Considering MacBook Pro as iMac replacement

[Smellmet]

I'm currently running a 2017 4.2 ghz i7/Radeon Pro 575 27" iMac with 512GB SSD/24GB RAM and I'm happy with the performance of it still. Still these things don't run or perform well forever and I'm considering my options moving forward. I currently work 2 days remotely, so have to cart the iMac between my house and the office, which isn't ideal but it's no hassle with the carry case I have. With no replacement on the horizon and the 24 inch model not really suitable for my needs, I'm wondering if the latest MacBook Pro models would fit the bill with the idea being that I'll get 2 monitors - one for the house and one for the office so I only have to carry the laptop itself.

Would the high end M2 Max chip be a decent step up in performance from what I've got? I'm generally using Adobe Indesign/Photoshop and Illustrator.

 

[maerz001]

The m2 max will be of much higher performance than the 2017 imac. On geekbech u will find the exact numbers.

Even the m1 pro. Which would be significantly cheaper and running cooler

 

[OrenLindsey]

There is a planned iMac 27" (or larger) successor in the M3 generation, but I do think getting the MacBook Pro would be better. Instead of having to cart around the iMac, you could get the same chip and specs in a portable laptop.

 

[Smellmet]

There is a planned iMac 27" (or larger) successor in the M3 generation, but I do think getting the MacBook Pro would be better. Instead of having to cart around the iMac, you could get the same chip and specs in a portable laptop.

Yeah I'm not in any rush, and am able to wait for this potential release if it comes in the next couple of years, but beyond that if it hasn't materialised I think I'd go down the laptop route.

 

[ignatius345]

I currently work 2 days remotely, so have to cart the iMac between my house and the office

Even if Apple did come out with a 27" or larger M-series iMac, this seems like a perfect use case for a powerful laptop like you propose, with external monitors in both locations to dock to.

That said, the newer iMac design is far, far lighter than the one you're lugging around. If/when they do release a bigger iMac, I would imagine it would inherit a lot of the design cues of the M1 iMac and be a far easier machine to tote than your Intel iMac 5K, if you really wanted to go that route.

Would the high end M2 Max chip be a decent step up in performance from what I've got? I'm generally using Adobe Indesign/Photoshop and Illustrator.

I'm not sure what kind of work you're doing precisely, but I work a lot with Illustrator and InDesign -- sometimes on some pretty substantial files -- and I find even the M1 iMac I have at home and the M1 Mini I have at work, both with 16 GB RAM, are very very capable of working smoothly on everything I throw at them. Actually, even my base model M1 Air does surprisingly well with this stuff. And that's factoring in running a ton of ancillary software at any given moment. The M-series chips are just shockingly good. So I'm quite sure an M2 Max would crush your work load.

 

[OrenLindsey]

Yeah I'm not in any rush, and am able to wait for this potential release if it comes in the next couple of years, but beyond that if it hasn't materialised I think I'd go down the laptop route.

in that case, if you're willing to wait, wait for WWDC next year because that is likely when the iMac will be announced (at the latest)

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

With monitors ready to go at both locations and you already carrying a much more hefty iMac to & fro, why not alt consider a Mac Studio with a carrying case like this one... or this one?

That would get you max power in a much easier-to-transport case (a cubic bowling ball if you will).

MBpro is great but it will slow down in intensive use, while Studio has the depth to keep things cooler (and thus run faster, longer). Both MAX and ULTRA versions are in the refurb store (and here's refurbs of only the M2 versions) if you want an extra discount. If you are not really going to use the non-tech guts that much (keyboard, trackpad, speakers, lid monitor, battery and camera), perhaps redirect the cost of those to the computer itself and/or the monitors if you don't already have them.

Else, if you still want to go MBpro, consider a dock (or perhaps a dock at each location). This one coming soon looks very interesting.

 

[xraydoc]

I replaced a 27" iMac (and a PC) with an M1 Pro 14" MBP plus a Studio Display (two, actually). Performance has been amazing.

Would run the OP's iMac into the ground.

The 2027 i7 iMac scores 1462/4848 (single core/multicore) on Geekbench 6
My year-old 14" M1 Pro scores 2415/12520 (single/mutli) on Geekbench 6.

M2 Pro or M2 Max would only be faster still.

 

[Totally Bored]

I went from a iMac 27" to a MBP 14". It's way faster. I can't Imagine dragging the iMac around but okay. I still have the iMac but I don't use it much now that I'm portable.