So looking at 2 different options of macbooks, but I don't know all that much about the differences in them.

Wondering if you had a choice between: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-macbook-pro-13-display-with-touch-bar-intel-core-i5-16gb-memory-512gb-ssd-space-gray/6287726.p?skuId=6287726&ref=212&loc=1&extStoreId=886&ref=212&loc=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1YyO4--u9AIVfMmUCR07zQdpEAQYAyABEgI4EvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

and: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/macbook-pro-13-3-laptop-apple-m1-chip-8gb-memory-256gb-ssd-latest-model-space-gray/6418601.p?skuId=6418601

Use is for work: web browsing, email, office use, minor video editing and showing videos and such during group meetings, things like that

Hey Doom,

So the second MacBook you provided comes with the new m1 chips which are really powerful, your comparing an m1 with an i5 and the m1 blows it away.

However the m1 mac you linked only comes with 8gb of ram and 256 ssd compared to the i5 that comes with 16gb and 512.

So it ultimately comes done to your use case. What kind of work you’ll be doing, do you need the 16gb of ram doing work stuff? Probably not unless you’re doing strong program builds.

Do you need the 512gb of ssd? It’s nice but if all your work is hosted off the cloud like Google docs and Google PowerPoint than maybe it’s not needed, we’re doing away with locally saved files so 256 should be enough for just work stuff.

-Krawk

gotcha. So primary use is for work which I work as a youth pastor. Essentially I will be using the laptop for:
- daily work - emails, google docs, editing pictures (for flyers and things like that)
- minor video editing - throwing together pictures into a video with some music, stuff like that
- projecting onto a screen during weekly group meetings - in my past experience this was where I ran into trouble with my old macbook. When trying to show some more intensive powerpoints onto a bigger TV it would freeze. Think, running a working family feud presentation (shows all the boxes, you click one and it flips it over showing the answer, etc).
- projecting high res (1080 probably, not 4k at least for now, but may go to 4k in the future) videos onto a big tv/screen
- video conferencing via zoom/teams/etc

With that in mind, any recommendations?

Hi there Doom,

Based the information you provided, and out of the two laptops you provided, the m1 would be the best bet for you.

M1 is incredibly fast and powerful, you shouldn't have problems with image/video dense presentations.

Of course, if you could, your best bet is m1 + 16gb of ram but the m1 + 8gb will be more than enough.

Also, here's a video of some tests ran on the m1 incase you are still uncertain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVtQfsXLnSA

Hope this helps!

-Krawk

perfect, thank you so much for the help!