The point is that you can get an MBP M1 Pro PLUS a Studio Display (to plug into the MBP), if you don't need the increased performance of the Studio computer, for pretty much the same cost (not spec'd the same).
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Why get a Studio when I could get a MBP?
- Thread starter HoratioPerdu
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You' re right. I didn't t think of that. Some will like that. Not me. For my usage, I would prefer a Studio with (probably) an Eizo monitor. Not entirely convinced by this Studio Display.
The lowest cost 14" MBP M1 Pro is $2000. The Mac Studio is $2000 with the M1 Max. How do you get a $1600 Studio display for $0?
You get a Studio Display with both.
MBP M1 Pro + ASD = $3600
Studio + ASD = $3600
For the first option, you also get the portability of a laptop when you want it, plus an extra 14" screen.
Yes, I know they aren't the same spec, but there are a lot of people for whom the spec of the Studio is overkill. Not trying to convince anybody, just pointing out an option to consider. The MBP M1 Pro is far more powerful than the Mini, too
Sorry, my fault. I misread what you were saying because mentioning the Studio Display was immaterial to your point. The MBP M1 Pro is the same price as the Mac Studio M1 Max. Add any display to either.
Great for you, but that's not really the topic of this thread, nor answers the question posed by OP, does it?
IMO it does. The OPs question is kind of pointless. It's a needs / wants decision. Different products targeted at different users.
One of the issues with the older generation of Apple laptops (not sure if it applies to other manufacturers or their later products) is that an inoperative (or missing) battery prevents the system from operating at full speed.
OK fine: OP asks for input as to why they should get a Studio instead of an MBP; we instead decide the question is pointless, and go on to hijack the thread and list our purchases instead. Carry on, then.
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The decision to buy one or the other should be self evident. I don't know, maybe I'm giving the OP too much credit and they really do need someone to explain the differences to them.OK fine: OP asks for input as to why they should get a Studio instead of an MBP; we instead decide the question is pointless, and go on to hijack the thread and list our purchases instead. Carry on, then.
It's a good question. A lot of people are asking it.
If the Studio were cheaper or upgradeable, I wouldn't ask.
I ordered a MBP. It's a Studio I can take downstairs over breakfast.
If the Studio were cheaper or upgradeable, I wouldn't ask.
I ordered a MBP. It's a Studio I can take downstairs over breakfast.
And anywhere else you want to go with it. Glad you made a decision. Do you already have a desktop monitor you can use with the MBP when you are at a desk or will the MBP's display suffice?
The Studio is cheaper. For the same money as a 14" base model MBP I can purchase a base model Studio and obtain the same computing power of a $2,900 14" MBP.
I ordred the ASD as there seems to be a backlog and I’ll have it delivered around 21st April. The choice then is Studio or MBP. I can get the base 14in MBP with 1 TB SSD for €2,479 or the Base Studio with 1 TB SSD for €2,579. Sure the studio has the slightly better chip and more RAM But when you look at the MBP with an XDR screen, it’s a pretty tempting package. Travelling a lot on business, the ability to take it with me is a great plus as well.
Only worry I’d have is battery degradation having it plugged in all the time at the desk.
Only worry I’d have is battery degradation having it plugged in all the time at the desk.
If you even have slight portable usage in mind, choosing the 14" seems like an easy choice.
If "plugging in all the time" is literal then yes, use a desktop Mac maybe even an iMac.
IMO the Studio is reserved for purely desktop users, or someone wants to have both a desktop and laptop Mac at the same time.
I don't think you can say "a few hundred dollars" when the base price is $2000 - the cheapest spec matched 14" MBP is $1100 more ($3099 for M1 Pro 24-core GPU and 32GB RAM). If you mean a lower speed (M1 Pro) with half the ram, then sure, but they are very different computers at that point.
Mac Studio is cheaper spec for spec, the display + battery + form factor nets you about $1000-1300 more depending on what config you are looking at. If you don't need the GPU cores and want portability and a lower cost, then sure, go MBP.
How are you arriving at this price? When I configure the base 14" MBP to have the 24-core GPU and 32GB of RAM (essentially just upgrading the processor to the Max version) I get a price of $2899.
I definitely won't have it plugged in all the time. I travel about 8-10 days every month, at least pre-covid, and that's ramping up again. I'll be in the UK next week, Helsinki the week after and then Dallas a couple of weeks after that. And I'll take my laptop with me, so I guess it's really a no-brainer for me. I do love desktops, I've had 4 iMacs but I think the MBPs are so powerful now I can use it with the ASD when at home and it should give me years of use. And I can use it as an extended screen as well if needed like when I'm watching sports/movies.
Yeah i replaced my 2015 MacBook Pro with an M1 iPad Pro and keyboard and there’s no going back. Being able to touch the screen when you want to or use keyboard trackpad when you need to really elevates the entire user experience. Yes I realize it wont run all the same apps but the studio is portable enough for me to travel with if i need to work in another state. Rarely would I need a laptop screen, but portability to work at different desks with monitors is important.
I think the price jclardy quoted is for the 1TB MBP, which adds another $200.
But we're really just splitting hairs. The straight fact is that the MBP, similarly configured, is significantly more expensive than the Studio.
In exchange you gain portability, a great screen, a very good keyboard, and a fantastic trackpad.
You also lose a lot of I/O - one less TB4 port, 2 less USB 3.2 ports, 2 less USB-A ports, no 10Gb Ethernet - which would cost several hundred more to add via a dock and still leave you with less aggregate TB4 bandwidth. (As an aside: there are very few docks that even offer 10Gb ethernet, one such being OWC's and which is about $400).
There are also going to be plenty of folks whose personal/professional setup tasks their machine with hosting services for other machines and devices, many of which will get pissy and throw bit-fits if the various services they're expecting to see, don't live exactly where they were expecting them to, exactly when they were expecting to see them there.
There are many, many reasons someone might prefer - or indeed need - a desktop, and would have no desire to "make do" with a beefy laptop, particularly for more money.
This is *literally* why Apple makes both devices.
At the moment, I'm using my MBP m1 Max 64gb in clamshell mode, and it's being running flawless over the past several weeks. I just had to buy the Magic keyboard and touchpad. Buying the Studio would be too redundant for me.
I had considered the 1TB upgrade to the SSD however I wanted to be sure because the base model Max only includes 512GB of SSD.
I agree 100% with your last statement. I am happy that Apple is offering both. Which is why I am puzzled by the OPs question. If they were asking about the Mini versus the Studio that would make a lot more sense. It would make more sense if the same configuration MBP and Studio were equal in price.