Best Mac Book Pro GPU

You don't want to buy an Intel MacBook Pro. Apple is switching from Intel to Apple Silicon processors. Wait until the next generation is out this fall, otherwise you'll be wasting your money.

Both of those options are more than what you need for editing still images with Photoshop. The higher end GPU options on Macs are mostly for the much higher demands of 4K+ video editing, 3D, that kind of thing. If you are not doing that kind of work, the primary advantage of more GPU power and VRAM is for the Mac to drive more high resolution displays at the same time.

For Photoshop, longevity and not slowing down are more about a powerful multi-core CPU; and, if you edit large images (roughly speaking, over 20 megapixels), what’s important is having enough RAM (16–32GB is OK in most cases), and enough free space on storage designated as Photoshop scratch drives.

If you plan to use the MacBook Pro alone, not carrying external storage with you, then buy enough internal storage that there is always roughly a couple hundred gigabytes (GB) free or more. Not just for Photoshop scratch files for large documents, but for the many large temporary files constantly created by macOS and other applications during normal operation. The best way to slow down an SSD is to fill it up with no free space left.

One last thing: If you are making those GPU choices because you are looking at a 16-inch MacBook Pro, be aware that is based on the Intel processor that Apple is transitioning away from over the next 18 months. Based on the surprisingly good performance of the new low-end Macs based on M1 Apple Silicon, when Apple comes out with Apple Silicon processors for the midrange (4-port 13" MacBook Pro) and high end (16" MacBook Pro), a new Apple Silicon-based 16" will probably have significantly higher performance and longer battery life at about the same price — and that will make all Intel-based 16" MacBook Pros instantly less future-proof.