The announcement of the Apple M2 chip at WWDC 2022 means potential MacBook consumers have a tough decision to make. The question of whether you should buy an M1, M1 Pro, or M1 Max MacBook now or wait for the M2 really depends on what you’re looking for and what you’re willing to spend. Fortunately, it’s a relatively easy question to answer for now.
Should I buy an M1 MacBook Pro or wait for M2 models?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwmS1gc9S5A
If you want to buy a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, you can either purchase an M1 model now or wait until the new M2 ones come out next month.
For the base 13-inch models, this is an easy decision. Wait for the M2 MacBooks. They’ll retail for around the same price that the M1 models currently do, so it’d be a waste of money to buy the older design.
If you can get an M1 MacBook Air or Pro cheaply, they’re still capable machines. Unfortunately, MacBooks hold their price well, so even with the M2 models coming out, you likely won’t see any steep discounts on the M1s.
Should I get an M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook or wait for the M2?
Here’s where things get a bit confusing. The M2 processor is only roughly 20% more powerful than the M1. So, despite being newer, it will not outperform the M1 Pro or M1 Max. Additionally, the M2 will only be offered in the 13″ MacBooks (for now), so you’d have to go with an M1 Pro or M1 Max model if you want a larger screen.
Apple hasn’t announced that an M2 Pro or M2 Max is coming. However, since there was around a year between the M1 and M1 Pro/Max chips coming out, we’d guess we won’t see updated versions of those processors until mid-2023. So, if you want something more powerful with a bigger screen, you won’t have to have buyer remorse if you buy an M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook.
