Which Apple Mac is best for video production?

What are the best Macs for video creators?

Mac Is it suitableVideo CreatorWhich Apple computers are suitable for video production? Apple has refocused onVideo Editing, 3D artists and animators.

Not surprisingly Apple abandoned creators for about a decade, and when it comes to marketing they just slap the word "Pro" on everything expecting users to pay a premium for the "upgraded" features.

Until 2020, almost every creative thought Apple was dead. In addition to their mobile devices, motion designers and 3D artists turned to PCs to get GPU Rendering speed, video editors have long given up
Final Cut Pro alternatives, while creative studios generally stick with their old iMac, rather than upgrading to a newer machine that isn't worth the upgrade.

I even boosted my old iMac by using an external SSD as my boot drive instead of buying a new unit that wasn't worth the upgrade price.

Everything changed when Apple revealed they had been working on their chips, and the launch of the M1 chip changed everything about their computer business. There hasn’t been this much genuine excitement about a new Mac product in a long time.

From 2019 Mac Pro The return of MacBook Pro and iMac, and now the new 2022 Mac Studio, creators finally have a few options for getting a new powerful computer.

So, which one should you choose? Let’s take a look at the best options.

Mac Pro

Mac Pro. Image viaapple.
There was a moment.Mac ProIt's the new flagship Mac. The biggest draw is the swappable components. This is the most "PC"-like Mac you can open up and swap or add components. We even wonder if it will be the new dream machine for creators.

If I had the cash, I still wouldn't get a Mac Pro today. I'd hold off and see what happens when the M1 Mac Pro is released, probably in the near future. The downside is the incredibly high price point, which is now outsold by the smaller, more affordable M1 Macs.

It's the most configurable and upgradeable Mac ever, with 8-core to 28-core processor options, up to 1.5TB of memory, and multiple AMD Radeon GPU options.

Mac Pro Tower starting priceUSD 4,999, rackmount version starting atUSD 6,499Maxing it out with all the upgrades will get you over $50,000. Plus, you still need a monitor.

The Mac Pro is a competent machine, but you’d be better off holding out for a little longer or opting for a newer M1 Mac.

In terms of connectivity, Mac Pro features:

• Up to twelve 4K displays, six 5K displays, or six Pro Display XDR
• Up to twelve Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Port
• Two USB 3 ports
• Dual 10Gb Ethernet
• 3.5 mm audio jack

Mac Studio

Mac Studio. Image fromapple.
Mac StudioThe latest desktop computer is essentially a Mac Mini on steroids. It not only includes the M1 chip, but also has multiple options for the M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips.

For creators who need a powerful Mac that can connect to their current displays and accessories, the new Mac Studio is hard to beat. However, if you want to add the latest Mac Studio Display, you'll have to pay an extra $1,500.

As of now, this is my personal choice for the best Mac desktop. I already have a studio monitor display for my PC and can easily set it up to switch between the Mac and PC on one large display.

Mac Studio starting price$1,999, which in some cases can already beat the Mac Pro in speed. You can get up to a 20-core CPU and a 64-core GPU. Storage capacity tops out at an 8TB SSD.

This machine also has a lot of ports:

• Up to four Pro Display XDRs and one 4K monitor
• Four to six Thunderbolt 4 ports
• Two USB-A ports
• Two USB-C ports (M1 Max version only)
• HDMI
• SDXC card slot
• 3.5 mm audio jack

iMac

M1 iMac. Image fromapple.

An all-in-one computer built for creators. The M1 iMac features a 24-inch display and a slim design. This model is also available in seven different color finishes.

The 24-inch iMac is equipped with an M1 chip, 16GB of memory, and up to 2TB of storage. If you don’t have the budget to upgrade to high-end peripherals such as studio-quality monitors, then the iMac is undoubtedly one of the best choices for you as a creator.

It's still a relatively mobile machine if you need to take it on location, but it's best suited for a desktop studio space. The LED screen is a 4.5K Retina display with 500 nits of brightness. There's a built-in 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a three-microphone array, a six-speaker system, and support for spatial audio.

In terms of connectivity:

• Two Thunderbolt (USB 4) ports
• Two USB 3 ports
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 3.5 mm audio jack

24-inch M1 iMac starting price$1,299This was my original desktop of choice before Mac Studio was released.

MacBook Pro

2021 M1 MacBook Pro. Image viaapple.

The "Pro" is finally back, and deservedly so. Gone are the gimmicky Touch Bar and the crappy keyboard, and here comes the speed and power ready for creators to tackle any project on the go.

Additionally, the sexy space grey color scheme is back.2021 M1 MacBook ProAvailable in 14-inch or 16-inch displays.

The MacBook Pro includes an M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, a 10-core CPU, a 32-core GPU, and up to 8TB of storage. Apple claims up to 21 hours of battery life on a full charge.

The Liquid Retina XDR screen is available in two sizes and has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The built-in FaceTime camera delivers 1080p HD images and is equipped with a three-microphone array. There's also a much-needed audio jack on the laptop for professional audio monitoring.

Ports included:

• Up to three Pro Display XDRs and one 4K display
• Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports
• HDMI port
• SDXC card slot
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• MagSafe 3 Charger

The starting prices for the M1 MacBook Pro are$1,999 (14-inch)and$2,499 (16-inch), is still one of the absolute best laptops on the market and should last for several years of heavy rendering.

For creators who are constantly on the go, you really can't beat this machine. It's still one of the absolute best computers Apple makes.

What about the rest?

The Mac range far outclasses other options, such as the MacBook Air, and it does pair well if you're pairing one of those other machines with your heavy-duty computer. You might consider an older model iMac, MacBook, or Mac Mini to save money, but you're sacrificing much-needed power.

To meet the needs of today's creators running multiple Adobe CC applications simultaneously,DaVinci Resolve,FCP, Cinema 4D, Blender, or countless other creative applications, older machines will struggle to keep up with the rendering demands of modern projects.