Anyone buy M3 Max when they don't need it?

[AVBeatMan]

I just bought the 14" M3 Max MacBook Pro. I do not need this, but have been taken in by all the YouTube videos about how "you need the max". I am coming from a M1 MBP with 1TB that was fine for me. (got to 350GB storage). I can afford the M3 Max, but won't use it to its potential. I am a light user, just using to browse the web, emails and daily journalling. YouTube etc, but not much else.

I've been taken in by the M3 Max hype I know. Just wondering if anyone else in this position and if you're thinking of going back to the M3 Pro instead?

 

[Howard2k]

Sounds like you need a MacBook Air or an iPad. You can get discounts on the M1 and M2 Air right now.

 

[steve123]

Max all the way. I hope you maxed out your RAM as well. Computer will likely be useful well beyond the next 15 years if you did.

 

[iMacDragon]

If you don't need the extra cpu/gpu grunt, pro is probably more sensible honestly.

I would still want a pro over air for primary machine for the better screen though, higher res / hdr.

 

[Dfds]

I’ve just bought a 16” M3 max. I considered getting a M3 Pro but after you’ve upgraded the memory to 36GB & SSD to 1TB there isn’t that much difference in price especially when I found that Costco were selling the base M3 max for £3199

 

[maerz001]

Max all the way. I hope you maxed out your RAM as well. Computer will likely be useful well beyond the next 15 years if you did.

Or you just buy the base model every 5 years for the same price and get usually better screen, loudspeakers, I/O and speed each generation.

But since the OP already had a 14“ i doubt he can wait that long.

 

[maerz001]

I just bought the 14" M3 Max MacBook Pro. I do not need this, but have been taken in by all the YouTube videos about how "you need the max". I am coming from a M1 MBP with 1TB that was fine for me. (got to 350GB storage). I can afford the M3 Max, but won't use it to its potential. I am a light user, just using to browse the web, emails and daily journalling. YouTube etc, but not much else.

I've been taken in by the M3 Max hype I know. Just wondering if anyone else in this position and if you're thinking of going back to the M3 Pro instead?

Since you already had the old 14“ what moved you to even buy the M3? Youtube?

Would you do any heavy work i could understand but with this basic stuff…

And since we had the discussion in the other thread that this is basically a waste of money nd you even have 2 ipads i am wondering even more.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Since you already had the old 14“ what moved you to even buy the M3? Youtube?

Since we had the discussion in the other thread that this is basically a waste of money nd you even have 2 ipads i am wondering even more.

Just wanted to upgrade. Also love the new black colour. Crazy I know but there you go...

 

[Mac-key]

To each his own - and I understand wanting the latest and greatest tech. However, I'm a professional photographer and videographer. I do all my work on a 2017 iMac and a 2017 15 MBP. Judging by your workload - you could use my 2009 13 MBP and be just fine.

 

[gagee]

I just bought the 14" M3 Max MacBook Pro. I do not need this, but have been taken in by all the YouTube videos about how "you need the max". I am coming from a M1 MBP with 1TB that was fine for me. (got to 350GB storage). I can afford the M3 Max, but won't use it to its potential. I am a light user, just using to browse the web, emails and daily journalling. YouTube etc, but not much else.

I've been taken in by the M3 Max hype I know. Just wondering if anyone else in this position and if you're thinking of going back to the M3 Pro instead?

What specs did you go with for the 14 inch M3 Max?

 

[AVBeatMan]

What specs did you go with for the 14 inch M3 Max?

Just the base one.

 

[gagee]

Just the base one.

Oh ok so the one with 14/30 1tb and 36gb?

 

[DennisdeWit]

No. I need the M3 Max, because waiting for a long time till my apps compile drove me crazy. It’s great that I barely have to wait now. And I dig the spaceblack color.

 

[gagee]

No. I need the M3 Max, because waiting for a long time till my apps compile drove me crazy. It’s great that I barely have to wait now. And I dig the spaceblack color.

What specs did you get with your M3 Max?

 

[maerz001]

Just wanted to upgrade. Also love the new black colour. Crazy I know but there you go...

Apart from the color what is the benefit? is Safari snappier?

 

[DennisdeWit]

What specs did you get with your M3 Max?

M3 Max 14 CPU, 30 GPU, 36 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD.

 

[gagee]

M3 Max 14 CPU, 30 GPU, 36 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD.

Oh the base model Max. That is a good spec. 14 inch or 16inch?

 

[Pakaku]

Makes sense if it's a long term investment. If you're not using all of the power and are only going to resell it to buy a M4, then it's a waste

 

[profcutter]

I got the M1 Max, it was a difficult decision. I wanted 32 gigs of ram because I work on large files, and the max was just about 100 or so more. The max was also important because I use 3 screens (including the internal). For the work you’re describing I agree than an air would definitely do all you need, a max is overkill.

 

[rin67630]

I just bought the 14" M3 Max MacBook Pro. I do not need this, but have been taken in by all the YouTube videos about how "you need the max".

Good boy ! You will get a lolly reward from Apple's shareholders.

 

[Sami13496]

What will you do when M4 comes out and all those YouTube ads masked as reviews? Upgrade again?

 

[Nozgog]

Also got the Max because I thought I would get started with some video editing - didn’t do it (yet) - but the Max comes in handy when playing games with CrossOver or using VMware.

Otherwise definitely would have went with the Pro chip because of less heat and more battery life

 

[Ifti]

I got caught in the same hype early on with the MBP16 M1 Max. Fortunately most of it was subsidized through work but I gave up on all the 'future-proofing' theories at that point.
I still have the same M1 Max now, and use it with FCPX successfully, so not completely wasted, but I'm sure a M1 Pro would have been ample enough for me, even now!

Been thinking about getting a MacBook Air for a while though, as I've sold my iPad Pro recently, and will likely go with what I need this time - the 16/512 model would do me for many years to come.

 

[DennisdeWit]

Oh the base model Max. That is a good spec. 14 inch or 16inch?

It’s a 16 inch.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Thanks for all your replies. No, I don't need the Max and am still within the return window. Will have a look at the base pro and the 1TB one. The base has 11 Core CPU and the 1TM 12 Core CPU. Is the extra core worth it do you think? The 1TB is only £330 extra so 330 for an extra core and 1TB? The base has 512Gb.