Hello, with the roadmaps released the last two days, it looks like new MacBook Pro with M5 Pro/Max will be out very very soon. It may be kind of stupid to buy a 1+ year old product this month which I did 2 weeks ago. I would be very very unhappy if the new MacBook Pro get released in January. Shall I return the MacBook Pro M4 Pro now or use it until the first week of January under the extended return period? I worry that Apple may not allow me to return if I do that in the first week of January.
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Shall I return MacBook Pro M4 Pro now or wait until first week of 2026?
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devme
Suspended
Hey, I registered on this forum specifically to reply to you.
I had the same question back in August.
TL;DR: Do you need this laptop now? Is it essential for your work or studies? And most importantly, do you make money using a laptop?
For me, the answer was yes. I needed this laptop and couldn't wait half a year for performance improvements. I decided to buy the M4 Pro fully maxed out and keep it for 2 years until OLED and redesign. I am very happy with it.
But in your case, I would probably return it if it’s not critical right now (and believe that Apple is close to a release).
Another question: why did you buy the M4 now? It seems like an impulsive purchase that made you unhappy instantly, and I believe it’s driven by emotion. Hence, you might be disappointed with the M5 Max or lose interest very soon, too.
Remember - a new generation of products is always better, but that doesn’t automatically make the previous one worse. So, start with your needs.
Hope this helps you in some way 🙌
I had the same question back in August.
TL;DR: Do you need this laptop now? Is it essential for your work or studies? And most importantly, do you make money using a laptop?
For me, the answer was yes. I needed this laptop and couldn't wait half a year for performance improvements. I decided to buy the M4 Pro fully maxed out and keep it for 2 years until OLED and redesign. I am very happy with it.
But in your case, I would probably return it if it’s not critical right now (and believe that Apple is close to a release).
Another question: why did you buy the M4 now? It seems like an impulsive purchase that made you unhappy instantly, and I believe it’s driven by emotion. Hence, you might be disappointed with the M5 Max or lose interest very soon, too.
Remember - a new generation of products is always better, but that doesn’t automatically make the previous one worse. So, start with your needs.
Hope this helps you in some way 🙌
maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
What is very very soon? Apple doesn't announce release dates generally. Rumors seem to pin a possible release date of Feb or more likely Mar. Basically 1st quarter 2026
No not really, because it goes back to the old adage, if you need a computer now then buy a computer now. If you can hold off, then hold off
Then relax, its highly unlikely we'll see a January release.
My other thoughts
- Does the current MBP meet/exceed your needs today and near future?
- What does the M5 give you that the M4 Pro/Max doesn't? Is it worth waiting 3 plus months?
- Can you keep using your current computer and put off the purchase (or in your case use your old computer and return the mac?)
- There may be a price increase with the M5, given the run away price increases in ram (and to a lessor extent storage). Dell increased their laptop prices 30% across the board. Ram prices have doubled over the past couple of months. Be prepared to have apple do the same
- Laptops are tools, they either fit your needs or not, try to divorce yourself from personal feelings of happiness and unhappiness when buying it. If the current product gets the job done great, if not why did you buy it then?
Apple_Robert
Contributor
You are chasing tech to have the latest model regardless of whether or not you really need it. Chasing tech is a losing game. And if you are going to play this game, which your mindset is already in, there is no point in making thread. You are just looking for validation to keep chasing tech.
maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
Yep, I think the OP has already made up his mind and seeks validation
You will not run into issues returning it the first week of January. We can pretty much guarantee that there's a 0% chance of apple releasing a new product the first week of January. So if you think of holding on to the MBP in the hopes of seeing a new model january 5th (or something) then don't - its not happening.
OP, no knock on you or your decisions, but based on your prior buying/returning habits, it seems more then likely you'll be returning this. I recommend you do so sooner then later simply so you can avoid the stress, and anxiety of dealing with this
I'm a big believer that if you're not at peace with a decision, then you have reevaluate that decision, and in this case you seem to be worked up over keeping the MBP
Thanks for the replies.
- I don't need a Mac right now as I have been using a PC for the past 10 years. Stopped using a Mac as the main computer due to butterfly keyboard mess and memory issue with M1 Pro.
- However, the PC is dying. Perhaps the video card is dying. Not sure. It is an old machine.
- Too bad Apple gave up on Intel Mac. If I buy a Mac to replace my dying PC, I need to run Parallels and Windows so of course higher single-core performance in my case is better.
Prior to M4, the performance for my Windows application was not good. Right now, even M4 can get the job done.
- I don't make money using a laptop right now but perhaps later.
- I bought a M4 for an important online meeting. Didn't have good experience using a PC for that and if the computer were dead during the meeting, that would be a big problem.
- I don't think I would buy a Max. Based on benchmarks posted by other users, looks like depending on the tasks, each new generation base model or Pro model performans nearly as well as the previous generaiton Max model. In some applications, there is no difference between a Pro and a Max.
- As my Windows application is mostly single threaded, more GPU cores on the Max cannot benefit me. I need higher single-core performance.
- I can put off the purchase and keep using the current computer until it is dead.
- I planned to buy a NAS two years ago but waited for this year. Then Synology blocked 3rd party drives but removed the restriction recently. Not sure if they will do that again. Perhaps better to use a Mac as a NAS.
- I found the reflection from the silver color annoying sometimes so I wanted to try the space black. However, I have seen many people complaining the space black as a fingerprint magent. After using it for about 2 weeks, it does not seem that bad. I could see the finger oil on the keyboard though. Is the keyboard of the silver model also finger oil magnet? One option could be to continue to use it to evaluate longer-term use of this color (the normal 2-week is too short for such evaluation). Then return the first week of January and wait for the M5 Pro. I have packed it for return already but of course I can take it out to use it again especially if the M5 Pro MacBook Pro won't be out in the 2nd-3rd week of January.
- I don't need a Mac right now as I have been using a PC for the past 10 years. Stopped using a Mac as the main computer due to butterfly keyboard mess and memory issue with M1 Pro.
- However, the PC is dying. Perhaps the video card is dying. Not sure. It is an old machine.
- Too bad Apple gave up on Intel Mac. If I buy a Mac to replace my dying PC, I need to run Parallels and Windows so of course higher single-core performance in my case is better.
Prior to M4, the performance for my Windows application was not good. Right now, even M4 can get the job done.
- I don't make money using a laptop right now but perhaps later.
- I bought a M4 for an important online meeting. Didn't have good experience using a PC for that and if the computer were dead during the meeting, that would be a big problem.
- I don't think I would buy a Max. Based on benchmarks posted by other users, looks like depending on the tasks, each new generation base model or Pro model performans nearly as well as the previous generaiton Max model. In some applications, there is no difference between a Pro and a Max.
- As my Windows application is mostly single threaded, more GPU cores on the Max cannot benefit me. I need higher single-core performance.
- I can put off the purchase and keep using the current computer until it is dead.
- I planned to buy a NAS two years ago but waited for this year. Then Synology blocked 3rd party drives but removed the restriction recently. Not sure if they will do that again. Perhaps better to use a Mac as a NAS.
- I found the reflection from the silver color annoying sometimes so I wanted to try the space black. However, I have seen many people complaining the space black as a fingerprint magent. After using it for about 2 weeks, it does not seem that bad. I could see the finger oil on the keyboard though. Is the keyboard of the silver model also finger oil magnet? One option could be to continue to use it to evaluate longer-term use of this color (the normal 2-week is too short for such evaluation). Then return the first week of January and wait for the M5 Pro. I have packed it for return already but of course I can take it out to use it again especially if the M5 Pro MacBook Pro won't be out in the 2nd-3rd week of January.
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Basic75
macrumors 68030
If you can just return it and wait, did you buy a machine that you don't need? Why? Or do you need your new machine, in which case you should keep it. Nobody outside of Apple knows when the new ones will be released. Usually not before March. And they might be more expensive due to the RAM shenanigans.
If you like the M4 why not just keep it. The M5 will cost you more money. Once you get a M5 then there will be a M6 and so on. Do you like the configuration of the M4, is it performing well for your current tasks, if so then keep it and enjoy it.
It is known that M4 has issues with some 5K2K monitors. Apple still has not fixed it after this 1+ year. There is a long thread in the forum.
throAU
macrumors G4
I think it will be very funny if you try and return the M4 and get hit with a 20% price increase on the M5 when it is released due to RAM prices.
Solarflares
Suspended
Wait till he’s on Tahoe, and discovers the whole screen is just one greasy fingerprint.
Bought mine about end of November 2025. Still have till about January 20-21 to return to Best Buy. 16” M4 24/512. Mostly using it to play some games on Windows 11 with parallels.
I’m looking into getting into coding. Either beginning with Swift or Ai or both. Only reason I would return it now would be to up the storage. Otherwise it seems fine for now.
I’m looking into getting into coding. Either beginning with Swift or Ai or both. Only reason I would return it now would be to up the storage. Otherwise it seems fine for now.