Unsure whether to keep new MacBook

[Halbrand]

I bought:
M5 Pro / 14" / 48GB / 2 TB / 18C CPU / 20C GPU / Nano Texture

I had:
M1 Max / 16" / 32GB / 1 TB / 10C CPU / 32C GPU

I like the smaller form factor, the display quality upgrade, the expanded storage (I use a lot of space as a photographer and prefer internal storage), and the nano texture (so much better!) on my new MacBook. Got the smaller laptop since I have Apple Studio. But, to my surprise it's heating up quite easily using Lightroom and even Pages (although maybe it's indexing?). I paid about $5000 CAD in total so it was quite expensive.

I'm using my M1 Max as I type and it's still totally fine. I just worry that it is nearing 5 years old, it could lose support sometime soon, it doesn't work so well with a XDR Display if I get one eventually, and most importantly I worry the cost of a MacBook like the new one I bought will go way up, like many things are beginning to to right now, and if I return it I will regret it.

I was going to trade in the M1Max before the end of my 14 days were up...now I'm wondering whether to return the new one or keep both. Or maybe even return the MacBook for a Studio Display XDR (useful to me as a photographer editing) for a little less money (limited 60hz with M1).

 

[jeroenvip]

Stop here “still totally fine” and return it

 

[capamac]

Some guy said his M5 Macbook made "crinkling" noises when it got hot when running an LLM ... expanding internal parts / tape, he speculated. Apparently that M5 gets rather toasty.

My 2015 MBP often got warm and straight-up hot. But my M1 air barely reaches what could be considered "warm" status. I wonder if the M5 MBP is hotter or cooler than my 2015 Intel MBP. The Intel mac's heat was not really much of a problem, really.

 

[AlixSPQR]

keep both

Yes. 😎

 

[whitby]

Sounds like you do not need the upgrade for other than a concern about support for your 16” M1 Max. I too have a 16” M1 Max with 64 GB of memory and 4TB of SSD, since I, too, am a photographer with a need for a lot of SSD space. Mine is still under AppleCare + under an AppleCare 1 plan. I think we probably have a couple of years or more of support, but replacing this machine would be a very expensive proposition and it is perfectly fine for the work I do, and I have never had any issues with it. My recommendation would be to save the money, return the new M5 machine and use the money elsewhere. $4K CAD is a lot of money for a machine whose only benefit is that it is newer.

 

[maflynn]

I'm using my M1 Max as I type and it's still totally fine.

What apps are you using? If the M1 is fine, why spend a boatload of money for a brand new laptop?

The counter argument is that while you spent a lot of money today for the M5, its quite conceivable, that you'll spend a lot more money for a M6 or M7 in one to two years, given the ever increase ram and ssd pricing. From that perspective keeping the M5 and selling the M1 does make sense - at least it does to me.

I just worry that it is nearing 5 years old, it could lose support sometime soon,

I believe you have 2 more years until Apple transitions the M1 over to legacy support (or whatever they call it).

 

[dblissmn]

I bought:
M5 Pro / 14" / 48GB / 2 TB / 18C CPU / 20C GPU / Nano Texture

I had:
M1 Max / 16" / 32GB / 1 TB / 10C CPU / 32C GPU

I tend to see that as a sideways move. I don't think the 14's are as well cooled as the 16 (though to be fair the Pro is the sweet spot on that point in the 14) and the M1 Max is surprisingly good for stuff where the graphics processor and memory bandwidth are factors like graphics-intensive applications.

I'd be inclined to wait until you're running into some sort of barrier e.g. Apple moving to transition a device into legacy support or not enough RAM or it's a work machine and you need a personal device or something like that. And if you are moving on a new device now, to configure it with more SSD and RAM before Apple raises prices (they really haven't raised SSD and RAM prices so far on mobile devices like phones and laptops, though note that the often accurate analyst Ming Chi Kuo has suggested their margins were previously big enough that they can get away without a price increase on many mobile devices if not desktop ones in order to grab market share).

As for what else might be coming the big one other than the usual iterative improvements in processor tech and so on is tandem OLED displays; basically screen refresh rates in the next generation or the next generation-but one will improve in a way that will be noticeable for gaming and motion video, especially on the 14, and the change also comes with an opportunity for Apple to slim up the case a bit because of the display panel using less power and being slimmer than the already fairly svelte micro LED. And who knows, they might incorporate touch screen tech but that one's more speculative I would think. The ability of suppliers to produce tandem OLEDs at scale in a format big enough for a laptop has actually been reported in news.

 

[Halbrand]

Thanks for the replies.

Sounds like you do not need the upgrade for other than a concern about support for your 16” M1 Max. I too have a 16” M1 Max with 64 GB of memory and 4TB of SSD, since I, too, am a photographer with a need for a lot of SSD space. Mine is still under AppleCare + under an AppleCare 1 plan. I think we probably have a couple of years or more of support, but replacing this machine would be a very expensive proposition and it is perfectly fine for the work I do, and I have never had any issues with it. My recommendation would be to save the money, return the new M5 machine and use the money elsewhere. $4K CAD is a lot of money for a machine whose only benefit is that it is newer.

Sounds like you are set for a long time. If I had 64GB and 4TB rather than the 32GB/1TB I would definitely be happy too.

What apps are you using? If the M1 is fine, why spend a boatload of money for a brand new laptop?

The counter argument is that while you spent a lot of money today for the M5, its quite conceivable, that you'll spend a lot more money for a M6 or M7 in one to two years, given the ever increase ram and ssd pricing. From that perspective keeping the M5 and selling the M1 does make sense - at least it does to me.

That's really the only reason I'm buying now - I have no urgent need for a new machine but it also seems like now may be the right time, and if prices go up by at least $1000 for my configuration I'm really going to hate that I waited.

I tend to see that as a sideways move. I don't think the 14's are as well cooled as the 16 (though to be fair the Pro is the sweet spot on that point in the 14) and the M1 Max is surprisingly good for stuff where the graphics processor and memory bandwidth are factors like graphics-intensive applications.

I'd be inclined to wait until you're running into some sort of barrier e.g. Apple moving to transition a device into legacy support or not enough RAM or it's a work machine and you need a personal device or something like that. And if you are moving on a new device now, to configure it with more SSD and RAM before Apple raises prices (they really haven't raised SSD and RAM prices so far on mobile devices like phones and laptops, though note that the often accurate analyst Ming Chi Kuo has suggested their margins were previously big enough that they can get away without a price increase on many mobile devices if not desktop ones in order to grab market share).

As for what else might be coming the big one other than the usual iterative improvements in processor tech and so on is tandem OLED displays; basically screen refresh rates in the next generation or the next generation-but one will improve in a way that will be noticeable for gaming and motion video, especially on the 14, and the change also comes with an opportunity for Apple to slim up the case a bit because of the display panel using less power and being slimmer than the already fairly svelte micro LED. And who knows, they might incorporate touch screen tech but that one's more speculative I would think. The ability of suppliers to produce tandem OLEDs at scale in a format big enough for a laptop has actually been reported in news.

It being a sideways upgrade was a concern of mine....

I do prefer the 14" size, I'm going to have to test it more in clamshell mode mode with my Apple Studio monitor to see how it performs and if it seems to heat up too much. Biggest negative of heating up for me is the battery impact - it was seemingly going down fast just using Pages. I remember my 16" M1 Max being cool when I first got it, before the battery went downhill.

I have the OLED iPad Pro, I can't say I am necessarily wanting OLED for MacBook, because while I know they've minimized the risk of burn in with multiple layers of screen, I'd still feel a little nervous about static elements. I'm more curious about a new design - but also thinner might mean worse thermals?

Anyway. I am leaning on returning the M5 Pro but I'm really going to have to think about it. As a photographer the Studio XDR may be more useful to me because I do like to edit HDR photos.

It's a really beautiful machine in the smaller form factor in space black. The biggest tangible upgrade is honestly nanotexture.

 

[jeroenvip]

I do prefer the 14" size, I'm going to have to test it more in clamshell mode mode with my Apple Studio monitor to see how it performs and if it seems to heat up too much.

This is what I'm doing with the first-generation Studio Display and a MacBook Pro M1 Pro with 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, a 10-core CPU, and a 16-core GPU.

Playing some old games like StarCraft 2. I've been on and off trying to justify a new MacBook Pro, but this M1 Pro is just too good and still does the job.

My only mistake was buying 16GB instead of 32GB. Other than that, this machine is still tearing everything a new ass hole. That's how good the M1 Pro still is.

 

[ab2c4]

That's really the only reason I'm buying now - I have no urgent need for a new machine but it also seems like now may be the right time, and if prices go up by at least $1000 for my configuration I'm really going to hate that I waited.

You could end up spending a lot more than $1,000 if you hold off a few years. If Apple's prices get effected as bad as Windows is right now it will become very costly. For example, in August of last year we bought a new Asus laptop for our son for college for $950. Today that exact same laptop is already $1,600 to buy, I was shocked when I saw it today. It has been going up in price almost every month.

 

[Halbrand]

Well just as an update I returned it and got the Studio XDR Display instead for the same money. Hoping I don't regret it too much with the price increases in a few years, but the M1 Max really is good enough for me still and the monitor provides a more immediate benefit for me. I'll be watching what Apple does with the new MacBook design next year.

 

[macshmack]

Well just as an update I returned it and got the Studio XDR Display instead for the same money.

did you get it in nano? if so, does it look worse than on MBP, as in all covered in fingerprints?

 

[Halbrand]

did you get it in nano? if so, does it look worse than on MBP, as in all covered in fingerprints?

I did not get it in nano, I really love the nano-texture on my iPad Pro and on the MacBook Pro for the brief time I had it. I just saw it as less essential for a desktop with controlled lighting, and comparing the nano and non-nano in store I really did see a difference in softness and I just want the most accurate picture on a monitor.

My iPad Pro I guess looks a little smeary, but I find the nano-texture also shows less dirt and specks.

 

[macshmack]

I did not get it in nano, I really love the nano-texture on my iPad Pro and on the MacBook Pro for the brief time I had it. I just saw it as less essential for a desktop with controlled lighting, and comparing the nano and non-nano in store I really did see a difference in softness and I just want the most accurate picture on a monitor.

My iPad Pro I guess looks a little smeary, but I find the nano-texture also shows less dirt and specks.

fair dos, I just find the whole 'different screen - different nano' story baffling. on MBP, it's a chef's kiss👌

 

[TheRealAlex]

I bought:
M5 Pro / 14" / 48GB / 2 TB / 18C CPU / 20C GPU / Nano Texture

I had:
M1 Max / 16" / 32GB / 1 TB / 10C CPU / 32C GPU

I like the smaller form factor, the display quality upgrade, the expanded storage (I use a lot of space as a photographer and prefer internal storage), and the nano texture (so much better!) on my new MacBook. Got the smaller laptop since I have Apple Studio. But, to my surprise it's heating up quite easily using Lightroom and even Pages (although maybe it's indexing?). I paid about $5000 CAD in total so it was quite expensive.

I'm using my M1 Max as I type and it's still totally fine. I just worry that it is nearing 5 years old, it could lose support sometime soon, it doesn't work so well with a XDR Display if I get one eventually, and most importantly I worry the cost of a MacBook like the new one I bought will go way up, like many things are beginning to to right now, and if I return it I will regret it.

I was going to trade in the M1Max before the end of my 14 days were up...now I'm wondering whether to return the new one or keep both. Or maybe even return the MacBook for a Studio Display XDR (useful to me as a photographer editing) for a little less money (limited 60hz with M1).

100% RETURN it the M6 Pro and MAX will feature Significant AI and Architecture changes, and likely a Tandem OLED display. Which Photographers WILL Love

 

[Halbrand]

100% RETURN it the M6 Pro and MAX will feature Significant AI and Architecture changes, and likely a Tandem OLED display. Which Photographers WILL Love

I did return it and I'm very interested to see how the M6 Pro will be although I'm very wary of the price increase.

The M1 was of course the first of its kind and a major change when I got it so it probably makes more sense to wait for the M6 - and Apple may knock it out of the park it will be fine for many many years.