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should I upgrade to the new MacBook Pro

ginofresh

ginofresh

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 20, 2017
155
56
so I currently have the MacBook Pro 2019

16 inc
2.3 ghz 8core intel i9
16gb
AMD pro 5500m 4 gb

so these are my spec, I hope that is enough info I am thinking about getting the 16 inc MacBook Pro with the M1 pro chip
but the real issue, I dont do much with my MacBook. all I do is watch YouTube and work (no video editing or pictures editing) the most I ever push my Mac was to play wow. I like to game but I game lightly on my Mac as there is not that many AAA games for Mac.
I feel like me upgrading is a wast of money as it would cost me $1400 (after trading in my current MacBook) but I really want the new MacBook bc of the battery life, (even tho I am always at my desk) the MagSafe charger and the new m1 chip over intel is something I have been waiting for.

so I guess this questions is, should I upgrade and is this the year for Mac gaming? (even tho I know it is not)

New MacBook Pro spec

10-Core CPU​

16-Core GPU​

16GB Unified Memory​

1TB SSD Storage​

M1 pro


Apart of me thinks I should just get the new iMac bc as you can see I don’t use that much power and the new iMac is something very simply and good
 
Last edited:
ginofresh said:
so I currently have the MacBook Pro 2019

16 inc
2.3 ghz 8core intel i9
16gb
AMD pro 5500m 4 gb

so these are my spec, I hope that is enough info I am thinking about getting the 16 inc MacBook Pro with the M1 pro chip
but the real issue, I dont do much with my MacBook. all I do is watch YouTube and work (no video editing or pictures editing) the most I ever push my Mac was to play wow. I like to game but I game lightly on my Mac as there is not that many AAA games for Mac.
I feel like me upgrading is a wast of money as it would cost me $1400 (after trading in my current MacBook) but I really want the new MacBook bc of the battery life, (even tho I am always at my desk) the MagSafe charger and the new m1 chip over intel is something I have been waiting for.

so I guess this questions is, should I upgrade and is this the year for Mac gaming? (even tho I know it is not)

New MacBook Pro spec

10-Core CPU
16-Core GPU
16GB Unified Memory
1TB SSD Storage​

M1 pro
Click to expand...
Upgrade only if you want the higher refresh rate, the brighter screen, or the better sound system. It is not worth getting it for the increased performance. You do not need it, and you will not use all its power.

As for gaming, I would not count on it. You may play Apple Arcade, but the bulk of games will still be released for Windows (which you can play on Bootcamp using your current laptop, but which is not supported on the M1).
 
skaertus said:
Upgrade only if you want the higher refresh rate, the brighter screen, or the better sound system. It is not worth getting it for the increased performance. You do not need it, and you will not use all its power.

As for gaming, I would not count on it. You may play Apple Arcade, but the bulk of games will still be released for Windows (which you can play on Bootcamp using your current laptop, but which is not supported on the M1).
Click to expand...
sometimes I think about getting a window laptop just to have both to be honest
 
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ginofresh said:
so I currently have the MacBook Pro 2019

16 inc
2.3 ghz 8core intel i9
16gb
AMD pro 5500m 4 gb

so these are my spec, I hope that is enough info I am thinking about getting the 16 inc MacBook Pro with the M1 pro chip
but the real issue, I dont do much with my MacBook. all I do is watch YouTube and work (no video editing or pictures editing) the most I ever push my Mac was to play wow. I like to game but I game lightly on my Mac as there is not that many AAA games for Mac.
I feel like me upgrading is a wast of money as it would cost me $1400 (after trading in my current MacBook) but I really want the new MacBook bc of the battery life, (even tho I am always at my desk) the MagSafe charger and the new m1 chip over intel is something I have been waiting for.

so I guess this questions is, should I upgrade and is this the year for Mac gaming? (even tho I know it is not)

New MacBook Pro spec

10-Core CPU​

16-Core GPU​

16GB Unified Memory​

1TB SSD Storage​

M1 pro


Apart of me thinks I should just get the new iMac bc as you can see I don’t use that much power and the new iMac is something very simply and good
Click to expand...

I have the exact same machine and am upgrading. Difference being I am going to the 10CPU/16GPU, 32GB, 1TB SSD.

Reason? Because I use my Macbook on my lap most of the time, and the thermals on this existing machine absolutely suck. I'm tired of getting my thighs roasted. And it does this just with light use, like surfing the web. Forget any serious workloads. Attach an external monitor and the fans make a ton os noise, again without any real CPU load. The other shortcoming with my existing machine is RAM, I've been pushing the envelope on the 16GB I have today.

I am sticking with the M1 Pro versus Max, I don't need the extra video capability and want a cooler running machine.

Besides the thigh scorchingly bad thermals in my existing rig, I'm excited about the new display, full sized function keys, return of ports, improved battery life, and the M1 architecture. I moved from an Intel based to an M1 based machine at work last year, and the M1 just smokes that intel machine in every way. Runs cool, quiet, blazingly fast, and also considering new Mac OS features will likely be limited to M on new releases of MacOS down the road.

Why not the base 16GB RAM? Shared memory architecture and accounting for GPU usage and growth.

Tim
 
Last edited:
JBGoode said:
No. You shouldn't even own the 2019 with that limited usage.
Click to expand...

Perhaps the OP likes the 16" screen. Even if I were a light user, I'd go for the 16" for the screen alone. Would be nice if Apple released a larger screen version of the standard Macbook (or Air) down the road.

Tim
 
ginofresh said:
so I currently have the MacBook Pro 2019

16 inc
2.3 ghz 8core intel i9
16gb
AMD pro 5500m 4 gb

so these are my spec, I hope that is enough info I am thinking about getting the 16 inc MacBook Pro with the M1 pro chip
but the real issue, I dont do much with my MacBook. all I do is watch YouTube and work (no video editing or pictures editing) the most I ever push my Mac was to play wow. I like to game but I game lightly on my Mac as there is not that many AAA games for Mac.
I feel like me upgrading is a wast of money as it would cost me $1400 (after trading in my current MacBook) but I really want the new MacBook bc of the battery life, (even tho I am always at my desk) the MagSafe charger and the new m1 chip over intel is something I have been waiting for.

so I guess this questions is, should I upgrade and is this the year for Mac gaming? (even tho I know it is not)

New MacBook Pro spec

10-Core CPU​

16-Core GPU​

16GB Unified Memory​

1TB SSD Storage​

M1 pro


Apart of me thinks I should just get the new iMac bc as you can see I don’t use that much power and the new iMac is something very simply and good
Click to expand...

I'm upgrading from the base 16 to the new base 16 + 1TB.

Reasons: Doing some video, lots of photo, and it's used daily for work in my law practice. I don't think it's a necessary upgrade as the existing MBP handles those things pretty well, but it sounds like the M1 Pro will be a solid improvement over the i7? I like the reports of lower heat, as it does get uncomfortable and I feel the strain on doing any 4k editing. Screen and battery life are nice perks. Probably more than anything I just wanted to go ahead and make the jump to the M1 before my 2019 depreciates too much.
 
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I mean, you answered your own question multiple times in your post. You definitely don’t need to upgrade.

But it sounds like you just enjoy having the latest and greatest and you want people here to tell you you should get it. If the upgrade makes you happy just for the sake of having the latest, and you can afford it, then go for it! You don’t need others to justify your purchases.
 
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