MacBook Pro And Mac mini With M4 Pro Chip Get High Power Mode

Apple’s High Power Mode is now available on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, as well as the Mac mini equipped with the new M4 Pro chip.

Previously, this feature was reserved for Macs with Apple’s top-tier “Max” chips, making this a big step for those rocking the “Pro” models.

If you’re not familiar, High Power Mode cranks up your Mac’s fans, allowing the system to stay cooler while boosting performance during intense tasks like 8K video editing or heavy-duty graphics work.

Whether you’re plugged in or running on battery, you can switch it on via System Settings under “Battery” or “Energy.” Just look for the “High Power” option in the dropdown menus.

This isn’t the first time Apple has broadened access to High Power Mode. Initially, it was exclusive to the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max and M2 Max chips. Then, it made its way to both 14-inch and 16-inch models with the M3 Max last year. Now, even more users can take advantage of it.

But how much of a boost does it really offer? In his review of the Mac mini, Ars Technica’s Andrew Cunningham found the performance gains underwhelming, despite the fans working noticeably harder. He admitted, though, that the benefits might shine during longer, sustained workloads.