Is now the best time to buy an M1 Pro / Max?

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

1. The screen is also bigger, too. Even if it's just slightly more screen real estate, it's still something.
2. I can agree M1 is plenty for most people. But the whole point for some folks going to M1 in the first place was to get a faster chip. M1 Pro is indeed twice as fast as M1 and I end up being able to finish most of my tasks almost twice as fast as M1. Leaving more time for other things.
3. It's a whole league ahead. Tests on the internet don't really show the difference. You need to hear this in person to believe it.
4. Better battery life is debatable. Maybe the 13" Pro can do that but the Air has a smaller battery. Also there's "Low Power Mode" and the M1 Pro has performance to spare.
5. Keyboard is not identical. This is something you have to see to believe. The whole top row is significantly larger than the previous generation, and even the tactile feedback and feel of each button is now different.
6. Also should mention this: there are ports on both sides now so I can charge on both sides.
7. Also should mention this: M1 has an artificial limit of around 6K of resolution. So certain monitors that need HiDPI resolutions beyond 3K is limited. The M1 Pro/Max doesn't have this limitation. This is beyond the 1 monitor thing.

Do u have an article or something about the point 7?
Not sure whether I'm concerned but I have a 4k monitor

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I say get it ASAP! Once TMSC finishes in two years their Arizona factory because of the great of Chinese Government invasion talk! So get as soon as you can because it will be the best for about 2-2/12 years until the new USA factory is complete!

And what will happen then?

 

[CoffeeMacBook]

Don't u think that also means upcoming MacBooks will see a price increase ?

Yes but the price increase is already happening due to inflation of the U.S. dollar and the first place you should notice is in the grocery store. Food prices across the board is rising:

I was surprised the current MacBook Pro's weren't exorbitantly expensive due to what's happened the past 2 years. I think we have Tim Cook, master of supply chain, to thank.

We've had economic shutdowns globally due government mandated pandemic lockdowns, workers being laid off during a pandemic, the "great resignation" happening all across the U.S (we're talking 4 million US workers quitting their jobs and moving direction in careers), labor unions striking due to corporate lockdown exemptions (Amazon, Walmart, etc...) and raked in huge amounts of money during pandemic, as well as the U.S. printing large amounts of money for checks to the lower middle class and those struggling.

Trucker Shortages:

Port GridLock:

The Great Resignation:

Labor Union Strike:

Striketober:

The current economic recovery is K based (Linus Tech Tips also mentioned this) but a K based economic recovery means that those not in the tech sector are still not recovering from the past 2 years while the tech sector as bounced back heavily. Skip to 11:35 TimeStamp on Linus's Video:

Apple's 3 quarter delay release of the MacBook Pros was directly related to the increase in corporations adjusting to everyone working from home which raised demand for tech goods. Supply is unable to meet demand. Head on over to the iPhone subform on MacRumors and you'll see people are waiting for their iPhones to ship.

There are still car manufacturers who aren't able to secure silicon chips for their vehicles that are sitting on the manufacturing floor:

If your current computer setup can't last for 2-3 years, I would recommend upgrading now.

There are economic issues in multiple countries not just supply chain issues, the pandemic lockdowns halted economies all across the world and any country with existing bubbles that were able to mask/hide in a good economy are having to pay the piper in a halted economy. In regards to the Evergrande Real Estate Bubble in China, the CCP Government has bailed out many badly run corporations to prevent the Chinese economy from tanking however China has MAJOR issues economically that have been held together by the CCP. China's economy is in a very shaky position right now with many US investors suggesting to stay away - you've got to understand that after China's major stock market collapse many people pulled out their investments and put them directly into property as the average Chinese citizen felt that property was a tangible good that could preserve their value. What this did was fuel a housing bubble in China that is being propped up by the CCP. If the real estate bubble pops with Evergrande's failure, this will throw China's economy into disarray and cause issues for quite awhile.

Tofu Dregs:

Evergrande Facing Protests:

China Corporate Debt Crisis Aluminum:

There's just ALOT happening globally and the tech sector is so insular they don't even understand why China has been having rolling power outages that caused delays in our Macbook Pro release. Just last month MacRumors posted this update, if you read the comments it's obvious how ignorant the U.S. consumer base is:
All > Widespread Power Outages in China Have Apple Suppliers 'Scrambling' to Keep Production on Track

In short, yeah... I think prices will likely increase for the following reasons:
1) Inflation
2) Shortages
3) China's Economy

This is of course, unless the current margins on Apple products is so large that they can eat the rising cost and still remain profitable - ultimately Apple has to answer their share holders.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Yes but the price increase is already happening due to inflation of the U.S. dollar and the first place you should notice is in the grocery store. Food prices across the board is rising:

I was surprised the current MacBook Pro's weren't exorbitantly expensive due to what's happened the past 2 years. I think we have Tim Cook, master of supply chain, to thank.

We've had economic shutdowns globally due government mandated pandemic lockdowns, workers being laid off during a pandemic, the "great resignation" happening all across the U.S (we're talking 4 million US workers quitting their jobs and moving direction in careers), labor unions striking due to corporate lockdown exemptions (Amazon, Walmart, etc...) and raked in huge amounts of money during pandemic, as well as the U.S. printing large amounts of money for checks to the lower middle class and those struggling.

Trucker Shortages:

Port GridLock:

The Great Resignation:

Labor Union Strike:

Striketober:

The current economic recovery is K based (Linus Tech Tips also mentioned this) but a K based economic recovery means that those not in the tech sector are still not recovering from the past 2 years while the tech sector as bounced back heavily:

Apple's 3 quarter delay release of the MacBook Pros was directly related to the increase in corporations adjusting to everyone working from home which raised demand for tech goods. Supply is unable to meet demand. Head on over to the iPhone subform on MacRumors and you'll see people are waiting for their iPhones to ship.

There are still car manufacturers who aren't able to secure silicon chips for their vehicles that are sitting on the manufacturing floor:

If your current computer setup can't last for 2-3 years, I would recommend upgrading now.

There are economic issues in multiple countries not just supply chain issues, the pandemic lockdowns halted economies all across the world and any country with existing bubbles that were able to mask/hide in a good economy are having to pay the piper in a halted economy. In regards to the Evergrande Real Estate Bubble in China, the CCP Government has bailed out many badly run corporations to prevent the Chinese economy from tanking however China has MAJOR issues economically that have been held together by the CCP. China's economy is in a very shaky position right now with many US investors suggesting to stay away - you've got to understand that after China's major stock market collapse many people pulled out their investments and put them directly into property as the average Chinese citizen felt that property was a tangible good that could preserve their value. What this did was fuel a housing bubble in China that is being propped up by the CCP. If the real estate bubble pops with Evergrande's failure, this will throw China's economy into disarray and cause issues for quite awhile.

Tofu Dregs:

Evergrande Facing Protests:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ezaxHbYqk

China Corporate Debt Crisis Aluminum:

There's just ALOT happening globally and the tech sector is so insular they don't even understand why China has been having rolling power outages that caused delays in our Macbook Pro release. Just last month MacRumors posted this update, if you read the comments it's obvious how ignorant the U.S. consumer base is:
All > Widespread Power Outages in China Have Apple Suppliers 'Scrambling' to Keep Production on Track

In short, yeah... I think prices will likely increase for the following reasons:
1) Inflation
2) Shortages
3) China's Economy

This is of course, unless the current margins on Apple products is so large that they can eat the rising cost and still remain profitable - ultimately Apple has to answer their share holders.

This is of course, unless the current margins on Apple products is so large that they can eat the rising cost and still remain profitable - ultimately Apple has to answer their share holders.


exactly my question tbh...

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

b

Yes but the price increase is already happening due to inflation of the U.S. dollar and the first place you should notice is in the grocery store. Food prices across the board is rising:

I was surprised the current MacBook Pro's weren't exorbitantly expensive due to what's happened the past 2 years. I think we have Tim Cook, master of supply chain, to thank.

We've had economic shutdowns globally due government mandated pandemic lockdowns, workers being laid off during a pandemic, the "great resignation" happening all across the U.S (we're talking 4 million US workers quitting their jobs and moving direction in careers), labor unions striking due to corporate lockdown exemptions (Amazon, Walmart, etc...) and raked in huge amounts of money during pandemic, as well as the U.S. printing large amounts of money for checks to the lower middle class and those struggling.

Trucker Shortages:

Port GridLock:

The Great Resignation:

Labor Union Strike:

Striketober:

The current economic recovery is K based (Linus Tech Tips also mentioned this) but a K based economic recovery means that those not in the tech sector are still not recovering from the past 2 years while the tech sector as bounced back heavily:

Apple's 3 quarter delay release of the MacBook Pros was directly related to the increase in corporations adjusting to everyone working from home which raised demand for tech goods. Supply is unable to meet demand. Head on over to the iPhone subform on MacRumors and you'll see people are waiting for their iPhones to ship.

There are still car manufacturers who aren't able to secure silicon chips for their vehicles that are sitting on the manufacturing floor:

If your current computer setup can't last for 2-3 years, I would recommend upgrading now.

There are economic issues in multiple countries not just supply chain issues, the pandemic lockdowns halted economies all across the world and any country with existing bubbles that were able to mask/hide in a good economy are having to pay the piper in a halted economy. In regards to the Evergrande Real Estate Bubble in China, the CCP Government has bailed out many badly run corporations to prevent the Chinese economy from tanking however China has MAJOR issues economically that have been held together by the CCP. China's economy is in a very shaky position right now with many US investors suggesting to stay away - you've got to understand that after China's major stock market collapse many people pulled out their investments and put them directly into property as the average Chinese citizen felt that property was a tangible good that could preserve their value. What this did was fuel a housing bubble in China that is being propped up by the CCP. If the real estate bubble pops with Evergrande's failure, this will throw China's economy into disarray and cause issues for quite awhile.

Tofu Dregs:

Evergrande Facing Protests:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ezaxHbYqk

China Corporate Debt Crisis Aluminum:

There's just ALOT happening globally and the tech sector is so insular they don't even understand why China has been having rolling power outages that caused delays in our Macbook Pro release. Just last month MacRumors posted this update, if you read the comments it's obvious how ignorant the U.S. consumer base is:
All > Widespread Power Outages in China Have Apple Suppliers 'Scrambling' to Keep Production on Track

In short, yeah... I think prices will likely increase for the following reasons:
1) Inflation
2) Shortages
3) China's Economy

This is of course, unless the current margins on Apple products is so large that they can eat the rising cost and still remain profitable - ultimately Apple has to answer their share holders.

btw i am not american but talking about macs and tech in general,if the prices are to increase,they will most likely get higher in europe as well.tho i gotta say,apple's margins in EU are much higher than that of US. interstingly enough ,the mbp16 whose price increased this year saw its price remains the same in EU (3122$ still lol )
same for the mbp 14,given the 2k price tag,i expected a rough 2.4keuros (2775$) given the previous exchange rates and margins ,but this time around they made it "only" 2600 $( to make a comparison ,the 1800$ mbp 13 was 2462$ for us )
so perhaps we EU users wont see a big difference as prices are kinda abusive already .

still perhaps is it the year to buy a new device.im contemplating the mbp14,because i am dumb enough to be willing to spend money on sth i dont rly need.what refrains me mostly is the fact that there are only 2E cores ,which means that for many tasks the mbp is actually kinda slower,plus drains more batttery...and runs hotter.my mba m1 runs at 24degrees idle,while the new mbp14 base is around 40 at idle...
besides im not sure how future proof those new mbp are,given the wifi chip is only ac 2*2 MIMO ,exactly like the low end mba/mbp ...and also they havent fixed external ssd speed issues.
i rly want one even though i dont need it still,mainly for the new screen xd

 

[NdTonks]

If you don't really need to buy one, I'd wait until they've ironed out the notch next year.

I suspect the notch is here to stay for some time

 

[CoffeeMacBook]

btw i am not american but talking about macs and tech in general,if the prices are to increase,they will most likely get higher in europe as well.tho i gotta say,apple's margins in EU are much higher than that of US.

My current system is 4 years old, and I upgraded immediately. I work as a small business owner and contractor in the creative industry and so, the purchase was a must.

Apple no longer has to pay Intel premiums for chips, and I think those savings were maybe passed down to the UK market? The AS CPU selection is more than usual, due to Apple trying to maximize silicon yields and profits. They're saving two folds, by designing their own silicon and manufacturing with TSMC, and by not tossing out binned CPUs from defects. Those silicon designs are made years in advance and I believe the orders are placed a year in advance. Apple was able to secure pre-pandemic silicon prices with TSMC.

TSMC has already announced that they will be raising prices:
TSMC Price Hike Indicates Capacity Tightness to Persist in 2022, May Hit Smartphone Shipments

Perhaps those savings were passed down to consumers for October 2021 releases. Here in the U.S. though, we have a slight increase from the previous year. UK prices have always been a bit more than here in the U.S.

still perhaps is it the year to buy a new device.im contemplating the mbp14,because i am dumb enough to be willing to spend money on sth i dont rly need.what refrains me mostly is the fact that there are only 2E cores ,which means that for many tasks the mbp is actually kinda slower,plus drains more batttery...and runs hotter.my mba m1 runs at 24degrees idle,while the new mbp14 base is around 40 at idle...
besides im not sure how future proof those new mbp are,given the wifi chip is only ac 2*2 MIMO ,exactly like the low end mba/mbp ...and also they havent fixed external ssd speed issues.
i rly want one even though i dont need it still,mainly for the new screen xd

Need vs Afford would be the deciding factor for me.

If you have the money to spend, living comfortably, and secure as far as income then buying the 14" MBP won't hurt.

If not then maybe hold out. It's not something I would go in the red for, unless I was making money off the machines to pay for itself.

I have a 2017 16" MBP that is chugging along and difficult for me to work on for work, therefore it's a must on my end. For anyone else, I think if you can afford it - then it wouldn't hurt to get it now since the future in so far as economy is a bit volatile at the moment.

 

[satcomer]

And what will happen then?

We won't have new chips until TSMC builds its Arizona plant and they start there I'll feel safe of Apple!

 

[lowkey]

I just bought the 14” 10/16 Core, 16GB, 1TB MBP to replace my 2019 16” Fry Pan Pro.

It’s twice as fast.
Smaller.
Lighter.
Quieter.

Why the hell wouldn’t you do it now?? I guess the only reason to hang on to it for another 6 months would be if you’re in the northern hemisphere. The 16”i9s make great foot warmers when connected to an external monitor and placed under your desk. LOL

 

[TrueBlou]

If you want to wait until the best possible machine comes first, you will be waiting until the zombie apocalypse, or the end of life as we know it. Next year Apple will come out with an update which will blow away the current ones, and instead of the operation taking 3/4 of second in Ps, it will take 1/4 of a second.

Buy it now if you need it. Upgrade in 5 years if you have to. My last MBP is(the one I’m on now) is the late 2013 model. The M1pro sits in a box on the floor until I get a handle on all the issues I may have in migrating a Mojave late 2013 to a Monterey M1Pro.

That’s very much what I say to the many people who ask me if now is the time to buy a new computer (Mac or wintel), iPad, iPhone, TV……

You’ll never buy anything if you sit on the fence and wait for the inevitable better version next year.

At some point you just have to decide if the system available meets your needs, buy it and be happy with it.

If you have a device which is already meeting all of your needs, then logically, you don’t need a new one.

If however, you want to upgrade regardless, you have to accept that either you’re going to potentially make a small loss on the investment you made on your current device, if it’s still quite new. Or, if you can sell it on and are happy that on a pro rata basis you have had your money’s worth from your current device. Then there’s little to lose from upgrading.

When push comes to shove, these are very personal decisions based on your own individual circumstances, which none of us know. If you want a new product and you can afford it, without thinking, oh that’s going to make a bit of a big dent in my savings. Then to heck with it, treat yourself.

If you don’t scratch the itch by either deciding it’s not a good value proposition, or by running out and throwing your money at it, you’ll just annoy yourself.

 

[workerbee]

1. The screen is also bigger, too. Even if it's just slightly more screen real estate, it's still something.

I was able to get a MBA M1 16 / 1TB for less than 1000. The base MBP 14“ with 1TB would‘ve cost 2.5 times as much.
While the new screen is obviously somewhat larger and nicer – except for the ridiculous function-follows-form notch – it’s not worth that much more (to me). Same for the slightly better keyboard etc.

 

[bill-p]

I was able to get a MBA M1 16 / 1TB for less than 1000. The base MBP 14“ with 1TB would‘ve cost 2.5 times as much.
While the new screen is obviously somewhat larger and nicer – except for the ridiculous function-follows-form notch – it’s not worth that much more (to me). Same for the slightly better keyboard etc.

Yeah, but if you had to buy the MacBook Air 16GB/1TB brand new, it's $1649. So the base 14" with 1TB ($2199) actually isn't 2.5x as much anymore. It's more like $550, or about 33% more money.

For that 33% more money spent, you get:
1. More than 2x the performance
2. Much better and bigger screen
3. Much better speakers
4. More ports
5. Better webcam

So honestly, comparing the price of a used MacBook Air vs a brand new MacBook Pro is a bit skewed.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Yeah, but if you had to buy the MacBook Air 16GB/1TB brand new, it's $1649. So the base 14" with 1TB ($2199) actually isn't 2.5x as much anymore. It's more like $550, or about 33% more money.

For that 33% more money spent, you get:
1. More than 2x the performance
2. Much better and bigger screen
3. Much better speakers
4. More ports
5. Better webcam

So honestly, comparing the price of a used MacBook Air vs a brand new MacBook Pro is a bit skewed.

More than 2* the perf?? Explain to me how you count it lol

 

[bill-p]

More than 2* the perf?? Explain to me how you count it lol

The Air throttles and loses 30% performance on average when it hits temperature ceiling. Sometimes more. The base 14" Pro should be 50% faster than the 13" Pro that doesn't thermal throttle.

1.3 x 1.5 = 1.95

And then we have seen how the GPU is just a linear scale so the 14" Pro is also almost 2x faster than 13" Pro. Let's say... 80% faster. But the Air again throttles, so...

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

The Air throttles and loses 30% performance on average when it hits temperature ceiling. Sometimes more. The base 14" Pro should be 50% faster than the 13" Pro that doesn't thermal throttle.

1.3 x 1.5 = 1.95

And then we have seen how the GPU is just a linear scale so the 14" Pro is also almost 2x faster than 13" Pro. Let's say... 80% faster. But the Air again throttles, so...

Nice
However u mean the 10c model don't u ? I thought we were talking about the abse

 

[bill-p]

Nice
However u mean the 10c model don't u ? I thought we were talking about the abse

No, I'm talking about the M1 Pro with 8 CPU cores and 14 GPU cores. Base model.

M1 Pro with 8 cores has 6 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores.

6 P-cores = 1.5x faster than 4 P-cores.

If it was the 10-core model, then it would be exactly 2x the performance of the 13" Pro already (8 P-cores vs 4 P-cores), and is indeed over 2x faster than the Air even if the Air was operating at its best.

P.S.: I guess it's easy for people to forget but the M1 Pro really is... almost 2x the M1, with about 3x the memory bandwidth.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

No, I'm talking about the M1 Pro with 8 CPU cores and 14 GPU cores. Base model.

M1 Pro with 8 cores has 6 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores.

6 P-cores = 1.5x faster than 4 P-cores.

If it was the 10-core model, then it would be exactly 2x the performance of the 13" Pro already (8 P-cores vs 4 P-cores), and is indeed over 2x faster than the Air even if the Air was operating at its best.

P.S.: I guess it's easy for people to forget but the M1 Pro really is... almost 2x the M1, with about 3x the memory bandwidth.

The E cores are useful as well,if not more actually lol

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

No, I'm talking about the M1 Pro with 8 CPU cores and 14 GPU cores. Base model.

M1 Pro with 8 cores has 6 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores.

6 P-cores = 1.5x faster than 4 P-cores.

If it was the 10-core model, then it would be exactly 2x the performance of the 13" Pro already (8 P-cores vs 4 P-cores), and is indeed over 2x faster than the Air even if the Air was operating at its best.

P.S.: I guess it's easy for people to forget but the M1 Pro really is... almost 2x the M1, with about 3x the memory bandwidth.

I'm not taking throttle into account ,fine ? The m1 pro 10c is up to 70% more powerful (and usually/on average 60-62% more powerful)
The m1pro 8c is 28% more powerful

 

[bootz]

Going to wait to see how 2022 MBA compares. Hoping for a 120hz display. Tens of millions of dollars have already been wasted on casuals buying over-specced MBPs. I was about to be one of them until I canceled.

2012 rMBP -> 15" mid-2015 iGPU MBP -> ?

 

[bill-p]

I'm not taking throttle into account ,fine ? The m1 pro 10c is up to 70% more powerful (and usually/on average 60-62% more powerful)
The m1pro 8c is 28% more powerful

Even if we can agree that the CPU performance delta may be smaller than I estimated, like... let's say based on Geekbench, the M1 Pro 8 cores is "only" 28% more powerful than the Air at its absolute best (no thermal throttling), then we are still looking at over 2x the GPU performance:

And we are still assuming the MacBook Air doesn't throttle at all. But in reality, it does. It's that throttling that makes it... not that good.

Here's proof of my estimation earlier:
MacBook Air throttled during Geekbench:

MacBook Air (Late 2020) - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a MacBook Air (Late 2020) with an Apple M1 processor.

browser.geekbench.com

Just compare this to any M1 Pro 8 core score and you basically arrive at the figures I calculated.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

f

Even if we can agree that the CPU performance delta may be smaller than I estimated, like... let's say based on Geekbench, the M1 Pro 8 cores is "only" 28% more powerful than the Air at its absolute best (no thermal throttling), then we are still looking at over 2x the GPU performance:

View attachment 1902692

And we are still assuming the MacBook Air doesn't throttle at all. But in reality, it does. It's that throttling that makes it... not that good.

Here's proof of my estimation earlier:
MacBook Air throttled during Geekbench:

MacBook Air (Late 2020) - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a MacBook Air (Late 2020) with an Apple M1 processor.

browser.geekbench.com

Just compare this to any M1 Pro 8 core score and you basically arrive at the figures I calculated.

gpu ? yes i agree.but then you'll have to work in soemthing that requires gpu units

oh wow didnt know it throttled that badly indeed.

 

[bill-p]

gpu ? yes i agree.but then you'll have to work in soemthing that requires gpu units

oh wow didnt know it throttled that badly indeed.

Yeah, but that's the thing. If someone needs more GPU performance for photo/video editing, external displays, or maybe "some" gaming, the difference is appreciable to them. I'm not saying that the performance is 2x faster all the time, but when it counts, it really is up to 2x faster.

And we still have other quality of life improvements going from the Air to the 14".

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Yeah, but that's the thing. If someone needs more GPU performance for photo/video editing, external displays, or maybe "some" gaming, the difference is appreciable to them. I'm not saying that the performance is 2x faster all the time, but when it counts, it really is up to 2x faster.

And we still have other quality of life improvements going from the Air to the 14".

Yep I agree ,but again it depends on whether you're going to use the GPU.if we weren't talking about Mac I would have told you that u can still game on it , but it's macOS with metal only lol(tho I don't game anyway)

Im actually wondering how much GPU it takes to drive that 4k120hz internal display.. especially if I use it docked to a monitor by copying the screens (which is what I do)

With all this talk,I still don't know what u opted for ? Did u get a MBP?

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Yeah, but that's the thing. If someone needs more GPU performance for photo/video editing, external displays, or maybe "some" gaming, the difference is appreciable to them. I'm not saying that the performance is 2x faster all the time, but when it counts, it really is up to 2x faster.

And we still have other quality of life improvements going from the Air to the 14".

I actually ordered a 14" but ..I'm not sure I'll keep it.i currently have MBA M1 as u know , QWERTY keyboard.and the price has dropped significantly lately with all the people selling theirs...plus QWERTY in my country..no one seems to use it.if I'm losing half of what I paid for the MBA+having to add full mbp14 price..is it not ****ing dumb lol?

 

[bill-p]

Yep I agree ,but again it depends on whether you're going to use the GPU.if we weren't talking about Mac I would have told you that u can still game on it , but it's macOS with metal only lol(tho I don't game anyway)

Im actually wondering how much GPU it takes to drive that 4k120hz internal display.. especially if I use it docked to a monitor by copying the screens (which is what I do)

With all this talk,I still don't know what u opted for ? Did u get a MBP?

I have a 14" MacBook, yeah. I also have a 13" Pro and I got a 16" Pro in for a week before saying "no way" to the weight and size.

The 14" MacBook is not really a necessity for me but it's much nicer than the 13" Pro since I edit a lot of photos and also I use Fusion 360 to create models for my 3D printer. M1 chokes a lot if I try to drive Fusion 360 at native resolution on the 5K display. The 14" M1 Pro doesn't break a sweat.