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M4 pro now, or wait for M5?
- Thread starter rwh63
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Replacing a 2011? Why not look for an M2-Pro or M3-Pro certified refurb? Getting a mac 1-2 years behind doesn't make much of a difference when you are keeping machines for 10-14 years. Also certified refurbs can sometimes be found with heavily discounted RAM or SSD upgrade.
Anyway, historic trends say M-Pro has a 50% chance of getting released in October and a 50% chance of a 1-3 month delay. Personally, I think waiting 4-7 months once you have decided you need something newer is too long for a product on an annual release cycle, particularly if you are hoping for refurb price cuts which may lag several months longer until M5 refurbs are released.
Anyway, historic trends say M-Pro has a 50% chance of getting released in October and a 50% chance of a 1-3 month delay. Personally, I think waiting 4-7 months once you have decided you need something newer is too long for a product on an annual release cycle, particularly if you are hoping for refurb price cuts which may lag several months longer until M5 refurbs are released.
When it comes to computers, there's always a "next" thing coming around the corner. With that being said, the likelihood of the M5 making the same performance leap M1 made over Intel is not great. If you are looking at upgrading, the M4 Pro would probably be more than enough machine to last the next decade based on how long you have used your current machine.
Beyond the small performance boost with the M5 chips, look for an upgrade from Wi-Fi 6E to Wi-Fi 7.
Of course wait for M5. The M4 is over a year old now.
Once you're past 50-60% of the mark, you wait for the new one unless your old device is dead. Same reason nobody in the right mind would buy iPhone 16 today when the new one is 3 months out.
At minimum, M4 prices will drop when M5 is out.
Once you're past 50-60% of the mark, you wait for the new one unless your old device is dead. Same reason nobody in the right mind would buy iPhone 16 today when the new one is 3 months out.
At minimum, M4 prices will drop when M5 is out.
Since he specified M4Pro, one key difference would be Thunderbolt 5 ports, which may be good to have over the long haul (e.g.: for a dock like CalDigit sells, even if bought years from now). I picked up a used CalDigit TS3+ Thunderbolt 3-based dock for $90 via FaceBook marketplace not so long ago; maybe in a few years the TS5 or TS5+ pricing on used units will drop.
It's also possible with the newer system he might get official compatibility with a newer operating system and security updates down the road.
Buying an older unit cheaper now with a plan to upgrade sooner than you otherwise would later could be a good strategy. But if I were aiming for 10-years, I'd want my processor and RAM to be really good (and perhaps anticipate ultimately using an external Thunderbolt SSD as a startup disc, so again, TB5 might be nice).
Given how long you keep your laptops I would consider holding out for the latest and greatest, assuming your current device can keep functioning until then.
M5 Pro in a new die 3nm huge battery and performance improvements.
New DDR5 RAM from Samsung
I’m hoping for a Tandem OLED display.
New DDR5 RAM from Samsung
I’m hoping for a Tandem OLED display.
