Living With An M4 Macbook Pro: Time To Upgrade from M1?

[@BetterCreating]

Happy 2025 everyone! 🎉So where do you stand on the Macbook Pro upgrade ladder? I'd love to hear from you! And well - could it actually be the M4 Mac Mini that's the mighty choice! Watch this next! 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5iXhqJ_pN6bn6c

[@ericB3444]

The M series chips are gonna be just like the iPhone, especially when they all have 16 gigs of ram. They won’t run out of speed before you run out of time on the updates and the battery. 8 gig people will want an upgrade for that reason.

[@BetterCreating]

Absolutely - these are getting pretty comprehensive nie

[@canadianinvinciblecomics2255]

Nano Texture iPad Pro is holding up beautifully. And I use it outside on an almost daily basis. No brainer indeed.

[@Norman68623]

I ordered my upgrade from a Mid 2015 15" MBP yesterday. Mainly because two keys do not work any more. I went for a 14" MBP M1 Pro 10 Core with 1 TB SSD & 16 GB RAM. Which still has a higher Memory bandwith than the M4 base model... 1300 bucks refurbed. I do not do video editing a lot, if any. So i will be covered now very well for quite some years. Without falling prey to Apple's insidious upgrade pricing policy. Waiting on something for 6 instead of 8 minutes means plain nothing to me. I would not stand by and watch that process. For heavy duty video editors, i absolutely see it _can_ make sense to switch though.

[@ochavezfregoso3638]

I’m keeping my M1 MacBook Pro, but I do want the new M4 Mac Mini, going to watch that video next. Thanks!

[@BetterCreating]

I'm probably the same for now when this M4 review unit goes back - maybe next year? I could easily invest in the Mac Min M4 for the studio thou i think!

[@glennclarke9442]

Thank you for your review. I already upgraded from M1 to M4. Loving it, from a productivity standpoint.

[@BetterCreating]

Great stuff.

[@changedtorandom]

Right now on my Intel MacBook Pro 2019 (2.6 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i7) and don't see the need to upgrade at all. Everything works like a charm. I also haven't upgraded the OS. I am running Mac OS Big Sur, because apple needlessly slows the Mac prompting its users to buy a new one! So yeah take that Apple!

[@BetterCreating]

That's great to hear - the longer you can wait - in some ways the better - but for me - with video editing the move to Apple Silicon was huge - saving 1/2 the time on render, less failed renders, and so much better for playback and scanning the time line - night and day - so i definitely needed to upgrade earlier than you :)

[@oscarjeong9438]

Just upgraded from M1 to M4 here. With the identical option 16 inch 4 TB + 64 GB. Even though my work is mostly on CUDA, my main workstation is MacBook Pro, because AWS EC2/ECS makes it possible..

[@mylmo123]

The big problem for average users is the big surprise, yet to be come from Apple regarding how they drop OS support of M chips. I’d keep using the M1 as long as it does the job unless your need more power to do the job and pay the bills

[@kennethwedmorelund]

I think the M-iPads are so fast, that in a blind-test, most people would not be able to tell the difference. I know a LOT of people are raving about the new screen on the M4s - and they ARE nice - but when you hear people go "actually, I noticed the biggest difference when I switched BACK to an older screen type", you know it's definitely more on a nice-to-have than need-to-have.

[@valentino.dasilva]

I wanted to love the nano textured display but after seeing it in real life and spent laf an hour comparing it with the standard one, I couldn't bring myself to buying it, I just went with the standard display. I recognize nano thextured is better but I don't like the way it diffuses very bright lights, it bothered me more than the standard one, granted I don't really use the laptop outside that much so it wouldn't have been a huge deak breaker for me.

[@kennethwedmorelund]

Same here - and I've got an "OG" case to compare with: back in 2007, I bought 2 of the 30" Cinema Displays and they are matte. A year or two later, I added an iMac and was quite "oh no, it's got a glossy screen - get me out of here" but as a photographer, I REALLY appreciate the colors and "fatness" of the look of the glossy screens. I would NOT buy a nano-texture device today for MY work. If you're doing a lot of writing, coding and similar stuff, it might be just what you need because colors and vibrancy doesn't bring much positive.

[@magiccarpetrider4594]

So… I’m a semi-retired photographer, designer and professor of both. I’ve had Mac’s since my studio opened in ‘84, and purchased hundreds of Mac’s. I’m currently on a 15” 2015 mbp i7, 16gb and 2tb (and new sucky battery), all updated by me. Battery is dead again, but I’m done doing that nightmare. I run photoshop and Lightroom classic with a external library with 45-47mp files from Canon R5 and Leica M10m and M10r bodies. Can’t upgrade anymore due to age and OS availability. Had my sights on a M4 pro 16”, 48gb ram and 2tb ssd, but seems like a M1 Max with 64 gb/2 tb might be quicker. I hate the idea of buying a 4-5 year old cpu, but I found a mint copy for 2100usd vs 3450 for m4. ANY THOUGHTS, FELLOW PHOTOGUYS?

[@AlecKinch]

I assume because you jumped straight to the “export” test, that the editing experience in Final Cut is exactly the same for that AI project of yours, on both the M1 & M4?

[@BetterCreating]

I don’t see a difference on the editing experience, other than the timeline feeling slightly snappier when moving around. It was same and better at points from M1 Max to M4 Pro. Very good.

[@jaime7yt]

10:25 why is your battery draining so much?

[@BetterCreating]

I was working heavy load on battery probably - I find it lasts the day other than lots of exporting and editing. :)

[@kennethwedmorelund]

@@BetterCreating That's actually something that surprised me a while ago. I've been used to thinking of iPads as having A LOT of hours of battery, compared to, say, a MacBook. In 2019-2022 I was "on the road" quite a lot and always brought my iPad because I wouldn't have to think about charging. After getting my M1 MacBook Pro in 2022, I realized how much better they are in terms of battery and today, I believe the MacBook Air M-models are like twice the amount of hours in terms of running them on battery.

[@BenjaminStraue]

I have the choice of getting the MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro processor and 48GB RAM or the M4 Max and 36GB RAM. I will use the laptop mainly for photo editing and 8k video editing. Which configuration is better and how much RAM should the MacBook have for these requirements?

[@GmasterCrafter]

M4 MacBook Air or m4 MacBook Pro???? For me I would love the screen but it doesn’t seem justifiable. Any recommendations????

[@mil546]

Thank you.

[@BetterCreating]

You're welcome!

[@kish829]

Will MS word work faster?

[@BetterCreating]

Haha, not tested!

[@randymaurer1643]

Yes! Word does run faster, but not by much. Taking a text download of The Tempest by William Shakespeare from the Gutenberg Project site I saved it as a Word document. Using the latest version of Word (16.89 .. there may be a pending update .. there always is) on a 13" M1 Macbook Pro with 16gb RAM (touch bar version) and a 14" M4 Pro Macbook Pro with 24gb RAM I messed around with the document. Doing typical tasks - format changes, find and replace, etc. seemed virtually the same. The only thing I noticed was when I copy and pasted the text 5 times to create a larger file, switching from Page Layout view to Draft view I noticed background pagination lagging a second or two on the M1. Not knowing the page count for almost 3 seconds was troubling ... I am so glad I upgraded.

[@kennethwedmorelund]

That's actually a great question and, to some degree, what I've been thinking about as well in terms of switching my M1 MacBook Pro with an M4 Mac mini. My MBP takes several seconds to open even smaller apps like iMessage (I know, first-world-problems) and larger apps like Photoshop, Resolve etc. is between 20-30 seconds. I would really like to fix this because even a few seconds here and there doesn't sound like much, it's just a nuisance during a day of work and unfortunately, I "fear" that this is a trade-off by going Max or Ultra (they're really fast at the "heavy stuff" like rendering etc. but the typical "open this app and reply in the chat" is slower, I THINK, compared to the M-chips with better "single thread" performance.

[@oliverlison]

25 per cent difference is actually not worth an upgrade. Most people don;t need that. I think after 5 years it will make sense to replace a laptop. The nano texture? Why not getting a regular mat screen.

[@BetterCreating]

Yes - agree - essentially exactly what I’m saying. Nano texture is the only mat screen available.

[@jimtipton8888]

Had the binned M1 Max. Have the M4 Pro 14/20. For me the speed gain in almost all categories made it worth the upgrade. Going to be interesting to watch Apple try to out do this one.

[@BetterCreating]

Love that - very interesting to hear you feel the same :)

[@HaydenWiens]

How does the space black do with fingerprints, smudges, just asking because I have really oily hands.😅

[@BetterCreating]

it's definitely worse than the silver - you see them! but - it's better than the M3 Air i reviewed before it... overall - it's not a deal breaker - but i think i like the silver version best

[@HaydenWiens]

@@BetterCreating Thanks, I’ve been asking some other KZbinrs but no one has responded. So thank you again. Love the channel.

[@NjeleMolStudios]

M1 pro and M1 pro Max users let's gather here , as we will only Upgrade when the Macbook pro Oleds release year.

[@Warlun888]

Next week - I was wrong, should have chosen 'X' instead

[@BetterCreating]

Nah, it took me 2-months to get here. I’m sticking..

[@kennethwedmorelund]

Hi Simon (LifeOS-user here): I've also been using a 64gb MacBook Pro 16" M1 Max for 3 years now (80% day-to-day use like web, email, Notion etc. and 20% photo- and video editing). I'm also looking into the M4 now but not to update my M1 like you're talking about. Instead, I'm looking to use my MBP on the go instead of buying an M4 iPad Pro, which was my original plan. I use my MBP almost exclusively on my desktop, hooked up to a Studio Display as main monitor and 2 other 4k monitors. THIS is a hassle as it requires different "hacks" to get 3 monitors running on the M1-generation and I would actually like to have 4 monitors in total. At first, I was looking at the M4 iPad Pro because it could double as being both an extra monitor (sidecar) at the same time being a great screen for checking colors etc. when editing photos because of the brilliant screen and also because it is - in my case at least - a great laptop replacement. I must say, though, that even that I COULD afford the iPad Pro, I'm so "offended" by the cost, that it has kept me from getting one. When the Mac Mini M4 came out, it had me thinking ..... if I got one of these, I use it for the desktop part and it seems to be able to run 4 monitors and this would then free up my MBP to bring when I leave the desk. As for now, I'll be waiting to see if Apple releases a Mac Studio with M4 Ultra but I expect the extra power of the Ultra to be at an equally higher cost that will eventually make me go with the Mini.

[@BetterCreating]

Hey my friend - and thanks for being part of the Life OS crew too. We are very similar! I’m at the same point I think - the M4 Mac Mini with the Pro chip is a great bet if you intend to travel with and keep your M1 Max - that’s where I stand at moment. If Apple bring out an M4 IPad Air with that Oled screen - that could be a sweet spot for iPad choice - otherwise - I never notice power issues on my iPad for all use cases - so a refurbished m2 would be a safe choice maybe? Cheers!

[@pianofinger]

I went with an M2 Ultra Mac Studio, M1 MB pro and the M4 IPad. I use the IPad for most things for photography. If I need software that isn’t available on my iPad and or i want to work from bed i use the MacBook. For big video jobs and storage I use the Mac Studio which is still faster than the M4 Mac mini

[@prateek2888]

Great thought, but won't the 16 inch be too bulky for travel? Maybe keep it as a desktop device and get the 14 inch M4/M5 Pro?

[@BetterCreating]

@@pianofinger Wow - that's a serious set up - happy for you! I'd argue most people can't afford that beautiful line up - but it's a great set of kit that should last a long time right?! other than review units, I'm still on M1 Max 14" and a 2018 Pre-M1 iPad Pro that i purchase - I think the iPad may die soon thou!

[@BetterCreating]

@@prateek2888 I agree - if you genuinely work on the 16 while travelling - the extra screen is great for editing - but it's sooooo heavy for carrying - I prefer the 14 for ocassional work on the go and then plugging into a monitor at my studio.

[@nothingtosee7718]

Advice for MBA is just crazy, it’s 8GB, it’s limited in every way and when you spec the MBA up to 16 or 24GB and then next SSD, you’re in MBP territory. MBP is the no brainer.

[@BetterCreating]

I think the M4 when released will change that…

[@nothingtosee7718]

@ That’s assuming it arrives with 16GB and 512GB at the current price point. But even then, with apple intelligence you probably still going to have to drop another £200 to get 24GB RAM to satisfy the basic needs. My M3 MBA has 24GB/1TB and I still reach for the pro, it’s just a better machine, but is at least workable.

[@piotrd.4850]

@@nothingtosee7718 You are not wrong - most of Apple's lineup exist to (up)sell better units. On the other hand - for most applications, MBAs with 16 GB of RAM will suffice.

[@BetterCreating]

@@nothingtosee7718 Totally - i think the 16GB is highly likely given all the other M4 Macs got that at no extra cost in 2024. Apple intelligence - I don't think RAM is as significant as you think - from my testing - it's the Neural Engine that is needed to manage that - hence the speed differences on the iphone 16 from the 15 and the M4 chip from M1 and M2. It's clearly where that work is pushed the most. Will be interesting to see where they place the Air this year,...

[@nothingtosee7718]

@@BetterCreating 12GB is the real min for MacOS to just breath, apple intelligence needs 4-6GB, so 16 not enough, 24 is the only option if you’re going to have a few tabs open and use some of the AI features.

[@DemetriusZhomir]

It makes sense to get to a new model, because it usually means they made improvements & fixed the issues the old ones had. Like good game sequels.

[@BetterCreating]

It does, but not too often in my view or it becomes a silly amount of expense - I’m happy to upgrade 4-5 models at a go :) this is a great year to do it thou!