Please help: Choosing Macbook Pro to purchase

[TracerAnalog]

I'm looking for advice on what Macbook Pro to purchase.

For context, I am still using an early 2015 13-inch Macbook Pro with a 2.9 GHz intel Core i5 and 16GB of RAM.

I would be using the laptop for video watching/downloading, internet browsing as well as graphic design work. I have the Adobe Creative Suite and use programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. I would also be using the new AI features in Photoshop. (As of right now I'm using old old old versions of Photoshop, Illustrator etc. which don't have those capabilities)

I'm looking at the new Macbook Pros with the M3 chips. I would like to go with the 14" size even though I do design work because I value portability and a lighter laptop.

I don't believe I need the M3 Max but can't decide between the regular M3 and M3 Pro. I also am not sure about what upgrades I would need in terms of RAM. I would like to be able to theoretically have Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign all open at the same time and not experience slowdowns or freezing. I also would love for this laptop to last almost 10 years like my current one has, so I also need to consider "future proofing".

Any suggestions/advice is welcome! Thank you.

My take: if you want to work without external drives prioritize on storage space (10 years worth of storing) otherwise go for 32Gb+ RAM (Photoshop). The Pro adds to speed in specific graphics apps, the Max speeds up video work.

Happy computing!

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I think it all depends on how Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign will be used. You would have to be a serious power user to run out of memory with 32Gb especially based on the new unified memory architecture that Apple's M chips use. Also, as a side point, for anyone thinking of keeping a Mac Book for 10 years, the first thing that is going to go is the internal batteries.

IMO you may misunderstand how Apple's Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) works and also how Adobe's apps work.

1) UMA uses RAM more aggressively, not less so. UMA uses RAM faster and more comprehensively. I recommend reading up on UMA.

2) It is not about "run out of memory," it is about optimizing how the computer computes. Mac OS will make limited RAM work, it will just be sub-optimal. Spending $thousands on a computer to compute with and intentionally limiting it by choosing less than ideal RAM for the full intended life cycle is, IMO, bad decision making.

3) No, for anyone thinking of keeping a Mac Book for 10 years, the first thing that is going to go is not necessarily the internal batteries. I do very similar work to the OP, and my 2016 MBP with 16 GB RAM (max available then) rammed-out for real work 1+ years ago but the internal battery is still going strong. We have 2 of those 2016 MBPs and both batteries are still strong; both have been replaced with M2 MBPs with more RAM. And unlike RAM limitations, when a battery does die it is readily replaceable if the user does not feel the need to upgrade everything else with a new box.

4) Adobe apps have always pretty much taken advantage of however much RAM a user could make available. My guess is that under UMA both the OS and Adobe apps will increasingly take advantage of the UMA architecture.

5) OS/apps have always evolved to take advantage of more RAM over time. UMA is likely to continue that 40-years-now evolution. The fact that Apple increased the RAM available in lptops from 16 GB to 128 GB (8x) in seven years suggests that Apple expects RAM usage to continue to increase.

Edit: Note that I am not suggesting that everyone should max out RAM, but I am saying that for the life cycle of a new laptop Adobe users should buy 64 GB RAM minimum; I put the maximum in my M2 MBP.

 

[danwells]

If you do decide to go with 64 GB of RAM, you're also likely to end up with the 16". The M3 Pro won't go as high as 64 GB of RAM (the only memory upgrade is 18 to 36 GB) - and I'd definitely take the upgrade (18 GB is going to be REALLY tight for anything in the graphic arts world). That's a $2799 machine (14", full M3 Pro chip, 36 GB, 1 TB), that you can find for $2599.

The next step would be the "smaller" M3 Max - but that only has one possible RAM upgrade - from 36 GB to 96 GB. You can't get it with 64 GB or anything else between 36 and 96 GB. The 96 GB upgrade is actually MORE expensive than going up to the full M3 Max chip and getting 64 GB of RAM. The problem is that the full M3 Max works better in the 16" chassis. The big chip has a reputation for throttling and noisy fans in the 14" machine. That machine (16", full M3 Max, 64 GB, 1 TB) lists for $4199, although you can find it for $3899.

There's not really anything in between that makes sense - RAM is an important upgrade, and the M3 Pro is maxed out at 36 GB. The "little" M3 Max only offers that very expensive 96 GB upgrade, so, to get 48 or 64 GB, your only choice is the full-power M3 Max, which suggests the 16".

 

[Christopher Kim]

If you do decide to go with 64 GB of RAM, you're also likely to end up with the 16". The M3 Pro won't go as high as 64 GB of RAM (the only memory upgrade is 18 to 36 GB) - and I'd definitely take the upgrade (18 GB is going to be REALLY tight for anything in the graphic arts world). That's a $2799 machine (14", full M3 Pro chip, 36 GB, 1 TB), that you can find for $2599.

The next step would be the "smaller" M3 Max - but that only has one possible RAM upgrade - from 36 GB to 96 GB. You can't get it with 64 GB or anything else between 36 and 96 GB. The 96 GB upgrade is actually MORE expensive than going up to the full M3 Max chip and getting 64 GB of RAM. The problem is that the full M3 Max works better in the 16" chassis. The big chip has a reputation for throttling and noisy fans in the 14" machine. That machine (16", full M3 Max, 64 GB, 1 TB) lists for $4199, although you can find it for $3899.

There's not really anything in between that makes sense - RAM is an important upgrade, and the M3 Pro is maxed out at 36 GB. The "little" M3 Max only offers that very expensive 96 GB upgrade, so, to get 48 or 64 GB, your only choice is the full-power M3 Max, which suggests the 16".

This is good color / observation. The different configs for the M3 Pro/Max, binned vs full-fat chips, and with different memory upgrades for each, makes for some odd dynamics based on what ppl need. The fact you can only get 64gb with the full-fat M3 Max I can see being a key limiter for some "modestly-memory-hungry" pros. I'm fortunately not one of them, but I do feel for any who are in that zone...