Better choice: iMac M4, MacBook Pro M4 (base), or keep Mac mini M2 pro?

[sidgriffey]

I'm currently using a m2 pro Mac mini with a so so monitor. I'm thinking about how much writing I do as well as zooms. Would it be best to trade in the m2 pro and get the iMac m4 to have a better display and faster chip? or is it better to not be tethered and go with the MacBook Pro? this is for home use. My work machine is the m4 pro mini.

 

[wilberforce]

I have a new M4 iMac and I am not convinced the M4 is really faster than the M2 Pro, seeing it is not much faster than my M1 Pro MacBook and for some things actually slower. In any case, it will make no difference for writing or Zoom.
I suggest just get a better monitor.
If you simply like the aesthetics of the iMac you will be paying for it. Which is what I did, but I don’t mind paying for non-functional things like cosmetic appearance.
Don’t get a MacBook if you don’t actually need to be mobile with it.

 

[sidgriffey]

I currently have a MacBook Air 15" M2 which I would consider trading in for the MBP 14" m4 but I have a 24gb ram 1tb model air so even though I want a better display it will be smaller and cost a lot to match the 24gb and 1tb.
I could consider the 16gb pro,.,,,

 

[Adelphos33]

Apple has released so many computers with basically the equivalent computing power that it becomes difficult to choose.

MacBook Air, M Series MacBook Pro, M series Mac mini, iMac are basically all the same computer in different form factors. Makes it hard to choose.

 

[sidgriffey]

Does anyone have strong feelings about whether 16gb ram is enough for iMac or would you pay up for 24gb?

 

[betabeta]

Does anyone have strong feelings about whether 16gb ram is enough for iMac or would you pay up for 24gb?

I would strongly advise the upgrade to 24GB if you multitask, I have 16GB on my M1 iMac and I crash a lot lately, I'm up against the wall with ram but I routinely open multiple browser windows and tabs, listen to music, run Photoshop have X open in a web app, Notes, ChatGPT, Mail, Finder tabs and sometimes Adobe Premiere. If you don't do Photoshop or run all the apps I do 16GB should be fine.

Also the new Apple Intelligence will eat ram, I'm sure that is the only reason they boosted the base to 16GB, 8GB was just not cutting it with the added Apple Intelligence. So you don't want to be kicking yourself 2 years from now, if you have the $$, do it!

So, just think about what you do, and if you want to play with Stable Diffusion or other AI, I would even go 48GB, but at that point you would be looking at the Mini Pro or Studio, or a PC with Nvidia GPU. I'm trying to wait on the M4 Studio and I want 64GB to run more generative AI and huge 3D graphical environments, which really eats memory and needs more GPU cores. I should get a PC but I don't want a 1200 watt heater on my floor with 7 fans.

 

[gilby101]

As @wilberforce says.
I would definitely put my money into a better screen that you can use with your Mini. When you find the Mini is slow for what you do, that is the time to get whatever new Mini is best for you.