MacBook Pro and Mac Studio.

I keep the MacBook Pro and Mac Studio in the same long-term pick because they solve two sides of one problem. The laptop can travel, while the desktop stays connected to displays, storage, networking, and the rest of the desk.

Leaving the desk does not require dismantling the setup. I use the MacBook Pro when the work needs to move, then leave longer-running jobs and tasks that benefit from more ports or quieter operation to the Mac Studio. Files, shortcuts, and development tools still live inside the same macOS habits.

The cost is easy to see. Two computers are expensive, and their configuration and data need to remain consistent. For many workloads, one MacBook Pro and a dock are enough. The Mac Studio starts making sense when both mobile work and a permanent workstation are regular parts of the week.

I care more about keeping the working environment stable than chasing every small generational performance gain. Buy enough memory and connectivity for some headroom, use external storage where it makes sense, and avoid paying for a short-lived peak requirement.