11/1/23
9:00 am

Is It Time To Update Your MacBook Pro Or iMac?

With brand new MacBook Pros and iMacs ready to order, is it time to upgrade your old Mac? Is it worth it to upgrade an M1 MacBook Pro or iMac? How about an older Intel model?

Video Transcript: Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com. Let's look at whether it is time for you to upgrade your MacBook Pro or iMac with the new M3 models.
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So on October 30 Apple updated its MacBook Pro and iMac to new models that include the new M3 processor. If you're already using a MacBook or iMac you may be wondering whether or not it is time to upgrade. 
First let's take a look at what Apple announced. They came out with a 14" and a 16"  inch MacBook Pro. This replaced the former 14" and 16" MacBook Pro. So the entire MacBook Pro line is different although the MacBook Air's are the same. Now if you look at the new MacBook Pros the tech specs are pretty similar to what there was before but the main thing you'll find that is different is the chip inside it. The M3 chip is now used in these two MacBook models. You can get a range of these chips. You can get the base level M3 chip in the 14" MacBook Pro but not the 16". The 16" starts at the M3 Pro level and then goes to the M3 Max chip which you can also get in the 14" model. 
So you've got upgrades on these chips, so are these chips faster? Definitely yes. Apple shows that performance is, of course, better than the M2 chips. Naturally they are. In addition to that the GPU's on these chips include lots of new things that can be used for 3D, specifically games, but lots of future apps that also use 3D in their interfaces. 
The displays are improved although the displays were already great. But, these pro models have the liquid retina XDR display and now it's a little brighter than before. The M3 models also allow upgrades to larger amounts of memory although the base model MacBook Pro can still start as low as 8GB. The battery life has been improved as well. The ports are more or less the same but note that if you get the M3 14" MacBook Pro it has only 2 Thunderbolt ports and they are Thunderbolt 3. It's only if you get the M3 Pro or M3 Max processors that now you've got Thunderbolt 4 ports and you actually have 3 of them. Two on one side and one on the other. 
So what about the new iMac. The iMac looks the same. It's basically physically identical to the previous model. It comes in the same colors but as with MacBook Pro it is the new chip inside that matters. So, you only have the one choice. The M3 chip. But otherwise the display, camera, and most of the other aspects of the iMac are the same as the M1 model that was out before. 
The big change, really, is the processor. It's important to realize with the processors that as you jump generations from say M1 to M2 to M3 the change isn't as significant as actually going up levels, which are the base model, the Pro, the Max, and the Ultra. So while we don't have benchmarks yet for the M3 processors we can look at the benchmarks for the M1 and M2 processors and here they are. You can see here that when you're looking at something like the CPU, when you go from M1 to M2, you definitely see an improvement. But look at the improvement from the base M1 to the Pro, to the Max and from the base M2 to the Pro to the Max. Those are bigger jumps. So, for instance a M1 Pro chip is better than the base M2. A M1 Max chip is better than the M2 Pro. 
The difference is even bigger when you're talking about the graphics. So the GPU's on these chips, they go up of course if you go from M1 to M2. But if you look at the jump from base to Pro to Max you can see they are much bigger jumps here. Look at how if you have the Max M1 how much faster that is than the Pro M2. The same thing when you're looking at this other metric here. I only bring this up because a lot of people incorrectly assume that any M2 chip is better than any M1 chip. That's not the case. The level of the chip, the base, Pro, Max, and Ultra is what matters the most. The generation is an increment on all of those at the same level. 
So one of the key things to realize then is that if you're looking to upgrade to basically the same model MacBook Pro or the iMac and you already have Apple's silicon, so you've got the M1 iMac or the M1 or M2 MacBook Pro then it is probably not worth it at this point to upgrade to a M3 MacBook Pro or the M3 iMac. The change isn't going to be enough. 
Let's take a look at the options when you buy one. So here's the Buy Page and you can choose the 14" or 16" model. If you stick with the 14" model then you could go with the M3, M3 Pro, or M3 Max chip. If you go with the 16" model you just have the M3 Pro or M3 Max. Now note that getting a MacBook Pro with a M3 chip in it, that's making it very similar to a MacBook Air. Now there is no M3 MacBook Air but eventually at some point next year there will be. The M2 really isn't that far behind. Without the Pro Chip you're going to be missing the extra port, you're going to be missing Thunderbolt 4 and a variety of other things. So let's select the M3 Pro base model there. We can see we're already at 512GB or storage which is good. Because I don't recommend that anybody get the 256GB of storage. All your iCloud data is going to be there. All your photos probably are going to be there. It is going to be much faster than any external drive that you can get. Of course using external drive is going to make your MacBook Pro much less portable. You can see at this level you're getting 18 GB of memory. So much better than the 8GB of memory that you would get if instead you chose the base model M3 and then you're looking at 8GB of memory. So you can see how the base model MacBook Pro really isn't much of a bargain with just the M3 chip starting at 8GB of RAM. 
Now let's look at the iMac. You do actually have two choices of processor in the iMac but they are both M3. One is the 8-Core GPU model and the other is the 10--Core GPU model. If you go to the 10-Core GPU model you're also getting the full selection of colors whereas you're limited with the base model. Both of these models here have the  minimum amount of storage which I certainly don't recommend and 8GB of RAM which is fine for most users as long as you are not doing really intense graphic work or video work or 3D work. Then 8GB is probably fine for most personal computer users. If you customize the second model here then we can add in some more memory and go to at least the next drive level for $1900. If you're just a casual home user then 8GB of memory is the first place you should look to cut, never go down to this level of storage. It is just not going to enough. As a matter of fact for most home users it is worth it to go up yet another level in storage before you consider going up memory. 
I know there are a lot of people out there warning about getting as little as 8GB in your Mac. But I've had a M1 with 8GB or RAM, a M2 with 8GB of RAM and both work great for just about anything that home users want to do. So only if you are using it professionally for some really intense work that you really need to go up a level. Certainly if you've got the money to do it, do it. But, if you only have got $200 to spend then I would spend it on storage, not the memory there. The storage is going to limit you much more in the future. 
Now another thing to think about is the lifespan of a Mac. So when you purchase a new Mac from the original day that the Mac was released you've got between five and seven years before it looses the ability to have the latest operating system. The computer still works of course. You just can't get the latest and greatest that Apple comes out with. Then even after that you've got about two years of security updates. You can still use the Mac after that. You're just not going to get security updates from Apple. So if you are using say the oldest M1 Mac, the 2020 MacBook Pro then now it is already three years into this. So if you're looking for a lateral move, say from the M1 MacBook Pro to a M3 MacBook Pro then I don't think it is worth it at this point, yet. You've still got plenty of good years in your M1. 
But if you're also looking to upgrade to a higher level model, for instance going from a M1 MacBook Pro to a M1 Max MacBook Pro then it is a bigger jump. So in other words you're looking at doing two things at once. Getting a newer model but also a more powerful level of Mac. Then this is a good time to upgrade your MacBook Pro. 
But for iMac's there is no option like that. You're just going from M1 to M3. There is no M3 Pro or M3 Max version of the iMac. So you can't actually go up a level. So if you have a M1 iMac then I don't think it is worth upgrading to the M3 iMac. If you really want to go up a big level there then you want to be looking at, say, a Mac Studio System and not just sticking with the iMac just two years later. 
On the other hand, if you still have an Intel MacBook Pro or an Intel iMac then this is a great time to upgrade. You can see here even if you have a 2019 version of these it is getting close to that five year mark and if it is older than that it's getting closer to the seven year mark as well. It is a great time to make the jump to Apple Silicon. Your new Mac is going to be several times faster even if you stay at the same level. So even if you've had a powerful Intel MacBook Pro or powerful Intel iMac going to the Apple Silicon version and M3 version is going to be a huge jump and you're going to get improvements across the board of things like screen, the cameras, all sorts of things. 
Now if your Intel Mac is still working find for you then, of course, there's no need to upgrade. It's only if you want to. There's never a need to upgrade. But if you're looking to upgrade and you're looking for the right time, this is probably it. Going from Intel to Apple Silicon right now with the new MacBook Pros and iMacs, if those are the models you're looking for this is the time to do it. I don't expect Apple to introduce any new Macs before the end of the year and even in beginning of next year. The earliest we will probably see something, maybe, is at the end of January when they celebrate the 40 anniversary of the Mac. So this is a good time to buy or update a Mac now knowing that Apple is not going to come out with something next week or next month. 
I hope you found this useful. Thanks for watching.

Comments: 20 Responses to “Is It Time To Update Your MacBook Pro Or iMac?”

Sheldon

6 months ago

I have a 2017 and a 2019 iMac. I want to upgrade the 2017. I think you have a video on changing computers. Or does it need to be upgraded. I am not actually sure how to make the swap. I only have Apple apps except FTM and everything is in iCloud. Thank you

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Sheldon: If you have everything in iCloud, you can just "add" the new Mac to the two you have now, then retire the old one. Just sign into iCloud and everything is there. Not sure what "FTM" means, but if those are files, just move them over to the new Mac too. If you had more complex needs, you could do Migration Assistant.

Ken

6 months ago

I have a 2020 MacBook Pro with intel chip. Since my MBP has been discontinued, should I upgrade? I'm comparing the MacBook Air 15" versus MacBook 14" with M3 chip. Thoughts?

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Ken: Depends on your personal needs and budget. Does the 2020 not meet your needs anymore? Do you have the money for it? If so, then sure. You'll see a big difference. But I wouldn't get a MacBook Pro 14 with just the M3. There's very little difference between that and the MacBook Air. Either stick with the MacBook Air, or at least go to the M3 Pro chip in the MacBook Pro.

Ellen Lerner

6 months ago

My 2017 MacBook pro I bought new in 2018. I want new computer and 6+ iPhone which is still working but obsolescence is make it difficult & can't back it up. My phone stores 125 and I'd like more. Not sure I understood about the chips.What I would like is computer:with more storage than 500 gigs I have now; larger screen; Faster is always better. I don't use the cloud except for apple mail. I keep pix in desktop ƒ or ext. drive. older computer died and was also storage. Advise?

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Ellen: The current MacBook Pros uses significantly better processors than your 2017 model. Any one you get today will be much faster, Sounds like you want a 1 TB drive and a 16-inch MacBook Pro (larger screen). This will be expensive though.

Chris Bamber

6 months ago

I have iMac 21.5” late 2013 with 3.1 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 and 16 GB Ram. The hard drive is 1.12TB Fusion with 150 GB of free space. 302GB used for Photos.OS Catalina 10.15.7. I use Apple One Premier, 470 GB of 2TB on iCloud.Now retired primarily use computer for photos, email and Safari. I use an iPhone 14 Pro and a 6th gen iPad. No real computer issues. I want new iMac M3 for security and OS etc. Can you recommend new iMac M3 with Ram and storage options. Purchased 2015. Thanks

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Chris: There's only the M3 iMac. So it is just a matter of storage and memory. You are using 1 TB of space now, so look to get 2 TB for your next Mac (1 TB will be too small for you, and 2 TB will last the next X years). You have 16 GB now, so you can stick with that. But for "photos, email and Safari" probably 8 GB is fine. Still, if you can afford 16 then get 16.

Paul Guenther

6 months ago

Hi Gary, I thought I would add my 2 cents worth on new iMacs. I bought one a year ago with 500GB of RAM. Even though I have instructed all photos and other space hogging files to be redirected to the iCloud, I found myself short of RAM on the latest update. iMac seemed to have a hard time recognizing that the files had been moved. I would recommend the 1TB option as a result despite the expense. Love the M1 chip. It is blazing fast.
Take care
Paul

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Paul: Thanks Paul. (By RAM I'm sure you mean storage space, not memory). Add yours as yet another time I hear someone regret buying too little storage. Over and over again. Yet people still chime in on YouTube all the time to tell me I'm wrong about that.

Rich Brenner

6 months ago

You sound like a Best Buy sales person. A few years ago, I looking for a TV and the sales person said no one ever complained to him that their TV screen was too large. I need to update a 2018 Mac Air with 128 GB storage. Last night, I decided on the upgraded Mac pro chip with 512 GB of storage. Gary, you just convinced me to upgrade to 1 TB of storage and cost me $200. After I bought the 2018 Mac Air, I have been accumulating points on my credit cards for a replacement and have $2171 in points.

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Rich: Yikes! I hope I don't sound like a salesperson. My intention is to take everything I know from helping people over the last 17 years and provide some useful advice.

Rich Brenner

6 months ago

No No...I was just using your comment on too little memory "Add yours as yet another time I hear someone regret buying too little storage. Over and over again. " and equating it to a comment from a guy at Best Buy about which size TV to buy. No one ever complained about too much memory or too big a tv. I am taking your advice and going from 512 to1 TB of memory. Actually, you would make a great sales person selling Apples Computers.....

Robert Normandia

6 months ago

I'm a victim of planned obsolescence w my Mac paired with a 2TB time capsule (old!). Best Buy suggested a Mac Mini paired with a nice monitor that could split into as much 6 screens which would be nice for work (I am a research physician) toggling back & forth when creating slide decks from articles. I want the compactness of the Mac (1 complete unit) - can it perform the function that I mentioned or should I pursue the Mac mini w aforementioned monitor? I don't game. Thx

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Robert: Not sure what you mean by: "a nice monitor that could split into as much 6 screens." Do you want one screen or six?

Robert Normandia

6 months ago

Apologies, not very fluent in your world. I meant a larger screen where you could pull up from 4-8 windows side by side at once to draw upon as references while making slide decks or leading a Teams/Zoom calls. Best Buy consultant said an independent monitor paired with Mac Mini was far more versatile, economical w better resolution than the single unit Mac. I'm all about quality & convenience and not concerned w $. Please share thoughts on Single Mac unit vs a Non Mac Monitor+ Mac Mini? Thx

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Robert: Ah, so a single large screen. Yes, there are plenty out there and that is a good way to go. Also if you have to have 6 windows open at once then why not consider getting 2 screens instead of just one?

Robert Normandia

6 months ago

As I've "matured" (gotten older) I try to maintain a minimalist approach regarding space and go the simple route. I won't bug you after this. Can a Mac pull up multiple, readable windows or should I opt for a larger non Mac screen. The downsizing of 27 inch to a 24 inch screen gives me trepidation. Thanks - no more bugging you on my end.

Gary Rosenzweig

6 months ago

Robert: It really depends on you. Go to a store and spend some time with the iMac and the screen. See if that would work for you.

paul miller

6 months ago

Greetings. I have 2008 and 2017 iMacs. The standard models. No extras. The 2017 is the latest model to fall from support. I have looked into the M3 iMacs. I'm not actually sure why I would upgrade, other than support? I can still do just about everything I use the iMac for on the 2017. Heck, I can still do those things on the 2008. I guess that I don't put any great demands on either machine... email, text, search, photos, banking, bills, weather info, reading, and listening to music.

Is It Time To Update Your MacBook Pro Or iMac?

Comments: 20 Responses to “Is It Time To Update Your MacBook Pro Or iMac?”

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