MacBook Pro 15" (2017) to Imac 24" M1 upgrade?

[speekez]

Hi All,

I currently have a 2017 Macbook Pro (16gb, 3.1 Ghz, Quad core i7). I do a lot of photo editing in Lightroom and Photoshop for a living, and I want to start working again on a larger screen. I also feel my machine could benefit from a technology upgrade... so to hit both of these goals, I've been considering the new iMac 24" M1 (8 core CPU/8 core CPU, 16gb RAM). Couple questions:

1. I imagine I will see a performance improvement going from my MacBook Pro to this iMac? Seems the Geekbench scores are near double.
2. Anyone using the iMac 24" for photo editing, particular in Lightroom Classic -- how is performance now that software is native?
3. Would the antireflective coating on the iMac 24" be on par with the MacBook Pro? I know nano etching isn't available for this model.

I know the 27" or larger model may likely be coming out, but I had an older iMac 21.5" handy and put that on my desk, and given my desk real estate and the max distance I can sit from monitor, a 27"+ size might not be ideal.

Thanks for any input

 

[brano810]

Hi. I moved from Macbook Pro 2017 16Gb to iMac 24 16Gb and i don’t regret it. After 10 years on laptop i really wanted to return to desktop. And this year with home office and new iMac model was the perfect time for switch 😀 Performance is superb - i do lot of photo editing under Lightroom CC - it’s fast and fluid. When i ocassionally return to Macbook, it feels so slow and dated 🙈 So it´s definitely a worthy upgrade.
The display is fantastic for editing photos and videos - colors, sharpness. I also like the white bezel. Antireflective coating seems better than on Macbook. 24 inch is well enough for my proffesional use. I love that machine - it’s the best mac in years and the value for the money (even for the proffessional) is great. Hope this helps. And Sorry for my English

 

[speekez]

Hi. I moved from Macbook Pro 2017 16Gb to iMac 24 16Gb and i don’t regret it. After 10 years on laptop i really wanted to return to desktop. And this year with home office and new iMac model was the perfect time for switch 😀 Performance is superb - i do lot of photo editing under Lightroom CC - it’s fast and fluid. When i ocassionally return to Macbook, it feels so slow and dated 🙈 So it´s definitely a worthy upgrade.
The display is fantastic for editing photos and videos - colors, sharpness. I also like the white bezel. Antireflective coating seems better than on Macbook. 24 inch is well enough for my proffesional use. I love that machine - it’s the best mac in years and the value for the money (even for the proffessional) is great. Hope this helps. And Sorry for my English

Thanks so much for your detailed insight, very helpful!

 

[Fishrrman]

Photo editing?
You want a LARGE display.
Not only for the image you're working on, but to accomodate all the "surrounding palettes and menus".
That's pretty much the size of it.

I'd sit tight, and either wait for the large screen iMac (perhaps Jan/Feb 2022), or the m1x Mini (late Oct/Nov).

 

[speekez]

Photo editing?
You want a LARGE display.
Not only for the image you're working on, but to accomodate all the "surrounding palettes and menus".
That's pretty much the size of it.

I'd sit tight, and either wait for the large screen iMac (perhaps Jan/Feb 2022), or the m1x Mini (late Oct/Nov).

I can see the logic there and will likely wait at least so I can compare the 24" and 27" or larger iMac to come. That was my plan -- to wait for the release and then get the iMac -- but this week a tiny bug crawled somehow under my laptop screen and is stuck right in the middle of the screen. Didn't know it was a bug at first, so when I touched the screen, it seems I mashed it in place. It's almost as if it is stuck on the white backing, behind the LCD itself. Vibrations don't seem to move it. Will try to ignore for now, but man, distracting while retouching. And it doesn't make sense to have the display replaced by apple ($700+) on a 2017 laptop