With that power in the form of the M4 chip, Apple’s latest Mac computers come on strong in graphics, but are they ready for high performance gaming? Most Mac users don’t shuffle off to Apple devices to game, but improvements may convince the skeptics. So let’s take a look at how much gaming M4 Macks can do—though we break it down in some here.
Gaming Power of the M4 Mac
The M4 chip boosts graphics capability, offering a substantial upgrade over previous models:
- Improved Integrated GPU: With an intended target market of playing today’s high performance games today, the GPU in the M4 should be able to handle todays high performance games with ease.
- Increased Base RAM: The models in the series, such as the Mac Mini, now begin with 16 GB of RAM (up from 8 GB), 10 CPU and GPU cores and can make for a good choice when it comes to gaming.
Gaming M4 Models Available
The Mac Mini, MacBook, and iMac with M4 are all functional for gaming, though desktops have advantages:
- Mac Mini and iMac for Stability: As superior cooling and no battery constraints outperform these models when gaming, laptops cannot compete on these models.
- MacBook Option: As a bonus, it’s portable, but under heavy, sustained gaming loads it has it’s limitations.
Capabilities and Performance
M4 Macs support a broader gaming catalog than previous versions:
- Expanded macOS Game Library: As developers take preference to Apple’s OS, the game selection on macOS has seen a rise, thanks to offerings from platforms like Steam.
- Smooth Performance on Supported Titles: Playably most macOS games will run on M4 Macs, but those playing on new M4s at 240 FPS and 4K will have to wait. But popular titles, including GTA VI, could be made to run and efficiently on M4 powered Macs.
M4 Macs Are Now Viable for Gaming
The M4’s power efficiency and unified architecture have led to a smooth gaming experience that matches, and sometimes exceeds, expectations:
- Unified macOS Ecosystem: As Apple’s ecosystem is made up of much less resources than there is on Windows, games also HAVE to use less resources to pull off a fast, smooth game.
- Improved Developer Support: Better game optimization on macOS is coming, as more developers are embracing the platform.
Even if this gives you doubts about Mac’s gaming potential, you can try an M4 Mac such as Mac Mini for €719 to see just how far things have moved. These models provide solid performance that can reshape your thinking about gameplay on a Mac, whether you’re looking at them for casual or higher end gaming.