Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max
Specifications
Primary Camera: 2 MPix
Price comparison
Average of 30 scores (from 50 reviews)
Reviews for the Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max
The MacBook Pro 16 gets a massive performance boost thanks to the new M3 Max SoC and besides a more powerful GPU, the CPU offers the biggest gains. The SDR brightness of the 16-inch Mini-LED screen was increased as well. We review the high-end MacBook in the new Space Black color.
Source: Creative Bloq
The Macbook Pro M3 Max takes a significant step up over its older siblings, with a large leap in performance and a beautiful display in a sleek package. With up to 128GB RAM, 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, there is an option for even the most performance-hungry user. No matter if you spend most of your time writing, working with still images, or rendering an 8K animation sequence, the MacBook Pro M3 Max could well be the best portable computer for you.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/17/2024
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Techradar
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3) is the latest and greatest version of Apple’s powerful prosumer laptop. With a choice of the new M3 Pro or M3 Max chips, and support for up to 128GB unified memory, this is an incredibly powerful laptop that’s ideal for heavy workloads, especially graphically intensive ones. With a boosted GPU coupled with macOS Sonoma’s Game Mode, this is also the first MacBook we’d recommend as a gaming device. At this price it won’t be for everyone, but it’s an incredible bit of tech.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/05/2024
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 60% performance: 100% mobility: 100% workmanship: 100%
Source: Laptop Media
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Pro) can be described as a great choice for people who need a powerful machine for photo and video editing. This is possible due to the high and stable CPU clocks during full loads. Interestingly, in this scenario, the fans remain nearly quiet. They can become a bit more audible if the chip temperature hits 100°C which seems possible when the CPU and the GPU are heavily stressed at the same time. It clearly visible that this laptop is tuned for maximum performance and comfort. That comes at a price of higher CPU temps under longer loads. However, the keyboard only gets warm but not hot which is good news. The build quality is outstanding!
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/10/2024
Source: Geek Culture
The M3 Max MacBook 16 packs everything that Apple has to offer in a package that, aside from gaming, pretty much outperforms the competition in aesthetics and performance. It might come at a premium, but offers greater peace of mind and capabilities that lasts longer.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/02/2024
Rating: Total score: 89% price: 85% performance: 90% workmanship: 90%
Source: Lowyat.net
Don’t get me wrong: the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max exudes everything you want and need in a productivity machine, and then some. And I mean everything. From the machine’s overall aesthetics, design, and chassis, right down to how snappy it is, and the quality-of-life functionalities, this portable powerhouse is the wet dream for the professional, the grizzled videographer, the productivity-driven editor who is enamoured with the MacOS ecosystem. But the problem, my problem at least, is that I am a die-hard PC gamer, which means that even when I’m travelling, there’s currently just no substitute for a Windows-based laptop with a discrete GPU dedicated for that express purpose. And yes, I am well and fully aware that gaming handhelds exist but again, mouse-and-keyboard gamer here.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/20/2024
Source: Patrick Rambles
I've been using a fully specked out M3 Max MacBook Pro for the past couple of months and it is definitely a great machine. But is shelling out the big bucks and maxing out the M3 Max MacBook Pro worth it?
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/11/2024
Source: Trusted Reviews
The Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max is a laptop that isn’t made for the mainstream. Despite its signature Apple looks, you should only consider picking this up if you have intensive graphical workloads. Think detailed enviroment and model creation, professional moviemaking and the like. It’s also made for those types who are on the go too, as devices like the Mac Studio would serve them well, but this device offers more portability – and, currently, the latest M3 series chip. We’re yet to review the more reigned in M3 and M3 Pro models of the latest MacBook Pro, so do keep an eye out for those. But, for now, for most productivity users and even entry-level creatives, the MacBook Air M2 (available in both 13 and 15-inch sizes) remains an excellent option and is the cheapest way into the latest editions of MacBooks right now.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/08/2024
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Hardware Zone
Ultimately, there’s no question that the M3 Max offers a considerable step up in performance over the M2 Max. Anyone still using an Intel Mac should upgrade with no hesitation, but if you already have a high-end Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, then you should ask yourself if you can fully maximise the performance potential of the M3 Max or whether the extra performance of Apple’s newest chips can make a significant enough difference to your workflow.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/07/2024
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% mobility: 90% workmanship: 85%
Source: Creative Bloq
The Macbook Pro M3 takes a significant step up over its older siblings, with a large leap in performance, and a beautiful display in a sleek package. With up to 128GB RAM, 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, there is an option for even the most performance-hungry user. No matter if you spend most of your time writing, working with still images, or rendering an 8K animation sequence, the MacBook Pro M3, and in particular the M3 Max, could well be the best portable computer for you.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/05/2024
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Gadgets Now
In terms of functionality, the MacBook Pro excels on all fronts. It delivers exceptional performance, a vibrant display, unprecedented battery life, and top-notch speakers collectively make a device that transcends most users’ needs. Whether you're a hardcore gamer, a productivity enthusiast, or someone who simply appreciates the finer things in life, the MacBook Pro caters to your every need. The MacBook Pro starts at Rs 1,69,900. Apple has actually lowered the entry cost of the MacBook Pro by Rs 25,000. Apple offers many customisation options to buyers and the cost of MacBook Pro goes up exponentially depending on the configuration. The M3 Max MacBook Pro that we reviewed costs Rs 3,99,900.That’s a lot of money but the MacBook Pro is more like a five-year investment. It effectively eliminates the need for another laptop during that span.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 12/25/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Trusted Reviews
This high-end Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max isn’t for everyone – in fact, it’s for a very specific type of person who needs as much power as possible in a portable form factor. You’ll also need deep pockets. For the right person though, this is a near-perfect laptop. For the more casual user, the MacBook Air M2 (available in both 13 and 15-inch sizes) or one of the cheaper MacBook Pro models make far more sense. You don’t need to splurge on the best M-series chip when they are all fantastic performers. However, with performance often 60% better than similarly creative-focussed laptops, fantastic battery life and a screen that continues to impress even with minimal upgrades, this is the best high-end laptop I have ever seen.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/14/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: The Indian Express
If you are a prosumer these days, the biggest reason to upgrade to a new machine has to be to save time and thus money while still running high-end workloads. Faster performance is a prerequisite as just getting a fancy pro-grade computer, especially if you are eyeing a desktop-grade laptop, isn’t enough. The story has definitely moved beyond the specs. The new way to look at computers is whether they can handle high-end creative apps and AI workloads. That’s why I want to bring attention to the new 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max. This is a desktop-class laptop that is not only portable and reliable but also capable of handling real-world AI-powered workloads.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/05/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Make Use Of
Apple updated its more powerful MacBook Pros to end 2023 with two new processor choices, a slightly brighter display, and a Space Black color option. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a powerhouse that includes arguably the best display on a laptop, powerful performance with the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, substantial battery life, and plenty of ports for you to use. It's an outstanding laptop for any professional.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/04/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Hardware Zone
This is a curious year because Apple updated its 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros not once, but twice. It was updated in January this year with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, and now, barely 10 months later, Apple has gone and updated them again with its newest M3 family of chips. Should readers who bought a MacBook Pro earlier this year feel bad? Probably not.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/02/2023
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% mobility: 90% workmanship: 85%
Source: USA Today
Apple doesn’t fix what isn’t broken. It’s had its MacBook design down pat for the last decade, only making improvements when it was necessary or made sense. (We won’t talk about it’s the butterfly keyboard switches or now-defunct divisive Touch Bar.) At a glance, its design hasn’t changed much, aside from its chassis shrinking to Rick Moranis-movie proportions. The MacBook’s design has never been a personal favorite of mine, but it’s easy to see how it could be someone’s; they are almost timeless. With that in mind, graphic artists, film editors, photographers, or anyone who likes Apple’s consistent MacBook design probably won’t find the lack of big changes to the M3 lineup earth-shattering, but the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max’s GPU performance should rock their world. Compared to a discrete Nvidia or AMD mobile graphics card, its performance surpasses or is at least on par with rendering path-traced, 3D images, thanks to its hardware-accelerated iGPU.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/01/2023
Source: India Today
But let's move beyond feelings. The reality is that with MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max, Apple has created a laptop that is arguably the best laptop for work. And the fact that it is also good enough for AAA gaming is a cherry on top.The Pro 16 is a serious serious machine with more power under its hood than what you would get from two thoroughbreds. Or from most of the high-end desktop computers. And while it is expensive, if you are someone who is making a lot of money from your work - you are a top filmmaker, top video editor, top IT professional, top designer, top architect and so on and so forth - you deserve a laptop that will keep pace with you and work. The MacBook Pro 16, particularly with M3 Max, will do that. You will spend a lot of money to buy it. But I can guarantee it will make you happy every time you use it.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/28/2023
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: ben's gadget reviews
The M3 Max MacBook Pro is now an all-in-one entertainment and productivity machine thanks to improved gaming capabilities and extremely good performance and battery life.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/19/2023
Source: Hardware Zone
This is a curious year because Apple updated its 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros not once, but twice. It was updated in January this year with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, and now, barely 10 months later, Apple has gone and updated them again with its newest M3 family of chips. Should readers who bought a MacBook Pro earlier this year feel bad? Probably not. Let me tell you why.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/16/2023
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% mobility: 90% workmanship: 85%
Source: Tech Advisor
Three generations into the M-series chips, and the MacBook Pro continues its winning ways. This is a laptop that gets it all right, from the design, ports, and display to the power of the chip inside and the battery life. There’s something very satisfying when using a great tool, and that’s the feeling you get when using a MacBook Pro. That being said, if you invested in an M2 Max MacBook Pro, there’s no need to upgrade – you’ve already got a great laptop. The speed difference isn’t enough to make a big change in your productivity, and nothing else about the laptop has changed, except for the SDR brightness and the Space Black option. If you have an M1 Pro or Max MacBook Pro, the consideration requires more thought. The speed difference is much more noticeable and can be appreciated. To help offset the cost, see what you can get in the Apple Trade-In program. If you’re still trucking along with an Intel-based MacBook Pro, now is the time to upgrade.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/15/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Mobile Tech Review
Apple’s 2023 M3 MacBook Pro models come in a somewhat confusing array of configs and the usual 2 sizes. We look at the middle configurations that many folks are actually considering rather than the highest and lowest end models available. In this review we cover the 14” MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro (12 core CPU / 18 core GPU) and the 16” MacBook Pro with an M3 Max (14 core CPU / 30 core GPU). These are retail configurations rather than BTO and can be found in stores for $2,399 and $3,499 respectively.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/14/2023
Source: The Verge
Otherwise, this laptop is for a specific type of person: the kind of pro with workloads who can save a lot of time overall by shaving off a few minutes here and there. For those folks, the price is less of an issue because this is probably a business expense that can be written off. For the rest of us, it’s a chance to look vicariously at the progress Apple Silicon has made and see how it stacks up against competitors like Intel and AMD. It’s maybe not the most exciting thing, but you can think of it as helping you make smarter choices down the road.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/10/2023
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Marques Brownlee
The new matte black MacBook Pro is more capable than ever, and it's surprisingly good at playing super high quality games that I don't actually care about
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/10/2023
Source: SuperSaf
The 2024 Apple MacBook Pro is powered by the M3, M3 Pro or M3 Max Chips, Comes with either a 14-inch or 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, Silver or Space Black, with up to 128GB Unified Memory, 8TB SDD Storage, SDXC card slot, HDMI 2.1, 96W USB-C Power Adapter and Price is from £1699/$1599.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 11/08/2023
Source: The Tech Chap
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Source: Macworld.co.uk
This is a laptop that gets it all right, from the design, ports, and display to the power of the chip inside and the battery life. There’s something very satisfying when using a great tool, and that’s the feeling you get when using a MacBook Pro.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Rating: Total score: 97%
Source: Petapixel
It might feel like Apple has been producing its own silicon for a long time now, but it’s really only been a few short years. It’s been less than two years since we got the M1 Ultra and with the new M3 Max, we’ve already surpassed its power in a portable form factor. Yeah, that’s a spoiler, but the M3 Max is remarkably impressive and in almost every metric we at PetaPixel test it outperforms the performance of the M1 Ultra inside of the Mac Studio desktop machine. We were all so taken with the M1 Ultra when it first came out but the ensuing chips have not had that same impact since, well, they didn’t improve on that greatness all that much. But put in context, we really do have to give more than a cursory glance to what Apple has accomplished in the past few years in order to really appreciate it, because it is so very impressive. In this review, I evaluated the new 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro with 48GB of memory and 1TB of internal SSD storage.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Source: Engadget
If you want to see how wild Apple’s prices can get, just look at the 16-inch MacBook Pro I received, which clocks in at $7,199 with the full-powered M3 Max (16-core CPU, 40-core GPU) 128GB of RAM and that 8TB SSD. It's not something an average consumer would buy — but it would definitely be useful for Disney to have a pile of them on-hand to help editors and VFX artists pump out the latest Marvel show. Funny enough, my advice today echoes what I said last year: Don't buy the cheapest model. Beyond that, it's hard to go wrong. The M3 chips are incredibly efficient and powerful. And Apple's MacBook Pro design remains as elegant as ever. Just try to save up for at least 16GB of RAM.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 11/06/2023
Source: Matthew Moniz
Review of the MacBook Pro 16 with M3 Max, MacBook Pro 14 with M3 and iMac with M3. The M3 Max sees the biggest jump in performance with some pretty impressive results! Hopefully this helps you pick the right MacBook.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Source: Tom's Guide
The M3 Max-powered MacBook Pro 16-inch sets a new standard for performance. Though its starting price of $3,499 is lofty, there’s arguably no better machine for those who need an ultra-powerful computer for video rendering. It’s also great for gaming. In this review of one of the MacBook Pro M3 family machines, we take a look at its value for power users, plus reveal the benchmarks and battery test results to help you decide if it’s the best laptop for you.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Source: Pocket Lint
The MacBook Pro (M3 Pro/Max, 2023) may not have changed in terms of design, but that's no bad thing. The design is premium, solid, and it delivers an excellent experience overall. The Space Black colour is also lovely, with a serious feel and seemingly less attracted to fingerprints than other MacBook models. There is some impressive power under the hood of the new MacBook Pro too. If you bought the MacBook Pro (M2 Pro/Max, 2023) model earlier this year, you very likely won't need to upgrade, and the same might even be said for the M1 Pro/Max models. But if you're running an older MacBook Pro - especially one not on Apple Silicon - you're in for a treat. The MacBook Pro (M3 Pro/Max, 2023) is by no means cheap. In fact, they are very, very, expensive. But they are also very, very, good.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Source: PC Mag
The last time we tested an Apple MacBook Pro 16, we called it "as close to perfect as any laptop we have reviewed." With so little changed in the design and only more powerful hardware inside, does the new MacBook Pro 16 still warrant a perfect five-star score? Not quite. For starters, the vaunted GPU enhancements don't seem to deliver better gaming performance. Granted, that's in just one test, and the new capabilities may not line up with the demands of it. We'll keep investigating, but we expected a clear win, and it just isn't there. But the real issue here is the price. Where the previous model was $5,299 with maxed-out memory and storage, the new M3 Max version ratchets the price up to $7,199. Does the value of the performance boost match the increase in cost? Make no mistake, the M3 Max MacBook Pro 16 is undeniably the best Mac laptop available and is better equipped than the previous model.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Techradar
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3) is the latest and greatest version of Apple’s powerful prosumer laptop. With a choice of the new M3 Pro or M3 Max chips, and support for up to 128GB unified memory, this is an incredibly powerful laptop that’s ideal for heavy workloads, especially graphically intensive ones. With a boosted GPU coupled with macOS Sonoma’s Game Mode, this is also the first MacBook we’d recommend as a gaming device. At this price it won’t be for everyone, but it’s an incredible bit of tech.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 60% performance: 100% mobility: 100% workmanship: 100%
Source: Tom's Guide
Apple has done it again with the MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max). While it retains the same fetching design and gorgeous mini-LED display as the previous M2 Max model, this premium laptop’s performance is currently second to none. The steep $3,499 starting price stings, but professional creatives and even gamers will get their money’s worth.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/06/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: The Tech Chap
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 11/01/2023
Source: Marques Brownlee
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/31/2023
Source: Matthew Moniz
Hands-On, online available, Short, Date: 10/31/2023
Foreign Reviews
Source: Computerbild DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/10/2023
Rating: Total score: 96%
Source: Xataka ES→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/18/2024
Rating: Total score: 93% performance: 98% display: 95% mobility: 95% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 93%
Source: Smart World IT→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/27/2023
Rating: Total score: 86% price: 65% display: 90% mobility: 80% workmanship: 85% ergonomy: 85%
Source: Smart World IT→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/27/2023
Rating: Total score: 86% price: 65% display: 90% mobility: 80% workmanship: 85% ergonomy: 85%
Source: HDblog.it IT→EN
Positive: Excellent performance; premium design; solid workmanship; nice display. Negative: Plastic keyboard; high price.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/23/2023
Source: Andrea Galeazzi IT→EN
Positive: Excellent display; great speakers; powerful processor; high performance; long battery life.
Comparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/06/2023
Source: Tweakers NL→EN
Positive: Super fast CPU and GPU; beautiful HDR image; excellent battery life. Negative: Overheats while using; poor display.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/08/2023
Source: Frandroid FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/16/2023
Rating: Total score: 90% performance: 90% display: 100% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80%
Source: Clubic FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/23/2023
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 90% display: 90% mobility: 80% workmanship: 90%
Source: Presse Citron FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/19/2023
Rating: Total score: 97% price: 95% performance: 100% display: 95% mobility: 100% workmanship: 95%
Source: DGL.ru RU→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/16/2023
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Laptopmedia CN zh-CN→EN
Positive: Powerful processor; big screen; bright display; excellent overall performance; metal case; long battery life; great speakers; good connectivity; compact size; fast 512GB SSD storage. Negative: Non-expandable RAM; overheats while using; expensive.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 06/10/2024
Comment
Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU: Graphics card designed by Apple in the Apple M2 Max SoC and, according to Apple, with all 40 cores.
With these GPUs you are able to play modern and demanding games fluently at medium detail settings and HD resolution.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Apple M3 Max 16-Core: System on a chip (SoC) from Apple with 16 processor cores (12 performance and 4 power cores), a GPU with up to 40 cores (depending on the model) and a 16-core neural engine. Integrated 48, 64 or 128 GB unified memory for CPU and GPU with a 512 bit connection (max 400 GB/s). » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
16.00":
15-inch display variants are the standard and are used for more than half of all laptops.
The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, often allows high resolutions and thus offers rich details on the screen, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact - simply the standard compromise.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.Apple: Apple is a US company founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, the company is known for its innovative products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and manufactures computers and consumer electronics as well as operating systems and application software. Apple is also a leading provider of software and services such as the App Store, iTunes and iCloud.
Apple has earned a reputation as a company that focuses on design and ease of use. As for their notebooks, they are mostly in the high-priced segment, have their own operating system, but also run Windows on the newer Macbooks.
Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world and has a loyal following of customers and fans. The company also has a strong presence in the entertainment industry, with services like Apple Music and Apple TV+. In 2023, Apple had an approximate 8% market share of global PC sales, ranking it 4th after Lenovo, HP, and Dell.
90.01%: There are not very many models that are rated better. Most of the assessments are in percentage ranges below that. The tested product is not considered perfect, but the sources give a clear purchase recommendation.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.