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So I'm debating whether I'll go for a 16 inch M1 Max or simply the M1 Pro.

My three options would be:
  1. M1 Pro 16 GB 512 GB @ € 2749 (base model)
  2. M1 Pro 32 GB 512 GB @ € 3209 (just RAM upgrade)
  3. M1 Max 24-core GPU 32 GB 512 GB @ € 3439
I now have a 2018 MBP i7 6-core 16 GB 256 GB entry level with a couple of speedy (Thunderbolt) external SSDs. I do need 512 GB SSD for sure, but that's in the base model so it's fine.

And for ease of mind I'd like to upgrade to the M1 Max because of its higher RAM Bandwidth of 400 GB/s instead of 200 GB/s and the additional GPU headroom. I just don't think I need 32 GB of RAM, maybe it helps, but maybe it's overkill and it's a € 4670 upgrade in itself. Between #2 and #3 above the M1 Max seems a no-brainer for 'just' € 230 more, but if I scale down to the 16 GB RAM model, that's a whopping € 690 difference.

My workloads consist of development work, photo editing and some minor video editing.
As a 2018 MBP i9 32RAM i’m also wondering through my options, but my advice is to Get the#3. you’ll feel the 32RAM difference. Don’t know what cost you the external TB4? SSD, but you should compare it to the 1TB storage upgrade.
 
Question: Will we be able to upgrade the internal SSD drive on these new MBPs, so we don't have to pay the ridiculous Apple price of upgrading an internal drive when we buy?

Not thrilled with having to buy the top of the line 16 inch, but I do a lot of still photography and video editing. So I will have to bite the bullet. I've been using a mid 2014 decked out 15 inch MBP and I now think it is time to bite the bullet. I certainly got my money's worth.
Sorry but it’s Not upgradable. External storage will be your only option to expand or upgrade and to get decent write and read speed you’ll pay high for it. For video+photo I’d get 1TB.
 
I'm a software developer and have a couple of medium/large sized iOS projects I've developed on the M1 Mac mini with 16Gb Ram and I haven't had any memory issues either (other than with Web Browser tabs so I can just close them). I have also edited a few videos, mine do not require more than a couple of tracks and effects and it has not had any issues, and as I develop photo software I have processed large numbers of photos with tools like Lightroom and seen no issues. So I'm going to go for the same option as you suggest. I'll probably want to upgrade to M2 or M3 to get better single core performance at some point, so not a lot of point in that expensive RAM upgrade locking me on. £400 for 16GB extra RAM is the major downside of Apple, that's eye waveringly expensive. If they were not so greedy there I'd have gone for the 32, but that is insane.
Yeah... What's interesting though is that if you order directly from Apple the estimated delivery date is mid-November, but with companies like Best Buy (store pickup-able) and online retailers like Adorama.com and B&H Photo/Video they seem to offer expedited shipping on launch day (next Tuesday). Will Apple stores have the base line configs available in store for walk-in purchase on day 1? I understand that they won't know how many people would want a crazy CTO model, but most like myself are most attracted to a base config. Thoughts?
 
Money, money is also a consideration. Specially for us working creatively without generating much income. Pro it is, with 14GPU cores (for me at least).
 
My experience is the opposite. The stock or lightly upgraded models resell better (as a percentage of their original cost, of course) just because the market for the maxed out models is so small. I remember a guy here selling a high end Mac pro during the pandemic and getting a pitiful return. I felt badly for him, but most people buying serious pro computers aren’t buying them second hand.
Agreed. Top end models are purchased by companies not by individuals.
 
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There is no way that is true. The sales rep is probably reading the tech specs page. For watching video there is no difference in large part because none of the CPU or GPU cores have anything substantial to do with that. The "wireless web" metric is another one of those "one P core and two E cores " tasks that won't drive a difference.
Neither one of those will are likely to activate the fans either. These are just relatively super lightweight loads.

Stating they are equal on super lightweight loads is deceptive. If decoctive more of the larger SoC then they will be about equal. But if light up both dies there is no way they are consuming the same power.


The core issue is Apple has no standard battery life metrics that actually loop in the sustain active cores in large numbers. There has to be a gap if the fans kick in. Apple's own graphs so that when fully active the Max consumes more power than the Pro. At fully activity, the fans will kick in ( further consuming battery ). Fans dispensing 50W versus 30W is going to drive a difference.

Same thing with Screen size. There are just more transistors and LEDs in a 16 screen than a 14. Same impact on the bigger SoC.



P.S. If constantly running limited workloads so never "light up" the Max portion of the SoC that is different from the Pro SoC then there is really no good reason to buy billions of transistors have little to no intention of using.
So the question is - do the Max components of the chip ‘activate’ at all times, or only when needed. If it’s only when needed, then the computer should have the same battery life, etc., if presented with the same low complexity use case. I don’t mind if the battery drains quicker during a ‘Max’ use case, this is to be expected.
 
What’s your opinion on blutooth 5.0? Is it enough for fast pairing? There is already 5.2. available according to Wiki with improved audio properties.
 
will we be able to pick one up in stores on the 26th? I remember when I ordered the m1 I was able to do in store pickup and get it sooner than the one I had ordered online. I would like to try to get one in store instead of wait till december...hopefully its an option.
 
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Most people not pro users will likely opt for M Pro 10/16 14"/16" config with 16 GB Ram. I also think 1 TB is worth it over 512GB for longevity of SSD.

I expect these configurations to sell the most.
14" 10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage
16" 10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, 16GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage

If you wanted 32 GB then the $800 more for the M1 Max is a deal. (EDU its $700)
I’m considering the 14” 10/16/16/1TB or a maxed out 13” MBP.

I keep my Macs for a long time and the display on the 14” is amazing. I’d rather not get old tech, but it’s a big savings.

I also wonder if we might see an updated 13” Air or Pro next month with ProMotion and HDR. It’s going on a year now.
 
Honestly most people would be well served by the M1 MBA. And 99% of people would be fine with the Pro Base Model. That said, many more people will buy the Max who will never come close to needing all of that power.

I went with the M1 Pro Base model but upped the ram to 32 and storage to 1TB which is probably overkill. I keep laptops for at least 5 years and that will be just fine for 5 years and maybe even 10.
Yeah I really just want a M1 16" screen model...

Even though - or maybe because - they added so much stuff to these laptops, 120Hz, and other gimmicks, I really only need a M1 with 16GB Ram, 512GB HDD, and thin and light and lasting forever on battery.

But, I guess that's not what Apple had in mind. I am sure these new beasties do last forever on battery, just like my M1 MBA, but...

The MBA barely gets warm
Also lasts forever on battery
Is very fast - single core CPU score same as the M1X Pro/Max, 8 core CPU seems plenty.
Is only $1200!

I just want a bigger screen, the whole rest of this laptop is absolutely perfect for me, I use it every day, for programming, XCode, web, blockchain stuff... it's easily capable of handling anything I throw at it in professional use. I was unable to get a 16GB version so it's doing all that inside 8GB, which is surprising - no idea why this is working so well. But it feels faster than my core i9 16" MBP.

Sorry to pull a Jony Ive here and say I would prefer a super thin, super light, big screen model. Like an iMac with a hinge.

The M1 is plenty fast. 8 CPU cores are plenty.

Maybe they can call it "Big Air"
 
will we be able to pick one up in stores on the 26th? I remember when I ordered the m1 I was able to do in store pickup and get it sooner than the one I had ordered online. I would like to try to get one in store instead of wait till december...hopefully its an option.
This is something I'd like to know as well, though I also wonder to what extent they'll have CTO's in stock on Day 1... Like something as simple as RAM upgrades, and not necessarily full on SoC upgrades...
 
M1 MBA has the processing power I need but not enough ports and won't run my 5120x1440 (32:9) screen at better than 3008x846. I need at least 3840x1080. Apple didn't make it clear that the M1 wouldn't be able to do this, and they haven't made it clear whether the M1 Pro or M1 Max will either. We won't know until people try.

Personally, I don't want a big processor full of stuff, running hot, if I don't need it, so I'd prefer the Pro for that reason. But I do need enough graphics resolution for a single big screen and I suspect that means the Max is required.
 
This is something I'd like to know as well, though I also wonder to what extent they'll have CTO's in stock on Day 1... Like something as simple as RAM upgrades, and not necessarily full on SoC upgrades...
I ended up going on bestbuy.com and configured a 14 with the m1pro and 1tb ssd. It is available for pickup on release day. I hopefully will be happy with that spec..
 
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M1 MBA has the processing power I need but not enough ports and won't run my 5120x1440 (32:9) screen at better than 3008x846. I need at least 3840x1080. Apple didn't make it clear that the M1 wouldn't be able to do this, and they haven't made it clear whether the M1 Pro or M1 Max will either. We won't know until people try.

Personally, I don't want a big processor full of stuff, running hot, if I don't need it, so I'd prefer the Pro for that reason. But I do need enough graphics resolution for a single big screen and I suspect that means the Max is required.
M1 MBA is listed as being compatible with the LG 5k display.

So that's not on the laptop, it's some sort of compatibility thing?

 
M1 MBA is listed as being compatible with the LG 5k display.

So that's not on the laptop, it's some sort of compatibility thing?

Exactly. The implication from Apple is that the M1 can run these things but the truth is that 3008 is the maximum resolution on super-wide and ultra-wide screens. Loads of threads around here about it, it’s not just me and my particular screen. I ended up with a Mac Pro!
 
Code:
    1. Apple M1 Pro with  8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine  + 16GB
    2. Apple M1 Pro with  8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine  + 32GB
    3. Apple M1 Pro with 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine  + 16GB
Which one should I choose?
 
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Hey guys, quick questions, using OBS for twitch streaming and my streams were quite choppy with my late 2016 MBP. What would you recommend for 14" MBP specs? Or do you believe even with this power I would still struggle? I feel like nowadays there are many more mac streamers. Thoughts?
 
Hey guys, quick questions, using OBS for twitch streaming and my streams were quite choppy with my late 2016 MBP. What would you recommend for 14" MBP specs? Or do you believe even with this power I would still struggle? I feel like nowadays there are many more mac streamers. Thoughts?
OBS even running under Rosetta 2 is quite usable... though I'd wait for them to release an M1/Apple Silicon native version. You can get the git src and compile it yourself with some tweaks, but it's not worth it as some features would be missing.
 
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It seems like if you're going with 32GB, you might as well spring for the 10/24 Max CPU.
 
It seems like if you're going with 32GB, you might as well spring for the 10/24 Max CPU.
Ya I originally didn't order it, and despite not seeing benchmarks yet, it just seems like it's high value to get something like that from Apple. Gonna cancel and add it I think.
 
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