(to be specific: M1 Max has HDMI 2.1 (including things like HDMI Org VRR afaik) but it's limited to 4K60. M2 gets 4K120 and some other features. As always, examine each device for the feature support you care about, because HDMI 2.1 completely supplants the HDMI 2.0 standard and no HDMI 2.0 certs are being issued anymore, so, "HDMI 2.1" devices can range between 4K120/8K support with 10-bit deep color, and 4K60 support with 8 bit support and no VRR or any other features. Each individual feature is treated separately, a HDMI 2.1 receiver could support 4K120 but not 4K, and so on.)
And of course, this might not be the best time to be spending even $3k. But it doesn't have to be $5K for a fully loaded M2 or $4k for a decently loaded one. $3k gets you a lot of laptop too, just not the M2 right now.
Refurb is another option... you can do a 64GB/1TB with the M1 Max 24c GPU (vs 32c) for $2550 via refurb store if you can get the edu or mil/veteran discount. Personally for another $500 I think the 4TB and the nicer GPU would be worth it but again, it edges the cost down quite a bit.
Woot also has been carrying "manufacturer-refurbished" M1 Pro/Max for pretty good deals recently. IIRC the 16GB/512GB is $1550, and you can get 32GB/1TB for around $2100. And because it's manufacturer-recertified (Apple) it's eligible for applecare.
Good to know about the sales, though being in Canada might hamper me there. The refurb and edu discounts are pretty decent though, and I'd probably consider those if I really start pursuing an upgrade.
HDMI has always been a bit irrelevant for me, aside from using it with work-issued displays. I've always used displayport over thunderbolt, and don't know that HDMI offers any advantages. I'd prefer almost any other port over HDMI.
My issue is more that every time I spec out a new MBP, it genuinely feels like I'm being grifted, and it really turns me off more than in the previous 10+ years I've been buying macs. $200 for a ram upgrade was already too high, and hurt the wallet then, but $500 - $1500 CAD for ram upgrades (inflated by the apparent, probably artificial, requirement to choose CPU upgrades that I'd never have in the past and wouldn't likely get any value from.
If I choose the minimum CPU that allows 64gb, I then need to spend an addition $750 to add 8 gpu cores and go up to 96gb (not that I'd necessarily go that high or feel like I'd need to, but it's not like I can upgrade, and just stands to illustrate the point). $750 is my damn rent payment.
So before even going past 512gb ssd or including Applecare or taxes, the computer sits at $5100 CAD, if I were to max out the ram, on the 14" new.
And of course, this might not be the best time to be spending even $3k. But it doesn't have to be $5K for a fully loaded M2 or $4k for a decently loaded one. $3k gets you a lot of laptop too, just not the M2 right now.
Refurb is another option... you can do a 64GB/1TB with the M1 Max 24c GPU (vs 32c) for $2550 via refurb store if you can get the edu or mil/veteran discount. Personally for another $500 I think the 4TB and the nicer GPU would be worth it but again, it edges the cost down quite a bit.
Woot also has been carrying "manufacturer-refurbished" M1 Pro/Max for pretty good deals recently. IIRC the 16GB/512GB is $1550, and you can get 32GB/1TB for around $2100. And because it's manufacturer-recertified (Apple) it's eligible for applecare.