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Thinking of returning 14” M1 Pro

Return MacBook Pro 14” M1 Pro?

  • Keep the MacBook Pro

    Votes: 50 58.8%

  • Return it for iPad Pro M1 + MacBook Air M1

    Votes: 35 41.2%
  • Total voters
    85
littlepud

littlepud

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 16, 2012
470
333
I love the new MBP. I have the higher-tier stock configuration 14” model in silver with the 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB SDD. The performance is great, the screen is amazing, and the battery life isn’t noticeably worse than the M1 Air.

My problem right now is the eye-watering price of $3900 CAD after AppleCare and taxes. It’s a lot of money to pay for a laptop, even though it’s my primary device. I’m a a “prosumer” user at best, without any really heavy workflows. The most demanding tasks I do are little bit of VM work (using Windows apps on a daily basis) and video editing/transcoding occasionally (i.e. once a week).

My dilemma is that I’m realizing that I could get both a 12.9” iPad Pro M1 and a refurbished MacBook Air M1 for the same (or less) money. The iPad would be my primary consumption device for things like web browsing, watching video, social media, photos, light document work, and casual gaming (online poker). The MacBook Air would be a secondary device used only for tasks where the iPad would be limited: VMs and working with multiple (or complex) office documents.

I’m really on the fence about it. What does the rest of this community think?
 
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I too am at a crossroad between the base and 10/16/1tb. I'm leaning at keeping the base since I have 3TB of cloud storage (iCloud & OneDrive).
 
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iPads are great for that. Sounds like the MBA M1 would suit your needs just fine. 2 devices sounds better than one.
 
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I tend to think you return it.

I would much rather have a 12.9 & MBA than ‘just’ a 14MBP.

And the MBA is better than the 14MBP in some respects - it’s lighter, has better battery life and runs cool / silent.
 
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The M1's are already really nice laptops and I know more than a few professional users who are developers who are sticking with their M1's because it's fulfilling all of their needs. The lack of weight on an M1 Air is also really really nice.

I'm waiting for my M1 Max. It's how I make my living so it's not a hard decision to err on the side of more power. If it were just a hobby machine? I'd have bought a base config or gone with a MBA instead for the same reason why I would never own a monster truck. I only want as much car as I need to get me there. Any more is not only a waste, but a hassle.
 
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I went with the base config 14 as I just got the 12.9 iPad Pro. Tried the MBA M1, but it wasn’t to my liking and could not handle some of my workflows performance wise. While not CAD, it was well below the cost of yours for my 2 devices. Think I will be very happy!
 
I use my computer for everything - consumption and creation. I just could not think I could be as productive with a 13" device on my hands. My wife has an Air i7 2020 and I just realize how tiny that thing is. I'm not very old, but my eyesight is not so good as it used to be.

I'm trying to wait a little more before jumping to the new models from a 2015 MBP 15 I currently won. It is still rock solid but I would really like a better screen and thermals (although this model does not have dedicated GPU). I recently bought a 1TB SSD from another Apple machine and get good performance from it (1.4G write, 1.8G read).

As for you dilema, if you can live happily with such a tiny screen and value your money more than the benefits the 14" bring you then change. I personally, after shedding the cash wouldn't go back to 13. Hence I prefer the new 16 to the 14. Screen real estate is very important to me.

Let us know more about your workflow, if you carry your laptop around often in your back or shoulder or if the money is just whats keeping you from peace of mind.
 
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The screen, the battery life and the non existent noise is nice. But the cpu/gpu is nothing special. Also you cant upgrade the macbook.

I have also a Aorus 17G with RTX 3070 mobile and it's not slower. When many tabs and programms are open it's faster.

As a windows user, Windows 11 UI is for me much more comfortable as mac os :D. I really understand people who need apps of mac os for their work. But for prosumers it's maybe not the right choice. Even because this macbooks are to sensitive for damage. My Gigabyte notebook is way more robust. The screen of the m1 is making cracking noises even if you clean it very softly. You could imagine how easily it will crack. For M1 2020 screens is this a well known problem.

And the antireflective coating is something like an old papyrus paper. Only watching, never touching. It will immediately left scratches in the coating.

I wouldnt buy the older mac book. It has no 120 hz and no mini led hdr screen. Nothing special. A windows laptop is much better for you in terms of sdr. There is a Lenovo 90 hz amoled laptop with good battery life. In my opinion it's much better than a M1 mac book with cheap edge led display. I bought this M1 Pro mostly because i need a good screen and quiet laptop.
 
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Maclver said:
This is thankfully not true!! https://www.parallels.com/news/press-releases/show/pd17-for-mac-launches/
Click to expand...

This is an ongoing point of contention around here. There is still no support for Windows 11, but Windows for ARM will run on Parallels. The deal is that Windows for ARM is not licensed to run this way and until Microsoft licenses it, the rug could be yanked away. People are presuming that the license will eventually come, but until it's in writing, it's a risk that a lot of people are not willing to take.
 
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AndyK said:
This isn’t true at all. Parallels can do it no problem.
Click to expand...
I didn’t say it isn’t (currently) possible, I said it is not (currently) supported, and Microsoft can pull the rug from under any such install at any time. So yes, it is absolutely true.

smirking said:
The deal is that Windows for ARM is not licensed to run this way and until Microsoft licenses it, the rug could be yanked away.
Click to expand...

EDIT: should have read all the posts before replying. ?
 
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I decided to return my 14 inch. It is a great laptop, but I am not ready for M1 yet. Windows for ARM in a VM just doesn't cut it, and I still have some Crossover apps for work that I find convenient to access directly from my Mac. Plus, I still use iTunes (via Retroactive). Still the best manager for transferring media to iOS devices. The new Apple split apps like TV suck for that.

Besides, my Intel 16 inch is a 64GB/8TB, with a AMD Radeon 8GB card. The thing is a beast. Not ready to relegate it to #2.
 
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Arctic Moose said:
Considering there is currently no supported way to run Windows in a VM on any AS at the moment I would say return it.
Click to expand...
pneves1975 said:
I use my computer for everything - consumption and creation. I just could not think I could be as productive with a 13" device on my hands. My wife has an Air i7 2020 and I just realize how tiny that thing is. I'm not very old, but my eyesight is not so good as it used to be.

I'm trying to wait a little more before jumping to the new models from a 2015 MBP 15 I currently won. It is still rock solid but I would really like a better screen and thermals (although this model does not have dedicated GPU). I recently bought a 1TB SSD from another Apple machine and get good performance from it (1.4G write, 1.8G read).

As for you dilema, if you can live happily with such a tiny screen and value your money more than the benefits the 14" bring you then change. I personally, after shedding the cash wouldn't go back to 13. Hence I prefer the new 16 to the 14. Screen real estate is very important to me.

Let us know more about your workflow, if you carry your laptop around often in your back or shoulder or if the money is just whats keeping you from peace of mind.
Click to expand...

I’m not super mobile. I work from home and have a young child, so “portability” for me just means the ability to go from the desk, to the kitchen counter, to the couch, or to the bed. Even if I’m not lugging it outdoors in a bag, that means a 16” is a non-starter.

My dilemma is more around: “If I want to have a primary device that has 120Hz mini LED, which setup provides better value for the same amount of money?”
 
littlepud said:
I love the new MBP. I have the higher-tier stock configuration 14” model in silver with the 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB SDD. The performance is great, the screen is amazing, and the battery life isn’t noticeably worse than the M1 Air.

My problem right now is the eye-watering price of $3900 CAD after AppleCare and taxes. It’s a lot of money to pay for a laptop, even though it’s my primary device. I’m a a “prosumer” user at best, without any really heavy workflows. The most demanding tasks I do are little bit of VM work (using Windows apps on a daily basis) and video editing/transcoding occasionally (i.e. once a week).

My dilemma is that I’m realizing that I could get both a 12.9” iPad Pro M1 and a refurbished MacBook Air M1 for the same (or less) money. The iPad would be my primary consumption device for things like web browsing, watching video, social media, photos, light document work, and casual gaming (online poker). The MacBook Air would be a secondary device used only for tasks where the iPad would be limited: VMs and working with multiple (or complex) office documents.

I’m really on the fence about it. What does the rest of this community think?
Click to expand...
What am I overlooking? The price of the 14” model in silver with the 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB SDD is $3000 with taxes and Apple Care not $3900.
 
littlepud said:
I’m really on the fence about it. What does the rest of this community think?
Click to expand...
The UKs MSE Mantra is always good advise

I am not sure you need it from what you say. The older M1s are very useable machines. We should not be obsessed with higher speed if it is not related to higher productivity.

Skint
Do I need it?
Can I afford it?
Not Skint
Will I use it?
Is it worth it?
 
coolbreeze2 said:
What am I overlooking? The price of the 14” model in silver with the 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB SDD is $3000 with taxes and Apple Care not $3900.
Click to expand...
CAD $3149 + $299 + 15% tax

For roughly the same price, I could get a 12.9” M1 iPad Pro 256 GB with cellular (CAD $1729), Magic Keyboard ($449), AppleCare ($159) and a refurbished base MBA ($1099).
 
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if you don't need the CPU or GPU power for anything specifically, an M1 Ipad Pro and MBA would be a better option.
or get a refurbed ipad pro and have some spare change for an external 4k monitor!
 
If you could get an Air and an iPad for the price of the MBP, that sounds like two devices to do the job of the device you already have... and no money going back in your pocket probably.

We're all different, but it seems to me that having one superior device to do everything you need trumps having to split that between two lesser devices. That's two more things you have to keep track of, charge, protect, carry around.

I get your analysis paralysis dilemma though, been there myself. Apple products will do that to you.

Also, when I have a MacBook Pro, I don't find the iPad useful for anything but games.
 
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