p.1 #1 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
I'm running on a 14" M1 Pro from 2021. Normally, I'd say it is time for an upgrade by now to as chips/rams/bussses have improved meaningfully by M4, and now the newly released M5 chip, but then I read about that this is the last gen of the current MacBook Pro design. The next gen will get OLED displays which will have better colors, refresh rates, allow for thinner designs, do away with the Notch, better batterylife with the new displays, etc, etc. You know, when Apple is waiting 5-6 yeas to redesign their hardware, it will be a meaningful improvement. On top of that, I read that it will be a touch display, which I'm not sure I personally care that much for. Of course, it will most likely come with a price increase on the MBP line.
Anyone else excited about OLED display and holding out on upgrading?
Main downside: the upgrade is not expected until late 2026 or even early 2027.
p.1 #2 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
Ha ! I had been thinking about posting something about M5 vs M6, specifically about the M6 rumors, but going the opposite way.
I also have a 14" M1 Max MBP and would not mind an upgrade. It's not my main processor though, just used for travel, so while it does some heavy lifting as I do PP on the road, it's not often.
I had been mentally holding out for the M6 as it's rumored to be on the 2nm TSMC node which should give a pretty healthy improvement over the current 3nm process used on the M4 and M5 (though M5 is on an improved 3nm process).
The M5 might well have better performance than I imagined over the M4 due to Apple's announcement that they have incorporated Neural Accelerators into the GPU cores, If Adobe can make good use of them that we might well see a significant drop in Denoise times which is one of the long poles for me.
So now the M6 rumors are out there and as you pointed out include an OLED-touch screen, I have 2 concerns. Burn in, despite what Apple might say (of course they have not said anything but I think we can be assured they will say it's not a problem) and as you mention, the cost associated with a switch to OLED, and a touch screen. I'm also pretty ambivalent about touch. Had it in the past and not really used it other than in 360 flip mode so I was using the PC laptop as a giant tablet to show galleries. So unless the OLED/Touch is optional (no mention of that in the rumors) I think I may look for a well spec'd M5 Max MBP when the sales come out late next year before the M6 is announced. This of course as long as the M5 performs as well as I hope.
p.1 #3 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
I bought replacement M4’s early this year, so 2028 is probably the right next cycle for me depending on the actual performance boost from the next tier jump or more likely the second tier of a new gen to let them work the gen 1 kinks out. Right now my current machines are still way more powerful than what I need and plenty fast for what I do, so any upgrade at this point would be essentially academic as re performance.
For me, OLED itself wouldn’t be enough reason; but for someone with an M1 the timing would make sense. My guess is touch tech will continue to improve significantly, as it’s the next logical step. But I can wait for gen 2 or even 3 there depending on actual performance boost.
p.1 #4 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
I also have a 14” MBP with M1 Pro chip and this year added an M4 Max Studio because the M1 Pro was becoming laggy with the 45MP files I started shooting more this year. I also rely a lot on Adobe’s Denoise and between the age of the chipset and the limited GPU cores of the Pro, it was taking longer than preferred applying Denoise to large batches. The M4 Max helped by throwing more and faster GPU cores at the problem, but even faster would be better. (A Studio Ultra wasn’t in the budget.)
When I read the M5 announcement my reaction to the CPU performance increase was meh, but the supposed GPU performance jump caught my eye, precisely because of the potential benefits it would bring to Denoise processing. But it’s unclear how ANE is mixed in with the GPU performance jump and how it will play with Adobe’s software. I don’t regret getting the M4 Max because I needed it ASAP, but if I was still getting by with the MBP for heavy lifting, I would definitely consider the M5 generation for my immediate needs, rather than holding out for the new MBP design. But I would wait at least for the Pro or Max versions.
That said, because the Studio has taken over most processing tasks, I will probably wait for the redesign because I would prefer a somewhat thinner MBP without some of the Air’s trade offs. What I really want is a letter-size form factor with at least the Pro chip.
p.1 #5 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
patotts wrote:
I'm running on a 14" M1 Pro from 2021. Normally, I'd say it is time for an upgrade by now to as chips/rams/bussses have improved meaningfully by M4, and now the newly released M5 chip, but then I read about that this is the last gen of the current MacBook Pro design. The next gen will get OLED displays which will have better colors, refresh rates, allow for thinner designs, do away with the Notch, better batterylife with the new displays, etc, etc. You know, when Apple is waiting 5-6 yeas to redesign their hardware, it will be a meaningful improvement. On top of that, I read that it will be a touch display, which I'm not sure I personally care that much for. Of course, it will most likely come with a price increase on the MBP line.
Anyone else excited about OLED display and holding out on upgrading?
Main downside: the upgrade is not expected until late 2026 or even early 2027. ...Show more →
I’ve been buying/upgrading computers for a LONG time. I think that instead of focusing on what fancy new technology may be coming in a future integration of a system and letting that drive purchase decisions, it makes more sense to focus on whether and how your current system is (or is not) deficient for the work you are doing.
I’ve generally been able to buy fairly well equipped new machines and then keep them running effectively until about the time that they will no longer run the latest OS updates.
Is that 2021 machine holding you back?
(I do understand the temptation though. Among other tools, I have a 4th generation iPad Pro, and I momentarily drooled a bit over the new M5 iPad Pro. Then I remembered that the current model is still really working well for me. ;-))
p.1 #6 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
The other side to this argument is Apple's trade-in (UP ) program. Upgrading within the past 2 gens or so usually nets you pretty attractive trade-in bonuses, often making the decision easier.
p.1 #7 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
Apple offers a replacement plan where you can get a new Macbook every two years. Like a car lease, you can stop the music and sit down anytime, turn in the Mac; or buy the Mac.
p.1 #9 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
Have a M1 Macbook Pro that I bought personally and a M3 MacBook Pro for work...there's very little difference with day to day tasks. I only upgrade MacBooks and iPads when they upgrade the screens and/or form factor at this point
p.1 #10 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
patotts wrote:
I'm running on a 14" M1 Pro from 2021. Normally, I'd say it is time for an upgrade by now to as chips/rams/bussses have improved meaningfully by M4, and now the newly released M5 chip, but then I read about that this is the last gen of the current MacBook Pro design. The next gen will get OLED displays which will have better colors, refresh rates, allow for thinner designs, do away with the Notch, better batterylife with the new displays, etc, etc. You know, when Apple is waiting 5-6 yeas to redesign their hardware, it will be a meaningful improvement. On top of that, I read that it will be a touch display, which I'm not sure I personally care that much for. Of course, it will most likely come with a price increase on the MBP line.
Anyone else excited about OLED display and holding out on upgrading?
Main downside: the upgrade is not expected until late 2026 or even early 2027. ...Show more →
I'd prefer they replace the Mac Pro since it's still on M2.
p.1 #11 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
gdanmitchell wrote:
I’ve been buying/upgrading computers for a LONG time. I think that instead of focusing on what fancy new technology may be coming in a future integration of a system and letting that drive purchase decisions, it makes more sense to focus on whether and how your current system is (or is not) deficient for the work you are doing.
I’ve generally been able to buy fairly well equipped new machines and then keep them running effectively until about the time that they will no longer run the latest OS updates.
Is that 2021 machine holding you back?
(I do understand the temptation though. Among other tools, I have a 4th generation iPad Pro, and I momentarily drooled a bit over the new M5 iPad Pro. Then I remembered that the current model is still really working well for me. ;-))...Show more →
I'm still using a 12+ year old desktop and laptop. I just bought a M4 Macbook Pro since neither of my current machines can upgrade to Windows 11 and lose support. Yet the reality is I've decided to keep the old desktop going as my main offline photo editing machine. It's still running Photoshop CS6 and it's me holding things back, not the computer or software. If I ever get truly proficient at photoshop I may then reconsider. Although I'm not playing the subscription game either so it'll mean learning a new software package. I'm old school and cut my teeth on slide film for decades. Relying heavily on a computer to "get my shot" still seems like cheating the whole purpose of photography a bit to me. Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man shouting at the clouds. !
p.1 #12 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
jamesdak wrote:
Relying heavily on a computer to "get my shot" still seems like cheating the whole purpose of photography a bit to me. Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man shouting at the clouds. !
It isn't cheating any more than dodging and burning was... :-)
p.1 #13 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
My M1 macbook air is starting to show its age. If I edit on it, I'm only processing jpegs and it's usually because I need to prove a concept in a huge hurry. Perhaps 99.9% of my editing is done on a Mac Mini with M4 Pro at home. I have a 27 inch display, full size keyboard, the backup drives, coffee, all the conveniences I must have. lol.
I'm not upgrading this thing until the notch goes away or this thing dies. I hope you're right about an upcoming redesign. Until then, I'll trundle along with M1. It still runs MS Office and a handful of browser tabs just fine, for now.
p.1 #15 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
Oscarsmadness wrote:
My M1 macbook air is starting to show its age. If I edit on it, I'm only processing jpegs and it's usually because I need to prove a concept in a huge hurry. Perhaps 99.9% of my editing is done on a Mac Mini with M4 Pro at home. I have a 27 inch display, full size keyboard, the backup drives, coffee, all the conveniences I must have. lol.
I'm not upgrading this thing until the notch goes away or this thing dies. I hope you're right about an upcoming redesign. Until then, I'll trundle along with M1. It still runs MS Office and a handful of browser tabs just fine, for now. ...Show more →
I agree that my M1 is still a great machine, it is when running denoise, and some other stuff it is starting to show its age, but I also wanted to get the 16" MBP this time. I don't take my laptop on trips and do processing work nearly as much as expected, thus mostly using it around the house. I want to start doing more video editing so having a bit of extra scren space wouldn't hurt (even is I have a big external screen in the home office).
But with OLED and a new gen hardware design around "the corner", I'm hoping to hold out (and that Apple moves this up as early in 2026 as possible).
p.1 #16 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
Still using a MBP M1 Max, and with Sony A1 files LR Denoise is very slow, ie ~30sec per. By far my main interest is processing speed. Have no issue with the LED screen, colors etc as it's usually in clamshell mode connected to a Studio Display. The rumored M6 OLED screen isn't a compelling factor for me. Slightly more important might be the improved battery consumption with the newer 2nm construction. IMO, it's way too early on the rumor circuit and we won't know actual performance until it exists. One other concern is Adobe and their ability/desire to fully support the improved M5 architecture with neural accelerators in each GPU core. At present LR does not take advantage of the neural engine because of a stated color issue. For me, I'll be intently watching for the M5 Max debut and the first reviews of performance with fingers crossed that Adobe comes thru with support for it's capabilities.
p.1 #17 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
I wonder, if Apple really had invested/bought a photo processing software to compete with Lightroom, including culling and cataloging, etc, if a good portion of us wouldn't be there right now? If Apple has proven anything with the iPhone is that hardware and software joint optimization trumps better hardware or better software as stand-alone products, in terms of experience and fluency.
Then again, is Final Cut Pro really the best video editing software out there? (I'm my own devil's advocate...)
p.1 #18 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
Fascinating question and I'm still editing on a 16gb, 1TB SSD M1 14" MBP. It is still more than adequate for the tasks I throw at it for non-batch image editing and basic video. Looking at the specs for the M5, there are certainly significant gains, though IMHO unless one was using there M1 as a primary editor, there is no compelling reason to upgrade.
p.1 #19 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
patotts wrote:
I wonder, if Apple really had invested/bought a photo processing software to compete with Lightroom, including culling and cataloging, etc, if a good portion of us wouldn't be there right now? If Apple has proven anything with the iPhone is that hardware and software joint optimization trumps better hardware or better software as stand-alone products, in terms of experience and fluency.
Then again, is Final Cut Pro really the best video editing software out there? (I'm my own devil's advocate...)
Are you familiar with the story of the old “Aperture” program? Apple developed it about the time that Adobe introduced Lightroom, and many people feel that Adobe rushed out Lightroom initially because they were concerned about the potention of the Apple alternative.
Apple has long used (sometimes quite successfully, and sometimes less so) software to induce users to switch to their system. In the music/audio world their Logic Pro application, which they initially bought from someone else, really caught on and became a front-line contender. Final Cut Pro accomplished something similar with video. There was a great relational database program that was spun off to Claris, too — “Filemaker.” And these days a lot of us Apple users no longer bother with the Microsoft Word/Excel/Powerpoint/etc. tools.
Of course, the ver tight integration between some of these tools and the Apple hardware has been, in part, related to their legal problems in the EU and potentially elsewhere. It is a tricky balancing act.
p.1 #20 · Anyone else skipping M5 chip and holding out for next gen OLED display + M6?
Nope I am not waiting. Need to up-grade is need-it, wait and wait finally your machine is totally dead and now you need that's the problem. There's always going to be better now do you reslly need? As I say replace and up-grade when need not because just came out.
I for one replacing my PC by a Apple studio 1 TB plus a NAS with 4 x 4 Tb since been using Apple iPad pro out on assignment.
) program. Upgrading within the past 2 gens or so usually nets you pretty attractive trade-in bonuses, often making the decision easier. 
!