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Malus120

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2002
696
1,456
Some quick questions:
1. Will you still have access to the student discount as late as April 2023? (MBPs could be refreshed in Q4/Fall 2022, but it could be longer)
2. How much do you value the $150 gift-card (assuming you're in the US) and do you have a use for it?
3. What are you planning to actually use this Mac for? Does your use-case actually benefit from having the extra power of a MBP?

If you'll still have access to the student discount waiting is probably a good option, but if you're going to need it this semester you may well benefit more from just buying it now.

That said. You say you like the MBA design... but that you prefer larger screens... thus you wouldn't buy a 14" MBP.
What is it exactly about the MBA design that you like vs the MBP??? Because if its size, weight, or both then you should just get the MBA and be done with it. Also, do realize that if a MBA would meet your needs you're talking about a pretty big leap in both price and size/weight just for a larger (16") screen. If you don't actually need it and you're going to be lugging it around campus all day I think the MBP would be a less than ideal choice (you can always get an external monitor.) I have a friend with a 16" Intel MBP who sincerely wishes he had something smaller...

If you're hoping the MBPs get a redesign that's not happening. The MBP JUST got a new design last year. This IS the new design and I doubt they will fundamentally change it anytime soon.It sure as heck isn't getting the "Air" treatment anytime soon after all the (well deserved) hate the Intel MBPs got for being form over function.

As far as the M2 goes, assuming Apple doesn't do anything crazy with the M2 Pro/Max (and that the performance trend is thus similar to the M2 in the MBA,) the biggest, most noticeable improvement by far on a day to day basis is going to be the improved efficiency cores and the better battery life they can bring. The extra performance on the Performance Cores and GPU will be nice but not game changing.

Sure there's always chatter about a mythical "big" Air but I don't see it materializing anytime soon. I think there's too much overlap for Apple to really want to release a machine like that.
 

B....

macrumors newbie
Mar 21, 2021
12
2
If you need it now, but it now. BUT: If I didn't need it now, I'd wait—the student discount will still be there on the M2 MBP's, and you'll be getting a better machine. Plus, as MacRumors itself cautions in their buying advice, the M1 MBP's are approaching the end of their cycle.

No one knows when the M2 MBP's will be released. If they use the current 5 nm process, they could probably do it in October/November. But if they wait to put them on the 3 nm process, you'll probably have to wait until the first half of 2023.


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Can you please explain your point & how that is relevant in practical terms. Thanks. Here is a link to something else to consider. https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m2-chip-vs-m1-pro-chip/ As a recent owner of the base 14"MBP w/ M1pro chip, I'm extremely pleased with my choice & confident in my selection. BUT - I'm not working at the Genius bar. 😊
 

Technerd108

macrumors 68040
Oct 24, 2021
3,061
4,311
Can you please explain your point & how that is relevant in practical terms. Perhaps include a link to that Macrumors info. Thanks. Here is a link to something else to consider. https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m2-chip-vs-m1-pro-chip/ As a recent owner of the base 14"MBP w/ M1pro chip, I'm extremely pleased with my choice & confident in my selection. BUT - I'm not working at the Genius bar. 😊
This is a comparison of the M1 Pro vs. M2 not M2 Pro. M2 Pro will have all of the advantages and performance increases but also with more cpu and gpu cores.

The OP is considering an M1 Pro vs waiting for the new unreleased M2 Pro. Not getting a regular M2 chip.

The article you posted shows how the regular M2 is closer to M1 not M1 Pro which makes sense since it is not a Pro chip yet it has some pro features and performs in some burst tests better than M1 pro which is pretty amazing for a measly M2.

So in my opinion the M2 Pro/Max chips yet to be released in the upcoming M2 MBP’s should be a considerable upgrade for the OP if he decides to wait.

You should be extremely pleased with your M1 14” MBP as it is an amazing laptop but that is not relevant to the OP’s question which is should he buy now or wait for new M2 MBP.

If I were him and had the money and time to wait I would wait and pay more for a faster device with better GPU performance and better cpu performance but that is his personal choice.
 
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B....

macrumors newbie
Mar 21, 2021
12
2
This is a comparison of the M1 Pro vs. M2 not M2 Pro. M2 Pro will have all of the advantages and performance increases but also with more cpu and gpu cores.

The OP is considering an M1 Pro vs waiting for the new unreleased M2 Pro. Not getting a regular M2 chip.

The article you posted shows how the regular M2 is closer to M1 not M1 Pro which makes sense since it is not a Pro chip yet it has some pro features and performs in some burst tests better than M1 pro which is pretty amazing for a measly M2.

So in my opinion the M2 Pro/Max chips yet to be released in the upcoming M2 MBP’s should be a considerable upgrade for the OP if he decides to wait.

You should be extremely pleased with your M1 14” MBP as it is an amazing laptop but that is not relevant to the OP’s question which is should he buy now or wait for new M2 MBP.

If I were him and had the money and time to wait I would wait and pay more for a faster device with better GPU performance and better cpu performance but that is his personal choice.
Thanks for explaining/ clarifying. Got it. I'm just a bit overwhelmed with the M1pro. It's such a jump up from my previous early 2015 13" MBP. Always unhappy with battery life / performance but - gotta live with it. Do you happen to know where I can access a diagram of battery placement in the 14" MBP? AND if replacement will have issues as with my previous model? Ex: integrated with the keyboard section. I understand that the battery is in a number of pieces. Thanks for your time.
 

theorist9

macrumors 68040
May 28, 2015
3,880
3,060
Can you please explain your point & how that is relevant in practical terms. Thanks. Here is a link to something else to consider. https://www.macrumors.com/guide/m2-chip-vs-m1-pro-chip/ As a recent owner of the base 14"MBP w/ M1pro chip, I'm extremely pleased with my choice & confident in my selection. BUT - I'm not working at the Genius bar. 😊
Based on the article you linked, which compares the M1 Pro to the M2 (base), I think you may be misunderstanding what the OP was asking (and thus my answer to the OP).

The OP isn't wondering about getting an M1 Pro vs. an M2 base (that's what the article talks about). The OP is wondering about getting an M1 Pro vs. an M2 Pro.

So I was simply saying that, if the OP's looking for a deal, and is able to wait, rather than taking advantage of the coupon now available for the M1 Pro, they might want to wait until the M2 Pro is released. This has two advantages:

(1) At that time, the M1 Pro will be a discontinued product (unless Apple decides to keep the M1 Pro on the same way it did with the M1 Air, which I think is unlikely), and thus even bigger discounts should be available.

(2) At that time, the OP will be able to make an objective assessment of the performance difference between the M1 Pro and M2 Pro, and thus make a more informed decision than they can right now.
 
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