Just caught up on this thread. Basically, everyone is right here—you dont need to wait for the M5 for drone footage. The jump from your 2017 Intel to any Apple Silicon chip is going to be the real win, regardless of which M-series you pick. If you want my two cents as a long-time user: longevity comes from memory, not just the latest chip version. Instead of pre-ordering a base M5, I think you should grab a high-spec M3 Pro. Quick tips for the DIY-minded:

• Prioritize at least 36GB of RAM. It handles high-bitrate 4K way better than the base 18GB as your projects get more complex over the years.
• Keep your internal SSD clean for apps and use a Samsung T9 Portable SSD 2TB for your raw drone clips to save on wear and tear. Honestly, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 Pro 12-core CPU 36GB RAM 1TB SSD is probably your best bang-for-buck right now without overpaying for the M5 hype. It will easily last you that 6-year window.

tbh if you are jumping from a 2017 intel machine, basically anything modern is gonna feel like a rocket ship. since you have that 3k budget, you have two real paths imo. first is staying in the ecosystem with an Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Max 14-core CPU 36GB RAM. i know you are looking at the m5, but the m3 max is already absolute overkill for 4k drone footage and family stuff. it will easily last you 6 years because of that unified memory architecture. plus that liquid retina xdr screen is the best in the game for color grading. the other path is the windows route if you want more versatility. the Razer Blade 14 2024 AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS RTX 4070 is a beast.

• pros: much better if you ever want to game, and you can actually swap the ssd later.
• cons: it gets way hotter and the battery life wont touch the macbooks. honestly for video work i still lean apple because the fans barely spin up while rendering, but the m5 might be paying a premium for power you wont even use... i would grab a speced out m3 max and call it a day.

Saw this earlier but just now responding. I have been pretty disappointed with the recent pre-order cycles for these laptops. Unfortunately, the performance gains between generations are getting smaller, and I had issues with thermal throttling on my last 14-inch unit during long 4K drone exports. It basically wasnt as good as expected for sustained workloads. Methodically, you should prioritize RAM over the chip generation if you want this to last six years. I have found that 16GB or 18GB is just not enough for 4K timelines anymore. My machine really struggled once I added color grading and effects... it just doesnt hold up when the files get heavy. TL;DR: Skip the M5 pre-order. The M3 Pro with a memory upgrade is a much more stable choice for the long haul. I suggest looking at the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro 12-core CPU 36GB RAM 1TB SSD instead of the base M5. It provides a better balance for your specific budget without the early-adopter headaches.

Hey! I totally get the itch for that M5 chip, especially coming from a 2017 MBP. Rendering times are the worst! Instead of jumping straight to the new hotness, have you considered a *lightly* used M1 Pro 14" or even an M2?

I grabbed an M1 Pro 14" last year for around $1800 on Swappa (mint condition!) and it absolutely *flies* through 4K drone footage. Seriously, a night and day difference compared to my older Intel machine. For hobbyist use, I honestly think the M1 Pro offers insane bang for your buck, and you'd have plenty of budget left over for extras like more storage or even a sweet monitor setup.

Plus, think about it – if you snag an M1/M2 Pro now, you're still getting a machine that should easily last you 4-5 years. Then, in 2-3 years when the M7 or M8 is out, you can upgrade again without feeling like you absolutely HAD to squeeze every last drop out of that super expensive M5. Just my two cents! Happy to chat more if you have specific questions.

Hey there! I totally understand the lure of the M5, especially with that aging 2017 Pro. Everyone's focusing on the raw power, but let's talk about bottlenecks. Before dropping that kind of cash, have you considered *why* your rendering times are slow? Is it *just* the CPU?

I ask because I went through something similar a couple years back. I was convinced my 2019 iMac was the problem, so I upgraded to a beastly Ryzen-based machine thinking it'd solve everything. Unfortunately, I saw only a marginal improvement in video editing. Turns out, my limiting factor wasn't the CPU, but the *drive speeds*. I was still using a standard SATA SSD for my project files. Ouch!

Before pre-ordering, I'd suggest running a few tests. Monitor your CPU and GPU usage *while* you're editing. See if they're pegged at 100%. If not, your storage is likely the culprit. A fast NVMe drive (like a Samsung 990 Pro, 2TB runs about $150-$200 these days) could make a HUGE difference. Also, RAM matters, especially for 4K. Make sure you have at least 32GB, and even 64GB wouldn't hurt.

Another thing to think about is software. Are you using the latest version of your editing software? Sometimes, older versions aren't optimized for newer hardware. I had issues with DaVinci Resolve 16 on my older machine – upgrading to 17 dramatically improved performance, even *before* I upgraded my hardware.

For your budget, you could potentially get a slightly older, but still very powerful, M3 Pro 16-inch model with a 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM. That'd probably still be a massive leap over your 2017 machine and leave you some cash in your pocket. Test your current machine's bottlenecks first. It might save you a lot of money!

Let me know if you want any specific benchmarks to run or have questions about drive speeds. Happy to help!

Hey! I feel you on the price tag hesitation. Everyone's hyping the M5, but for a hobbyist, it's worth crunching the numbers a bit differently, right?

Instead of pre-ordering, have you considered a *certified* refurbished M2 14-inch? You can often snag one for around $1800-$2200. It's still a massive jump from your 2017 and will handle 4K drone footage no problem. You'll save a ton of cash. Alternatively, maybe look at a higher-spec M1 model? I know someone who grabbed one for $1500 a few months back, and they are doing great! It depends on your needs.

Think of it like tires. My tires are at 3/32" and need replacement soon. Do I buy the most expensive performance tires? Nope! I'm looking at something reliable and good value for daily driving. It works for me!

Maybe test out an M2 in a store and see if it feels 'enough' before committing to the M5. Happy to chat more if you have specific questions!

Hey! I get wanting that M5, it's amazing! But before you drop all that cash... have you thought about POWER outages?! Seriously! I'm thinking about winter safety, and editing during a blackout is a NO-GO! Maybe get a battery backup first? Like an APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA. It's about $200, and gives you time to save your work. Then, see how your current MBP does on battery! I’m doing that now! It will give you more perspective on what you really need! Stay safe!