M1 Pro, M1 Max MBP owners are you going to M4?

[heretiq]

I love my 16” M1 Max MacBook Pro — it is perfect in every way except 1: It’s too damn bulky and heavy. I‘m waiting for a MacBook Air that matches the performance of the M1 Max 32 Core GPU. It looks like the M4 Pro might come close; but unfortunately the Air does not [currently] have a Pro CPU option. Hoping that Spring 2025 presents new options.

 

[blw777]

Not yet. My M1 Max/64GB is doing OK. f it were just Lightroom, no. But CAD is starting to change my situation. My 3D modeling has grown extensively in the past few months, and I am now reaching the limits of both CPU and memory on occasion. It's definitely not every day, but it's definitely starting.

Right now I'm using my MBP14 mostly as a desktop with 3 screens, although it does travel a fair bit. It's far more than sufficient for when I'm traveling.

I'm on a 4-year upgrade cycle, planned mostly on a financial basis. Between laptops and phones for me and the wife, that means one major purchase per year, unless something unusual happens. This upswing in demand might get me to move a year early.

I'm quite attracted to the M4 Pro Mini, although it wouldn't help my memory situation. At the moment I am more CPU (CAD) and GPU (Lightroom and Topaz) limited than memory, and the M4 Pro or Max would address those limits. I am inclined to wait for the M4 Max Studio, with 128GB, although that will be expensive. If I go either of these, I'd keep the MBP14 for travel until the bitter end - whenever the software support drops.

 

[richinaus]

I am tempted to[M1 Max 14 currently] but probably won't and will wait for the next redesign. This computer nails it for most tasks, and when I need more power [3D rendering mainly] I just use Parsec and work remote to my desktop PC with a 4090. Perfect set up...... until the 5090 comes out.

 

[leifp]

It has the required tech for an upgrade for me: Thunderbolt 5 (as I’ve written ad nauseam throughout these fora) but since I’m switching from a laptop to a desktop, I must wait on the M4 Mac Studio. I really hope I won’t have to wait until June. It seems only Apple front loads the low end rather than the high end...

Otherwise, my M1Max 16” MBPro is plenty of computer and honestly remains more powerful than I require >90% of the time. I’ll probably switch to the base M4Max (I have the fully loaded M1Max) but want and need have ever been difficult for me to square…

edit: I do appreciate mesh shading and ray tracing as well, although it will probably take a while before they’re properly integrated into software that I’m likely to use.

 

[thenewperson]

Nope. I’m not budging from my M1P 16” until they have tandem OLED screens.

 

[smirking]

My needs are still being met quite handily on my 16" M1 Pro MBP so I'm not planning on breaking from my typical 4 year upgrade cycle... but not gonna lie... I'm tempted. TB5 was one of the updates I was waiting for.

I'm also tempted by the idea of changing my setup to a maxed Mini or entry level M4 Studio (when those arrive) and a 15" Air so I can have portability when I want and more power when I need it.

 

[robfoll]

I was running M2 Air /16GB / 1TB but now I am working with huge images at 100 MB to 300 MB and it is slow on some photo apps. 90% getting M4 Pro/ 24 GB / 2 TB which I think will make real speed improvement. Also like the new webcam and battery life. Just checking my lottery tickets

 

[ThailandToo]

Just change the upgrade prices to something reasonable and I will upgrade from two M2 Max computers!

Seriously, I would love a non-soldered storage solution at 8TB or 16TB to make it a no brainer. I know it’s not going to happen, so quit ripping people off with $200 to upgrade from 16GB to 24GB (craziest thing ever on the MBAs)? Or $2400 for an 8TB? Say what? That’s insane given the pricing of storage lately. Even the best storage costs around 1/8th Apple pricing.

Charge $1000 for 8TB and they still make a fortune yet creatives who need space can have it on device. I see so many people with external SSDs attached - me included - just to run their workflows.

 

[Maxis]

This is the iPad M4 chip? I would think the MBP M4 notebook chip would have a lot more thermal headroom not to mention a fan. I guess we'll know soon enough. Looks like a beast though.

"We compared two 10-core laptop CPUs: the 4.41 GHz Apple M4 (10-Core) against the 3.2 GHz M1 Max"

 

[kingjames1970]

Yes, upgrading from 14” M1 Max 64GB, 2TB to 16” M4 Max also with 2TB SSD and need to get the 16/40C variant for the 64GB RAM for some reason. It‘s a business expense but also wanted to get the 16” as I’ll likely be away from home more over the next few years with ageing parents and need the screen real estate. My M4 iPad will take over the ultra portable mode for basic tasks and Lightroom.

 

[Basic75]

M1 Pro and Max owners with 14/16 inch MBP's, with the announcement of the new M4 Pro and M4 Max models do you feel the need to upgrade or are you happy with your M1 based model?

Anyone think its still too early to upgrade or hold out for M5?

Thoughts, comments?

As I just said in another thread, there's nothing I need my M1 Max 64GB to do that it can't do very well, I'm good for another couple of years.

 

[trifero]

I didn’t plan to update from my MBP 16” M1, but the nano textured display is too tempting for me. Órdered the M4 and will see if its like the old mates displays.

 

[Malus120]

I'm... considering my options.

My 14" M1 Max is still pretty fast, meets my needs and if anything is getting even more capable by the day three years on (gaming, Linux, Apple Intelligence!)

That said, there are some factors making me consider an upgrade:
1. 14" M1 Max has always had the worst battery life of all the portable Apple Silicon Macs, and the battery has begun to noticeably degrade. It's still pretty good but better battery life would be nice...
2. Having a built in HDMI 2.1 port for native 4K120Hz support would be great as adaptors don't support VRR and can be finicky with my LG C2.
3. It'd be really nice to have more internal storage (I only have 512GB.)
4. I'd like more RAM for things like virtualization and LLMs.
5. More CPU and GPU performance is always a plus for things like AI denoising (not to mention now that gaming is on the table!)

However, unless (or even if) I find myself with more financial leeway than expected toward the end of the year, I think I'd be more likely to go with a heavily discounted, fully loaded M2/M3 Max (if I upgrade at all.) The M4 Max is just... so expensive, and while a side-grade to the M4 Pro is certainly something I'm considering, it's probably not the best use of funds.

 

[Melbourne Park]

I returned my Macbook 16" M3 Max, because its 1 TB drive felt too small.

I had intended to get an M4 Pro Max, but without Thunderbolt 5 ports, I am going to buy a Mac Mini Pro, and get a 15" Air. I suspect the difference in cost will not be great. I'll get a lighter Macbook with a much lower spec, that I won't have to worry too much about.

I'm still used to the form factor of the touchbar 4 Thundbolt port macbook 15.4' pros and for travel and even just moving around the 16" felt too big (I did have a plastic protection case for it though). I guess i will now eBay that case!!

If the macbook Pro had of had t-5 ports, I would have bought one. With Apple's hard drive prices, I reckon operating from T-5 external third party solutions and the potential for a drive failure and no user upgrade path for internal drives, I reckon external T-5 drives will become the norm.

I suspect too I'll be better off with two M4 computers rather than one ...

 

[john1970]

I am upgrading from M1 Max but mostly to use that machine as an upgrade for my spouse (who has 13" 2019 Intel MBP). Without that need I'd probably wait another generation or two.

Still this is a pretty sizeable upgrade. I'm moving to M4 Pro 14" 48GB/2TB.

I upgraded to the exact same configuration.

I would have preferred 64 GB of RAM for +$200 extra, but the only way to get that configuration was to purchase the most expensive M4Max chip for +$900.

At the end of the day I realized that I edit my photos currently on a M1 MacBook Air with 16 GB of RAM so having 3x additional should be fine for the next 4-5 years of use.

 

[smirking]

I'm still used to the form factor of the touchbar 4 Thundbolt port macbook 15.4' pros and for travel and even just moving around the 16" felt too big (I did have a plastic protection case for it though). I guess i will now eBay that case!!

I'm the same way. When I had a tbMBP I almost never had to ask myself if I really wanted to bring my laptop with me. I just did.

I didn't think the extra weight on the 16" M1 MBPs would be an issue because it was only a little bit heavier, but I think the slight bump in weight combined with the slight bump in size made it more awkward to handle. Even though the raw numbers would suggested that I wouldn't notice a difference, I do feel it more.

I would love a desktop and air combo, but my previous adventures with having that combo wasn't such a good experience so I've got to think hard if I want to try it again now that networking is easier and faster.

 

[Kylo83]

No M1 Max is still over kill for me and most people, the apple upgrades these 3 years have been bad in my opinion, we need a new design and remove the notch, all they done now was unlock brightness which was software locked, using vivid I get max brightness now

 

[RRC]

No need for me personally to upgrade from my M1. Still handles photo editing and everything else I've needed without any issues so good for another couple of years at least. Hopefully by then the notch will be gone!

 

[Basic75]

@RRC @Kylo83 Do y'all not use a solid black menu bar, or why are you complaining about the notch?

 

[throAU]

looking to upgrade from 14" m1 pro 16GB/1TB to M4 Pro 48 GB / 2TB nano texture.

CPU wise and GPU wise my M1 pro is fine, but i really would like more RAM and storage, and the M4 Pro is the sweet spot it seems. Also, My M1 pro is fully depreciated for tax purposes, its time for replacement (M1 pro will go to the GF after i retire it to replace her intel 2020 air).

 

[prinzseptim]

Tempted but I think i'll pass. It's literally the same chassis with a chip upgrade and some minor tweaks here and there. screen's the same. my M1 Pro 16 is handling Lightroom and Photoshop without issue and I want some major upgrades to the chassis before upgrading like OLED and wifi 7 (yeah I'm spoiled from my Ultrawide). Plus I don't like the colors, Space Grey was perfect. I don't like the new "black" so if I do upgrade, it'll have to be silver...

 

[Matck06]

Je suis passé à exactement la même configuration.

J'aurais préféré 64 Go de RAM pour +200$ de plus, mais le seul moyen d'obtenir cette configuration était d'acheter la puce M4Max la plus chère pour +900$.

En fin de compte, j'ai réalisé que j'édite actuellement mes photos sur un MacBook Air M1 avec 16 Go de RAM, donc avoir 3x supplémentaires devrait être suffisant pour les 4 à 5 prochaines années d'utilisation.

coming from a MPB 16 m3 max 16/40 48gb ram, I can tell you that the ram for using lightroom and photoshop works perfectly in any case with raw from sony a1 no problem.

 

[alter_ohm]

".. I had intended to get an M4 Pro Max, but without Thunderbolt 5 ports, I am going to buy a Mac Mini Pro, and get a 15" Air. .."

apple says that the macbook pro laptops 14"/16" with m4 pro/max processor do indeed have thunderbolt 5 ports. just the 14" with m4 (non pro) doesn't. see https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/

 

[jgbr]

Great comments.

A few thoughts:

• Many have 3 USB-C/TB ports on existing chassis so the new model doesn't really help that albeit faster IF you have equipment that can utilize it.
• Many parts have not changed since the pervious models or have been so slightly tinkered that if it's worth the cost to upgrade is questionable.
• The rumor mill points towards the M5 will be different mfn process than m3/m4 variant style.
• Question mark over if the 16gb is the new 8gb?
• Storage capacities (in my view) is there new equivalent of 8gb v 16gb of ram, IE: the base model capacity is pathetic for a pro machine and cost to upgrade that storage is still a big issue. (I mean how cheap is it to buy SSD's nowadays!)
• Many M1 variant owners are still reporting plenty of head room in their CPU and Memory....

 

[Saturn1217]

No. I have no reason to upgrade at the moment. My M1 Pro has great performance and still acceptable battery life.

The one improvement I want, native support for 3 external displays is still only available on the Max chips (which I refuse to pay for or take the battery hit on).

So there is no reason for me to upgrade.

Realistically I hope to get at least 2 more years out of this computer before I even consider upgrading.