Should I get the MBP M4 Max or a Mac Studio + MacBook Air combo?

[chonkvandelay]

Hello,
I currently own a MacBook Pro 16” M2 Max, and it still performs great for my needs. However, I’m considering selling it — partly to avoid value depreciation, and partly to upgrade to a more powerful machine.

I use a Studio Display and almost always run my MacBook in clamshell mode, connected to that monitor. I only carry it when traveling out of town or abroad. While the 16” screen is great for productivity, it’s quite heavy to carry around.

Now I’m evaluating a few options:

• Get a Mac Studio (M4 Max, 512GB SSD) since I mostly use my setup as a desktop. I already have 4 external SSDs connected, and it would fit perfectly. However, since we experience frequent power outages here, I’d need to run it through a UPS, which was easier to manage with the MacBook battery.
• Also, I could go for a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro 14” for portability, in case I need to work elsewhere occasionally.

There are also rumors that the M5 models might launch this month, but I’m not sure how accurate that is. Should I wait for them? Will the Mac Studio also get updated soon with M5 chips?

Right now, I can get these models cheaper on Amazon than directly from Apple, so waiting could mean paying more later.

My main tasks are photo editing, video editing/rendering, writing, and general daily use.

So here’s my dilemma:
Should I get the MacBook Pro 14” M4 Max?
or go for a Mac Studio + MacBook Air (or maybe Pro 14") setup for roughly the same price?

Would love to hear your thoughts!