M3 Max Macbook Pro: Not Worth Upgrading

Summary

In this engaging video, the creator compares their M1 Pro MacBook Pro to the newly purchased M3 Max model, reflecting on their experience and the value of upgrades. Despite spending $4,000 on the M3 Max, they question its necessity given the M1 Pro's impressive performance in daily tasks and video editing. While acknowledging the M3 Max's faster export times, they suggest that most users may not notice significant differences in routine use. The video also humorously introduces a challenge for a reluctant business partner, who will use the new laptop for a week, highlighting the learning curve and humor in adapting to Mac OS.

Takeaways

• 💻 The speaker reflects on their first Mac purchase, the M1 Pro, which cost $2,700 two years ago and replaced their handmade Windows desktop.
• 🚀 The M3 Max MacBook Pro was purchased for $4,000, highlighting the significant investment in new technology.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes real-world performance over synthetic benchmarks, preferring to evaluate how the laptops handle everyday tasks.
• 📊 Despite the M3 Max's claimed performance increases, the speaker finds the M1 Pro still performs flawlessly for most tasks.
• 📈 Recent software updates for Adobe Premiere have improved the editing experience on the M1 Pro, eliminating the need for proxies.
• ⚙️ The M1 Pro runs smoothly even with multiple demanding applications and numerous tabs open simultaneously.
• ⏱️ Speed tests reveal the M3 Max is faster for exporting videos and images, but the time saved may not justify the cost for most users.
• 😅 The speaker humorously plans to give the M3 Max to their technologically challenged business partner, anticipating comedic challenges.
• 💡 The video highlights that for most users, the upgrade to the latest model may not be necessary if their current device meets their needs.
• 💸 The speaker questions the value of spending significantly on incremental performance improvements, suggesting that many may find similar satisfaction with older models.

Q & A

What were the main reasons for the speaker's upgrade from the M1 Pro to the M3 Max?

The speaker upgraded primarily for the ability to add more monitors to their desk setup and to give the M3 Max to their business partner, who struggles with new technology.

How much did the speaker spend on the M1 Pro and the M3 Max?

The speaker spent $2,700 on the M1 Pro and over $4,000 on the M3 Max.

What performance aspects did the speaker compare between the two MacBook Pro models?

The speaker compared real-world performance, including handling multiple applications, video editing in Adobe Premiere, and exporting times for videos and images.

Did the speaker experience any performance issues with the M1 Pro over time?

No, the speaker reported that the M1 Pro has been performing flawlessly, especially after updates to Adobe Premiere that improved playback and editing capabilities.

What were the results of the speaker's export tests between the two laptops?

In the export tests, the M3 Max was 50% faster than the M1 Pro, completing a 9.5-minute video export in 4 minutes and 6 seconds compared to the M1 Pro's 6 minutes and 13 seconds.

What is the speaker's perspective on benchmark scores like Geekbench?

The speaker finds benchmark scores like Geekbench less meaningful than the actual user experience and practical performance in day-to-day tasks.

How does the speaker justify the price of the M3 Max despite questioning the need for an upgrade?

The speaker justifies the price by highlighting the desire for a better aesthetic, the capability to add more monitors, and the specific use case of giving the laptop to their partner.

What humorous plan does the speaker have for their business partner regarding the new laptop?

The speaker plans to force their business partner, who dislikes learning new technology, to use the M3 Max as his main machine for a week, filming his reactions and struggles.

What software did the speaker mention using extensively with the laptops?

The speaker mentioned using Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, and Lightroom extensively for video editing and photo processing.

Is there a significant difference in performance for everyday tasks between the M1 Pro and M3 Max according to the speaker?

The speaker believes that for everyday tasks, there is little to no noticeable difference in performance between the M1 Pro and M3 Max for most users.