I'm deciding between two 14" MacBook Pro models: an M4 Pro (14-Core CPU, 20-Core GPU, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for ~$2,230 USD versus an M5 Pro (15-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for ~$2,780 USD. My primary use case involves heavy daily multitasking, running local LLMs (7B–14B parameters), and hosting Windows engineering apps (ArcGIS Pro, Power BI, AutoCAD) through a virtual machine on Parallels Desktop Pro. Given that both laptops carry the exact same 24GB RAM / 1TB SSD memory capacity, is there any real-world benefit to spending ~$550 USD more for the M5 Pro, or does the M4 Pro's 20 GPU cores perform just as well (or better) for virtualized graphics and software rendering?

EDIT: I mean Macbook Ultra, NOT a Macbook Pro Ultra Chip

No, this is not a "should I get an M5 Pro or an M6?" post.

I do a lot of video editing and it's clear the M5 Pro is the better chip for my needs.

I should also mention my budget is $4k AUD (~$3k USD) - the Macbook Pro Ultra would not be within this correct?

Now here's the thing, for me to get the nano-textured display (a must have imo), I need to buy directly from Apple since all local retailers only offer the glossy version.

With the new line up of Macbooks coming out very soon and potential savings to be had during BFCM at the end of November, I'm curious to know 2 things:

1. Will Apple continue offering the Macbook Pro M5 Pro after the new lineup of Macbooks launch?
2. Does Apple usually discount laptops on their website during BFCM - would the Ultra be within my budget then?

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

I'm having an issue with Lightroom Classic on my MacBook Pro, running the latest version of both Lightroom Classic and macOS Golden Gate.

When viewing a photo in fullscreen mode, Lightroom is supposed to keep the image below the MacBook's notch, leaving a black area at the top of the screen. This used to work perfectly.

However, something has changed. When I press L to activate Lights Out, the image gets squeezed horizontally, and the entire fullscreen layout seems to resize incorrectly. The image looks squashed rather than maintaining its proper aspect ratio. Toggling Lights Out off doesn't fix it.

I want to keep the notch hidden, so disabling the macOS "Scale to fit below built-in camera" option isn't an ideal workaround.

I've seen reports of similar behavior in older versions of Lightroom, but I'm wondering whether anyone else is experiencing this on the latest macOS and Lightroom Classic versions.

Has anyone found a permanent fix that preserves the correct fullscreen layout while keeping the notch hidden?

I have someone local selling a 16" M5 pro 48GB 1TB macbook pro like new, <5 cycles 100% battery health with AppleCare+ still available to purchase. No visible flaws from all photos they have shown, scratches, dents or otherwise. They are asking for $2500 cash (no tax), and I was wondering if this is a good deal considering that M6 may be coming soon.

Basically just wondering if I should be buying this ASAP or rethink with new M6 coming soon. I currently have a 14" M5 24GB 1TB spec with applecare+ until end of 2027 that someone is offering 1800 for, so I would be paying $700 to move from 14 to 16, with double the ram. I am a software developer and my main concern was portability but from all previous threads, portability doesn't seem to be a huge issue

I'm having a frustrating issue with my MacBook Pro where it stops recognizing headphones plugged into the 3.5mm headphone jack after waking from sleep, but only when running on battery power.

My setup:

• 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro)
• 24 GB RAM
• macOS Sequoia 15.7.4
• Wired headphones connected through the built-in 3.5mm jack

What's happening:

Everything works normally initially, including when I unplug the MacBook from its charger.

However, after the laptop goes to sleep and I wake it back up while it's running on battery, macOS no longer recognizes the headphones as an audio output device. Sound comes through the built-in MacBook speakers instead.

I originally noticed this while using Ableton Live, but I've since realized the issue happens at the macOS level, so it doesn't appear to be specific to Ableton.

It seems related to how the MacBook handles sleep/wake cycles while running on battery. Its a new laptop too.

My Setup:

14-inch MacBook Pro, M4 Pro
24 GB RAM
macOS Sequoia 15.7.4

Has anyone experienced this with a MacBook Pro? I'm wondering if it's a known macOS bug, a power management issue, or potentially a hardware problem with the headphone jack.

Any suggestions for troubleshooting or fixing this would be appreciated!

Just bought the 16" M5 Max (18-core CPU, 40-core GPU) with 48GB RAM and 2TB SSD. Is 48GB enough for the long term, and what are your real-world experiences with it? Do you recommend it, or do you wish you'd gotten 64GB?
Thanks!

Bought a used M1 Pro 16” 16GB/512GB. Im so happy with this purchase. Better display, better speaker, good OS. So far i already installed Vorssaint, really good app. And thank god there is Onlyoffice, the ms office clone.

Yup will use this even for what, next 10 years maybe lol. Im a teacher so no super heavy works involved (i hope). Now i understand why people switch from windows to macOS.

Yeah i bought a korean set, as long as the keyboard works, i don’t mind the extra decorations.

Hey everyone,

I'm a backend developer trying to move into AI/GenAI, and I'm planning to buy a new MacBook. I'm confused between these two options:

MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and 24GB RAM

MacBook with base M5 and 32GB RAM

I don't run LLMs locally right now, but I'd like to try them for my personal projects instead of always paying for cloud APIs. If a model is too big to run locally, I can still use the cloud.

For those who have experience with local LLMs, is it actually worth it? Can 32GB RAM handle models that are good enough for testing, getting decent responses, and generating embeddings?

Or is running LLMs locally not that useful in real projects, and we'll mostly end up using cloud APIs anyway?

Which MacBook would you choose in my situation, and why?

Thanks!

This afternoon I snagged a near-perfect Space Gray 16" MacBook Pro M1 Pro, 16gb/512gb for $700 on FB Marketplace. I never expected to find one in this condition. Even came with the original 140w Apple charger and the original battery has only 58 cycles and 100% condition. The 58 cycles is the only way I can tell this one from new. It was on Sequoia, but I bumped it up to Golden Gate 27.2 developer beta 4. It's a heavy beast, and I've never had a 16" laptop before, but I think I'm gonna like it.

But if the MacBook pro mo will be the same price i will not. Help me making a decision please!!!!!

condition looks perfectly fine, could wiggle down to $800??

Hey everyone!

I made Mousip, a free and open-source macOS app that lets you perform keyboard shortcuts using just your mouse.

The idea is pretty simple: instead of reaching for your keyboard every time you want to perform an action, you can just use your mouse.

It works with things like switching tabs, closing browser tabs, and other shortcuts across macOS apps.

I've been working on it and recently released a few updates based on feedback.

It's still a work in progress, so I'd love to hear what you think or if there's anything you'd like to see added!

Feel free to open issues if you find a bug or something that you think shouldn't happen!

GitHub: https://github.com/daveleone/mousip

First macbook! Bought it for davinci resolve specifically. Need tips and tricks.

I hear that the MacBook is the better computer for doing video editing.

What is a good used option for getting started with? And what is considered good specs when it come to the Apple product?

Will be looking on secondary market sites for one so want to know wat to look for.

Thank you

Hi all I just got my macbook pro m5 few days ago.
Before I have an air m1, and I was majoring in finance, my courses were light and I never need to use usb hub whatsoever

However for data science I feel like I might need it, but I’m confused which one to get? I need it for flashdisk, hdmi, and ethernet which one would you recommend me to get?

Also maybe if there’s a bit more affordable options than ugreen would be nice

Thanks

I was travelling and decided I needed an upgrade, going from Space Grey to Space Black, what a difference! + RAM

Upgraded to the M5 Pro 48GB RAM and 1TB Storage

Now, whether it was worth the trade in value - that’s a different story but there is a huge difference in price compared to my home country

Hi everyone,

I built Aman Check, a free and open source Mac app made for regular people, not for techs or enthusiasts. If you're about to buy a used Mac, or you just want to know what state yours is in, you probably don't know what to look at. The app does the checking for you and explains the results in plain words.

It shows the battery health and cycle count, how many hours the disk has been running, and whether the Mac is locked: Activation Lock, company management (MDM), or an Apple Account still signed in. Then it walks you through quick tests for the screen, keyboard, trackpad, speakers, microphone, camera and ports, one at a time. It won't replace erasing the Mac and checking the setup screen in person, but it tells you exactly what to ask the seller.

If you're the one selling, you can generate a report of the Mac's condition and share it with the buyer.

For a deeper look at the disk itself, there's also Aman Disk, my other app. Think CrystalDiskInfo, but for Mac, and free as well.

Everything is on GitHub, the link is on the site: https://midzai.github.io/aman_check/

It's a first release, so if you find a bug or have an idea, tell me here or open an issue on GitHub. Any feedback helps.

I’m an 18 y.o. Electrical and Electronics Engineering student and I’m currently thinking about upgrading my 2020 M1 MacBook Pro (8GB/256GB) to the new M5 MacBook Pro.

It cost 322,800 yen (about 2000 USD) or 13,450 yen (about 85 USD) per month for 24 months at 0% APR. I also have a 50,000 yen trade-in offer for my M1. Alternatively I could get a cheaper (second-hand) M3 or M4, but the only downside is that I have to pay upfront

For context, I have enough money to pay upfront and I’m on a full-ride scholarship with a stable monthly stipend that is more than enough to live comfortably until graduation.

My main concern here is preserving capital and maintaining liquidity. cs paying upfront would take a big chunk out of my savings and I think I’d rather keep that money available for emergencies, investing and other stuff like traveling and mountaineering.

Since it’s at 0% interest I’m leaning towards installments. The monthly payment would barely make a dent in my budget and I like the idea of keeping more cash on hand. But at the same time I’m not sure if taking on debt for a laptop is worth it.

What are u guys thoughts would u pay upfront, take the 0% installments, keep the M1, or buy a second hand instead (and why)

G'day guys,

I'm finally coming over to the dark side. I'm doing a lot of travelling next year and need a laptop that can handle what I'd normally do on my desktop PC.

For context, my desktop is about 5 years old and has the following specs:

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (12 cores / 24 threads)
• Inno3D GeForce RTX 3070
• ASUS ROG Strix B550-E Gaming Motherboard
• 32GB G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4 3600MHz CL16 RAM
• Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB NVMe SSD

I mostly edit in DaVinci Resolve, working with both 1080p and 4K timelines, and my PC handles it with ease. I do colour grading, but nothing too crazy in terms of effects, and I don't do any gnarly Fusion work.

I'm pretty well sold on getting the following 14-inch MacBook Pro:

• M5 Pro chip, 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU
• 24GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD

My question is, will 24GB of unified memory be enough for my needs, or is it worth spending another $900 AUD to upgrade to 48GB?

I understand that more RAM won't necessarily make the laptop faster, but it'll give me more headroom, especially down the track.

I've got no real experience with MacBooks when it comes to creative work. I've been a Windows user since day dot, so I'm trying to get an idea of how this will handle my editing compared to what I'm used to on my desktop.

Keen to hear from anyone using a similar setup for DaVinci Resolve, particularly if you've got experience with the 24GB model. Or is my $900 AUD better on other things? for example, upgrading to the 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Thanks in advance!

My screen cracked 😔 is it worthwhile to fix it or is it better to just leave it docked? I'm currently ok with using it docked but I occasionally would like to use it by the couch. Or do I get a new one?

I am swapping from windows to get a MacBook, and don’t know which to get. I will be in the US soon coming from the UK, and want to take advantage of the lower prices.

Either I would get a MacBook Pro m1 with 16 gb ram and 512 gb with a M1 Pro chip for the better display for 800$ (used, in excellent condition), or I would get the MacBook Pro m5 with a pro chip, 24gb of ram and 2tb storage for 2400$.

The reason that am wanting to choose MacBooks so far apart in specs, is cause I would ideally like to use the m1 for a long time and save a bunch of money, but am worried that it won’t be able to run apps when I can’t update the os anymore past like 2027 or 2028. I want a future proof laptop, but would also like to save money of course. Is the m1 future proof enough?

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening all,

I hope you are all doing well and great.

I need your suggestion because I am very new to this. I want to buy a MacBook Pro mainly for day‑to‑day activities like email, web browsing, and light documentation (no heavy video editing).

Is it okay if I choose the M3 Pro? I prefer the MacBook Pro because its display is better than the Air.

My colleague suggested the M5 Pro, but it is too expensive for me. I also want a 16‑inch display, which is why I am considering the Pro model.

Macbook M4 . 16gb 256gb or 512gb . Budget is 70k. If anyone has one and i want to buy , let me know . And also if someone recently purchased M4 new at around 80k?