +33%
16" Apple M4 Pro chip with 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 4049
16" Apple M4 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 5299 +1250 +31%

16" Adds $Ca300 20 GPU Core and $Ca325 for 40 Core GPU

USA

14" Apple M4 Pro chip with 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 2799
14" Apple M4 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 3699 +900 +32%
16" Apple M4 Pro chip with 14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 3099
16" Apple M4 Max chip with 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine 3999 +900 +29%

16" Adds $US300 extra in both versions

 

[gadgetfreaky]

we (the USA) dont put vat or sales tax in our prices.

 

[snipr125]

You get the base M4 Pro MBP 14 slightly cheaper in Australia than the UK. UK price is £2399 = $AUS 4724. Both countries have VAT/Sales tax in their prices, but UK tax is higher at 20%.

 

[UnifiedMelody]

Yea M4 Max has dropped in price. I was monitoring Aus Prices alot and holding off for M4 range despite M3 Max being superb.

I remember 16inch:
14C 30G M3 Max 36GB 1TB - 5999AUD [base binned] 2023-24
16C 40G M3 Max 48GB 1TB - 6899AUD [base unbinned] 2023-24

now

14C 32G M4 Max 36GB 1TB - 5699AUD [base binned] {-300aud} 2024-xx
16C 40G M4 Max 48GB 1TB - 6499AUD [base unbinned] {-400aud} 2024-xx

Better because now I can actually spec it to 64GB Ram which was what I wanted to do previously... but didn't ned it just yet. Now M4 looks attractive because of the overall performance gains across the whole line up for any user.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Problem with the price changes though, is that the binned Max is capped at 36 GB RAM. And the Pro is capped at 48 GB RAM. Since the Pro can get 48 GB RAM, it would have been reasonable for the binned Max to get 64 GB RAM option. But one has to get the full Max to get even 64 GB RAM.

 

[HappyInCalgary]

The Canadian prices do not include any taxes. In Canada we pay a 5% GST on a computer purchase (and most nonfood items). Provinces have their own sales taxes as well. I am in Alberta where we don't have a provincial sales tax so if I were to buy a Macbook Pro I would just pay the listed price plus the 5%. I hope this helps.

 

[Macbookey]

13% tax in the dumpster fire that is Ontario these days. For reference, base 16" MacBook Pro @ $3299CDN will amount to $3727.87 plus recycling fees. With the CDN dollar falling, I was surprised  didn’t adjust pricing to be higher. All pricing remained the same across the M3 to M4 generation. How long that lasts, and what effect the US election results will have on headwinds in the near future, remains to be seen. Really lusting after the 16" MacBook Pro M4 Pro right now. The jump from 14” to 16” is a $1000+ out of pocket cost which sucks, because it is the only version I will buy for its intended use cases.

 

[UnifiedMelody]

Problem with the price changes though, is that the binned Max is capped at 36 GB RAM. And the Pro is capped at 48 GB RAM. Since the Pro can get 48 GB RAM, it would have been reasonable for the binned Max to get 64 GB RAM option. But one has to get the full Max to get even 64 GB RAM.

Yeah I've tried M3 Max 14/30 36/1TB and still got into near yellow region, almost red [hasnt got there] in the memory pressure... so i returned it and now waited. Remember the 96GB ram was a 1000$ upgrade which was f**ked I don't need that many. 48-64 is more than enough. and 128GB is borderline tipsy

Hence M4 Max.

Unless the M4 Pro is superb I may consider a Mac Mini with 64GB on 14/20 M4 Pro, depending on benchmarking reviwers which im waiting now. As the M4 Pro MBP Doesn't even get 64GB RAM, but the M4 Mini Pro Does.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Yeah ...

Unless the M4 Pro is superb I may consider a Mac Mini with 64GB on 14/20 M4 Pro, depending on benchmarking reviwers which im waiting now. As the M4 Pro MBP Doesn't even get 64GB RAM, but the M4 Mini Pro Does.

I am also considering a Mini and just using it as a processing machine, and buying a 15" Air ... problem is the Air lacks M4! And also, it would cost more than getting a 16" Pro with 48 GB RAM. But much cheaper than getting a 16" Max with 64 GB Ram. And you get a desktop that can do the crunching all by itself. OK its slower by a lot, but if its over there and doing it, maybe its effective. Even better if one goes a T-5 drive and just moves it from the notebook to the Mini ... but then, one has to buy the Pro mini to get the T-5 benefit ... Apple's marketing profit guys have thought of everything haven't they!!

 

[Melbourne Park]

Yea M4 Max has dropped in price. I was monitoring Aus Prices alot and holding off for M4 range despite M3 Max being superb.

I remember 16inch:
14C 30G M3 Max 36GB 1TB - 5999AUD [base binned] 2023-24
16C 40G M3 Max 48GB 1TB - 6899AUD [base unbinned] 2023-24

now

14C 32G M4 Max 36GB 1TB - 5699AUD [base binned] {-300aud} 2024-xx
16C 40G M4 Max 48GB 1TB - 6499AUD [base unbinned] {-400aud} 2024-xx

Better because now I can actually spec it to 64GB Ram which was what I wanted to do previously... but didn't ned it just yet. Now M4 looks attractive because of the overall performance gains across the whole line up for any user.

I returned my M4 Pro order (48 GB) and have bought an Apple Refurb 16" M3 Max with 1 TB & 64 GB Ram. Strangely it was cheaper than the 48 GB version - but it was only available in silver. Its cost was 4,989AUD. When i bought one, the price for 48 GB 1 TB ones was 5,399AUD, so $411 more expensive. But only silver was available. Now that black is common, the silver ain't so bad perhaps ...

After pick up Apple have given me 30 days trial - I rang them about being able to return computers, as it seemed un-ethical but they said no problems.

So I guess the $6899 + $300 for 16 GB additional RAM would make it $7199 AUD, so the discount is 31%, not bad, but meaningless. In comparison an M4 with 64 GB would cost $6799, so an additional $1,800AUD. One gets 20% -> 30% more performance.

Benefits of M4 Pro - compared to the M3 Max which is about the same price as what I am paying but lacking the extra 16 GB of RAM) versus M3 Max, from my calculations are:

M3 Max is likely significantly faster than the M4 Pro in tasks that require a lot of GPU power or memory bandwidth
M4 Pro offers better single-threaded CPU performance
T-5 allows fabulous drive expandability future proofing at half or one third Apple internal pricing
M4 has Nano screen option and offers standard brighter display without resolving to 3rd party tricks

Perhaps when M5 comes along the trade in value won't be so bad.

I may also buy an M4 mini and test running much of the upscaling work in the background (which is very slow work) or I could buy a used M mini and do the same. If I do that ... I am unsure what I'll do. If I pick it up next week, I'll have 30 days to do some tests using Topaz upscaling resolution software.

 

[UnifiedMelody]

I returned my M4 Pro order (48 GB) and have bought an Apple Refurb 16" M3 Max with 1 TB & 64 GB Ram. Strangely it was cheaper than the 48 GB version - but it was only available in silver. Its cost was 4,989AUD. When i bought one, the price for 48 GB 1 TB ones was 5,399AUD, so $411 more expensive. But only silver was available. Now that black is common, the silver ain't so bad perhaps ...

After pick up Apple have given me 30 days trial - I rang them about being able to return computers, as it seemed un-ethical but they said no problems.

So I guess the $6899 + $300 for 16 GB additional RAM would make it $7199 AUD, so the discount is 31%, not bad, but meaningless. In comparison an M4 with 64 GB would cost $6799, so an additional $1,800AUD. One gets 20% -> 30% more performance.

Benefits of M4 Pro - compared to the M3 Max which is about the same price as what I am paying but lacking the extra 16 GB of RAM) versus M3 Max, from my calculations are:

M3 Max is likely significantly faster than the M4 Pro in tasks that require a lot of GPU power or memory bandwidth
M4 Pro offers better single-threaded CPU performance
T-5 allows fabulous drive expandability future proofing at half or one third Apple internal pricing
M4 has Nano screen option and offers standard brighter display without resolving to 3rd party tricks

Perhaps when M5 comes along the trade in value won't be so bad.

I may also buy an M4 mini and test running much of the upscaling work in the background (which is very slow work) or I could buy a used M mini and do the same. If I do that ... I am unsure what I'll do. If I pick it up next week, I'll have 30 days to do some tests using Topaz upscaling resolution software.

Yes i saw those ones on refurb but i held off it for now as M4 Max is already out and the refurb only dropped 200-300$ which isn't much considering a new gen came out.

Now apple cut down a lot of the mac upgrades and base price at least it gives me some hope as M3 was very expensive. M4 series are actually less in price now on release day which is shocking given apple usually always goes up in price

[plus i have 3750$ in apple gift cards to burn so.. i am willing to put just a little bit more to get a complete macbook pro package. initially i was holding out for a Mac studio as i love desktops but now I think a MBP is better middle ground. in no way am i going to stress long term productivity that the MBP will act up ]

 

[Melbourne Park]

Yes i saw those ones on refurb but i held off it for now as M4 Max is already out and the refurb only dropped 200-300$ which isn't much considering a new gen came out.

Now apple cut down a lot of the mac upgrades and base price at least it gives me some hope as M3 was very expensive. M4 series are actually less in price now on release day which is shocking given apple usually always goes up in price

[plus i have 3750$ in apple gift cards to burn so.. i am willing to put just a little bit more to get a complete macbook pro package. initially i was holding out for a Mac studio as i love desktops but now I think a MBP is better middle ground. in no way am i going to stress long term productivity that the MBP will act up ]

The Refurb I ordered was over 30% off, but the issue for me is whether a Max 40 core M3 is faster than a Pro M4 (not a Max which no matter would be faster). And also the M4 has thunderbolt 5 as well as a Nano option, plus a factory brighter screen. However the M4 Pro doesn't have 64 GB of RAM. So if I bought a Max M4 with 64 GB, I would be spending over $US 1,000 more. But if the M4 Pro is as useful to my usage as the Refurb M3 40 core Max, I will get that instead ... but I would then have to miss out on the extra 16 GB of RAM.

I was looking forward to an M4 binned Max with 64 GB. But they are capped at only 36 GB RAM. I think it is illogical that one can buy 48 GB RAM in an M4 Pro, but with a binned higher cost Max, one can only get 36 GB. So too wth Apple offering M4 Pros with 64GB in the mini, but not the MacBook M4 Pro, now capped at 48 GB.