The initial evaluations of Apple’s latest M4 Mac series were released today, covering the Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro.
One notable detail highlighted in Ars Technica’s review is the expansion of the “High Power Mode” in macOS to include the M4 Pro configurations of the Mac mini and MacBook Pro.
In the M1 and M2 eras, High Power Mode was only accessible on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Last year, Apple introduced this feature to the 14-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the M3 Max. Now, High Power Mode is once again available to more models.
According to Ars Technica’s Andrew Cunningham, High Power Mode is now an option for the Mac mini and MacBook Pro powered by M4 Pro.
In his review of the Mac mini, Cunningham notes that the performance improvements with High Power Mode activated are “negligible.” However, the fan noise significantly increases.
During our testing of the Mac mini, the performance benefit from utilizing High Power mode was practically insignificant, so minor that we did not feel it necessary to present charts illustrating the difference—some GPU tests indicated a slight improvement, yet all CPU metrics and many GPU results fell within the margin of error.
While the performance differences are minimal, fan noise is significantly elevated in High Power mode. The Mac mini is generally silent during regular use, much like most Apple Silicon models; however, under prolonged CPU or GPU activity, the mini produces a pronounced whoosh that is noticeable unless you are wearing headphones. This may imply that, during extended usage, High Power mode could yield better or more stable results than our tests, which typically last just a few minutes. Nevertheless, from my perspective, the advantages of High Power mode in the M4 Pro Mac mini are minor, and the increase in noise is evident. I would typically keep it turned off.
In a support document (still unupdated for the M4 series), Apple describes the intended functionality of High Power Mode:
Generally, your Mac operates in Automatic mode to optimally balance energy usage and performance. Low Power Mode conserves energy to extend battery life. Conversely, High Power Mode enables the fans to operate at elevated speeds. This additional cooling capacity may enhance performance during highly demanding tasks.
High Power Mode can facilitate improved performance in graphics-intensive workloads, including 8K ProRes 4444 and 8K DNxHR video color grading. In domains such as video editing and 3D applications, users may experience enhanced playback fluidity and quicker exports while using High Power Mode.
When engaged in High Power Mode, the fan may run at a heightened speed, which could generate extra noise. This mode is operable whether your Mac is plugged into a power source or not.
