iMac or Macbook Pro

The current iMac & MacbookPro models are nearly identical in computing power. You can see this in their detailed specs. The big differences are screen size, portability & price.

Among the mid-range models in each line,

• A 24" M3 iMac with 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD is currently $2099
• A 14" M3 MBP with 16GB RAM & 1TB SSD is currently $1999
• A 16" M3Pro MBP with 18GB RAM & 1TB SSD is currently $2699

Between the mid-range models in both there are only minor differences - the iMac has WiFI + wired ethernet; the MBP has only WiFi but adds an HDMI port and +2 GPU cores (trivial edge in display support). With the MBP you can add a wired ethernet dongle if necessary.

You can do side-by-side comparisons of many different models at -> Mac - Compare Models - Apple

An iMac in addition to your existing book would be a better decision IMO. No laptop can compare with a desktop for power - all are limited by heat & battery and their management which is considerable. An iMac is also cheaper, has a better display and overall superior for serious, sit-down work.

MartinR wrote:

• The current iMac & MacbookPro models are nearly identical in computing power. You can see this in their detailed specs. The big differences are screen size, portability & price.

The current iMac is nearly identical in computing power to a low-end 14" MacBook Pro using the base M3 chip.

It is not "nearly identical in computing power" to a 14" or 16" MacBook Pro using a M3 Pro or M3 Max chip – if your applications can make good use of the extra hardware resources (e.g., CPU and GPU cores; higher RAM capacities) associated with the Pro and Max chips.

Note that 14" MBPs using the base M3 chip

• Have only two USB-C / Thunderbolt ports, compared to three on models with Pro and Max chips
• Can drive only one external display with the lid open, compared to two on models with Pro chips, and more on models with Max chips
• Can currently only drive one external display even when the lid is closed

You might consider a MacMini or Mac Studio if you really need power.

Be sure to get Extended AppleCare if going for the iMac...

Persistent horizontal lines appear on iMa… - Apple Community

Servant of Cats wrote:

It is not "nearly identical in computing power" to a 14" or 16" MacBook Pro using a M3 Pro or M3 Max chip – if your applications can make good use of the extra hardware resources (e.g., CPU and GPU cores; higher RAM capacities) associated with the Pro and Max chips.

The OP said his decision was between an iMac & a MacBook Pro, not between different MBPs.

The current iMacs are all M3's so the only fair comparison for the OP is between the M3 iMac & the M3 MBP; they have virtually identical specs. That was the point of my post.

Agreed, the MBPs with the M3Pro & M3Max are technically more powerful - but that's comparing MBP models.

Your Air could be worth up to $525 towards a new Mac Apple Trade In - Apple - be sure to figure that in your decision making.

If you need more screen real estate then the iMac is the choice. Regarding power here's a screenshot of a comparison of the two: